Question 1

The median income for black families is equal to that of white families.

Accepted Answer

According to recent data from the US Census Bureau, the median income for black families is lower than that of white families.

Question 2

Today, 20 percent of the U.S. population is of Asian descent.

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2020, people of Asian-only ancestry make up around 6% of the U.S. population. When including people of Asian and other races, the percentage increases to around 7%.

Question 3

The Supreme Court decision in which of the following cases resulted in a separate-but-equal doctrine that gave segregation constitutional approval?
A) Plessy v. Ferguson
B) Brown v. Board of Education
C) Marbury v. Madison
D) Baker v. Carr

Accepted Answer

In Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a Louisiana law that required separate train cars for black and white passengers, ruling that as long as the separate facilities were equal in quality, they did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law. This established the separate-but-equal doctrine that gave segregation constitutional approval.

Question 4

Mexican American voter turnout is higher than that of other ethnic groups.

Accepted Answer

Mexican American voter turnout has historically been lower than that of some other ethnic groups, particularