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AP®HistoryCollege BoardUS HistoryExam QuestionsPeriod 8: 1945-1980America as a World Power

America as a World Power (College Board AP® US History): Exam Questions

7 mins7 questions
11 mark

"The beauty of such an operation over the next few months is that we cannot lose. If the best happens we will unseat Castro. If not, then at least, we will emerge with a stronger underground, better propaganda and a far clearer idea of the dimensions of the problems which affect us."

Richard N. Goodwin, White House Memorandum, November 1, 1961

The primary intended audience for Goodwin’s memorandum was

  • The United Nations, to gain international support for action against Cuba

  • The U.S. Congress, to request funding for a new invasion of Cuba

  •  The American public, to justify U.S. intervention in Latin America

  • President John F. Kennedy, to advise on strategic decisions on Cuba

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21 mark

"The beauty of such an operation over the next few months is that we cannot lose. If the best happens we will unseat Castro. If not, then at least, we will emerge with a stronger underground, better propaganda and a far clearer idea of the dimensions of the problems which affect us."

Richard N. Goodwin, White House Memorandum, November 1, 1961

Which of the following best explains why the U.S. government viewed Cuba as a major threat in the early 1960s?

  • Cuba had begun supplying arms to communist revolutionaries in the Dominican Republic

  •  Fidel Castro created a communist government and nationalized U.S. business interests

  • The Cuban government had launched a direct attack on the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay

  • The Soviet Union had already deployed nuclear weapons to Cuba before 1961

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31 mark

"The beauty of such an operation over the next few months is that we cannot lose. If the best happens we will unseat Castro. If not, then at least, we will emerge with a stronger underground, better propaganda and a far clearer idea of the dimensions of the problems which affect us."

Richard N. Goodwin, White House Memorandum, November 1, 1961

The opinion expressed in the excerpt most immediately led to which of the following events?

  • The Cuban Missile Crisis

  • The U.S. invasion of Grenada to remove a Marxist-aligned government

  • The Alliance for Progress

  • The overthrow of Salvador Allende in Chile with U.S. support

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41 mark

"The beauty of such an operation over the next few months is that we cannot lose. If the best happens we will unseat Castro. If not, then at least, we will emerge with a stronger underground, better propaganda and a far clearer idea of the dimensions of the problems which affect us."

Richard N. Goodwin, White House Memorandum, November 1, 1961

Which of the following political positions most closely parallels the political position reflected in the excerpt?

  • U.S. military intervention in the Dominican Republic 

  • The Iran-Contra Affair

  •  The U.S.-backed coup in Guatemala

  • Signing of the Rio Pact

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51 mark

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Farewell Address, January 17, 1961

Eisenhower’s warning about the "military-industrial complex" reflects which potential conflict in U.S. foreign policy?

  • American armament companies may support isolationist policies to reduce global commitments

  • Defense contractors may advocate for nuclear disarmament to reduce production costs

  • Military leaders may avoid involvement in proxy wars to focus on defense spending

  • Military-industrial interests may prioritize prolonged conflict over diplomatic solutions

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61 mark

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Farewell Address, January 17, 1961

How does Eisenhower’s Farewell Address connect to the principles of the Eisenhower Doctrine?

  • Both reflect concerns about communist expansion and emphasize the need for military action.

  • Both highlight the risks of overextending U.S. resources in international conflicts.

  • The Doctrine seeks to limit defense spending, while the Address warns of overspending.

  • The Doctrine emphasizes combating communism abroad, while the Address warns of internal challenges.

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71 mark

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Farewell Address, January 17, 1961

Eisenhower’s Farewell Address most directly critiques the broader Cold War trend of the

  • Consolidation of military and industrial power within the U.S. government

  • Escalating arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union

  • Reliance on nuclear deterrence as a primary defense strategy

  • Expansion of U.S. military bases across the globe

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