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Quiz about American Politics in the 1980s

American Politics in the 1980s Quiz

The 1980s: US leaders and policies.

A multiple-choice quiz by libertarian. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
libertarian

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
190,902

Updated
Aug 07 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
1933

Last 3 plays: shadowzep (9/10), Guest 3 (9/10), Guest 68 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which man declared his candidacy for president at the 1980 democratic national convention but did not receive the nomination? Hint

Michael Dukakis

Ted Kennedy

Bill Clinton

Patrick Daniel Moynihan

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives for most of the decade (until 1987)? Hint

Edmund Brown

Tip O'Neill

Al Gore

Warren Christopher

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Question 3 of 10

3. In 1981, which woman was appointed to the Supreme Court? Hint

Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Christine Todd Whitman

Elizabeth Dole

Sandra Day O'Connor

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who was the Democratic nominee for president in 1984? Hint

Walter Mondale

Mario Cuomo

Lyndon LaRouche

Ted Kennedy

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Question 5 of 10

5. What word or phrase described Ronald Reagan's policy towards the Soviet Union? Hint

Detente

Victory at any cost

Forceful yet understanding

Peace through strength

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who was the Democratic candidate for vice president in 1984? Hint

Geraldine Ferraro

Dick Gephardt

Mario Cuomo

Lloyd Bentsen

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the name of the defense program Reagan began in order to "render nuclear weapons obsolete"? Hint

The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

Beginning of a New Era (BONE)

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who did Michael Dukakis choose as his running mate in the 1988 presidential election? Hint

Lyndon Larouche

Lloyd Bentsen

Geraldine Ferrarro

Dick Gephardt

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Question 9 of 10

9. The Iran-Contra affair was a huge political scandal of the 1980s. What country were the Contras from? Hint

Iran

Nicaragua

Cuba

Israel

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who served as Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush? Hint

Casper Weinberger

Dick Cheney

Ed Meese

Colin Powell

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 17 2024 : shadowzep: 9/10
Apr 10 2024 : Guest 3: 9/10
Apr 10 2024 : Guest 68: 2/10
Apr 06 2024 : Guest 24: 10/10
Apr 04 2024 : Guest 70: 1/10
Apr 02 2024 : joseslaughter: 9/10
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 162: 3/10
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 172: 5/10
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 98: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which man declared his candidacy for president at the 1980 democratic national convention but did not receive the nomination?

Answer: Ted Kennedy

Jimmy Carter, the incumbent president received the nomination.

2. Who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives for most of the decade (until 1987)?

Answer: Tip O'Neill

O'Neill served as speaker from 1977 to 1987 and was a staunch New Deal Democrat.

3. In 1981, which woman was appointed to the Supreme Court?

Answer: Sandra Day O'Connor

O'Connor became the 102nd Supreme Court Justice and its first woman.

4. Who was the Democratic nominee for president in 1984?

Answer: Walter Mondale

Mondale served as Carter's vice-president.

5. What word or phrase described Ronald Reagan's policy towards the Soviet Union?

Answer: Peace through strength

Reagan believed in negotiating with the Soviet Union from a position of power.

6. Who was the Democratic candidate for vice president in 1984?

Answer: Geraldine Ferraro

Ferraro was a New York congresswoman and teacher.

7. What was the name of the defense program Reagan began in order to "render nuclear weapons obsolete"?

Answer: The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

SDI was the alternative to MAD. SDI's purpose was to find ways to defend us from nuclear weapons.

8. Who did Michael Dukakis choose as his running mate in the 1988 presidential election?

Answer: Lloyd Bentsen

Bentsen served as US senator for Texas and in 1983 was appointed Secretary of the Treasury.

9. The Iran-Contra affair was a huge political scandal of the 1980s. What country were the Contras from?

Answer: Nicaragua

Reagan viewed the Contras as freedom fighters but Congress didn't. They made it illegal for the US government to fund them.

10. Who served as Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush?

Answer: Dick Cheney

Cheney was also the youngest chief-of-staff in American history. He was appointed to the post at just 34 under Ford.

Source: Author libertarian

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