History Exam

Question 1

Who was Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi?

Answer 1

U.S. - backed monarch of Iran who implemented Western-style modernization and suppressed opposition

Question 2

Who was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini?

Answer 2

Exiled Shia cleric who led the 1979 Iranian Revolution and became the Supreme Leader of Iran

Question 3

What was the 1979 Iranian Revolution?

Answer 3

Overthrew the Shah and established the Islamic Republic under Khomeini

Question 4

How were U.S.-Iran relations before the hostage crisis?

Answer 4

Initially cooperative, but deteriorated after the Shah’s exile and Khomeini’s rise

Question 5

What happened on Jan 16, 1979?

Answer 5

The Shah fled Iran

Question 6

What happened on Feb 1, 1979?

Answer 6

Khomeini returned to Iran from exile

Question 7

What major even occurred on Nov 4, 1979?

Answer 7

Radical students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Question 8

When were the hostages released?

Answer 8

Jan 20, 1981—minutes after Reagan’s inauguration

Question 9

How many Americans were held hostage and for how long?

Answer 9

52 Americans held for 444 days

Question 10

Who were the captors?

Answer 10

Radical student revolutionaries loyal to Khomeini

Question 11

What triggered the crisis?

Answer 11

The U.S. admitted the Shah for medical treatment

Question 12

What was the U.S. response to the crisis?

Answer 12

Diplomatic pressure, economic sanctions, and a failed rescue mission

Question 13

How were the hostages treated?

Answer 13

Blindfolded, restrained, interrogated, denied diplomatic protections

Question 14

What did captors say about Americans?

Answer 14

Claimed they hated U.S. policy, not the American people

Question 15

How did President Carter describe the crisis?

Answer 15

Called it terrorism; emphasized diplomacy and international law

Question 16

How did Khomeini justify the hostage-taking?

Answer 16

As retaliation for Western oppression and U.S. espionage

Question 17

What did Khomeini communicate to Carter in Jan 1979?

Answer 17

Promised peaceful intentions and oil flow; sought influence over the military

Question 18

What was the U.S. internal debate about?

Answer 18

Whether to support the Shah or engage with Khomeini

Question 19

Who was Robert E. Huyser?

Answer 19

U.S. general sent to Iran to prevent a coup

Question 20

Who was Ebrahim Yazdi?

Answer 20

Khomeini’s advisor and U.S. contact

Question 21

Who was William Sullivan?

Answer 21

U.S. Ambassador who urged direct talks with Khomeini

Question 22

How did the crisis impact Carter politically?

Answer 22

Contributed to his loss in the 1980 election

Question 23

What was the crisis’ legacy on U.S. - Iran relations?

Answer 23

A lasting breakdown in trust and diplomacy

Question 24

What themes are important for understanding the crisis?

Answer 24

Cold War politics, anti-imperialism, religious vs. secular power, foreign policy errors

Question 25

What happened on Feb. 11, 1979?

Answer 25

Iranian military declared neutrality; revolution succeeded

Question 26

What were the U.S. policy goals in early 1979?

Answer 26

Peaceful transition, protect interests, avoid Soviet influence

Question 27

How did Khomeini deal with the U.S. initially?

Answer 27

Gave vague assurances while planning to seize full power

Question 28

What did he promise in secret talks?

Answer 28

Continued oil flow, civilian investment, no hostility to Jews

Question 29

What was the "Nest of Spies" accusation?

Answer 29

Embassy documents used to claim the U.S. was interfering in Iran

Question 30

What was the actual treatment of the hostages?

Answer 30

Psychological abuse, propaganda, and international law violations

Question 31

What was the Iran-Contra Affair?

Answer 31

Secret arms deal with Iran to fund Contras in Nicaragua and release hostages

Question 32

Who were the key players?

Answer 32

Oliver North, Reagan, CIA, Israeli intermediaries

Question 33

What did the Boland Amendment do?

Answer 33

Prohibited U.S. aid to Nicaraguan Contras

Question 34

What were Reagan's claims about his economic policy?

Answer 34

Job creation, inflation, reduction, tax cuts

Question 35

What were Biden and Rothbard's critiques?

Answer 35

Unequal growth, rising deficits, hidden tax burdens

Question 36

What is the reasoning by historical analogy?

Answer 36

Using past events to guide current decisions

Question 37

What analogy did Truman use for the Korean War?

Answer 37

Compared North Korea's invasion to 1930's Axis aggression

Question 38

What was Mussolini's goal in invading Ethiopia in 1953?

Answer 38

To avenge Italy's 1896 defeat and expand Italy's colonial empire

Question 39

How did the League of Nations respond to Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia?

Answer 39

Condemned the invasion and imposed sanctions—but not on oil, Italy’s vital resource.

Question 40

What was the outcome of Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia?

Answer 40

Italy annexed Ethiopia in 1936; Mussolini became more aggressive and aligned with Hitler.

Question 41

What lesson did Truman draw from the invasion of Ethiopia?

Answer 41

Weak sanctions embolden dictators—strong action is needed early.

Question 42

What was the Anschluss of 1938?

Answer 42

Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria, violating the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 43

How did Britain and France respond to the Anschluss?

Answer 43

They issued verbal protests but took no concrete action.

Question 44

What impact did the Anschluss have on Hitler's ambitions?

Answer 44

It encouraged further expansion into Czechoslovakia and eventually led to WWII.

Question 45

What analogy did Truman draw from the Anschluss?

Answer 45

Appeasement encourages further aggression—must act early to prevent war.

Question 46

What triggered the Korean War in 1950?

Answer 46

North Korea, supported by the USSR, invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950.

Question 47

How did Truman respond to North Korea's invasion?

Answer 47

Framed it as similar to 1930s aggression and pushed for U.S. and UN military intervention.

Question 48

Why did Truman invoke historical analogies like Manchuria, Ethiopia, and Austria?

Answer 48

To justify strong intervention and avoid repeating the mistakes that led to WWII.

Question 49

What was the key theme in Truman's response to Korea?

Answer 49

Inaction in the face of aggression leads to global conflict.

Question 50

What common feature united the Manchuria, Ethiopia, and Austria cases?

Answer 50

Weak or ineffective international responses to aggression.

Question 51

How did the international response to Korea differ from the 1930s cases?

Answer 51

The UN and U.S. responded strongly, with military support for South Korea.

Question 52

What was the outcome of the Korean War for U.S. foreign policy?

Answer 52

Reinforced the idea that strong, early action could contain communism.

Question 53

How did Johnson justify escalation in Vietnam?

Answer 53

Compared it to WWII and Korea—argued that aggression must be resisted

Question 54

What argument did George Ball make against the Vietnam-Korea analogy?

Answer 54

Vietnam lacked a clear invasion, stable government, and international support.

Question 55

How did the Vietnam War differ from Korea in terms of international legitimacy?

Answer 55

Korea had UN backing; Vietnam was largely unilateral and controversial.

Question 56

What lesson did Johnson apply from Korea to Vietnam?

Answer 56

Avoid provoking China—kept U.S. troops south of the 17th parallel.

Question 57

What analogies did George H. W. Bush use to justify the Gulf War?

Answer 57

Compared Saddam Hussein to Hitler (1930s appeasement) and contrasted it with Vietnam.

Question 58

How did Bush reassure the public it wouldn't be “another Vietnam”?

Answer 58

Emphasized clear goals, global support, and a unified command.

Question 59

What was John Kerry’s position on the Gulf War analogy?

Answer 59

Warned against Vietnam-like unilateral action without public consensus

Question 60

What is the danger of overusing historical analogies in foreign policy?

Answer 60

They can oversimplify complex situations and lead to flawed decisions

Question 61

Why did Truman's analogy to WWII resonate in the Cold War context?

Answer 61

It emphasized the global threat of unchecked aggression in a bipolar world.

Question 62

Which historical case most closely mirrors Korea, and why?

Answer 62

Arguably Austria (1938)—military invasion justified with ideology and propaganda.

Question 62

Why did George Ball’s historical analogy for Vietnam prove stronger?

Answer 62

It reflected the war’s complex political and social realities more accurately than broad WWII comparisons.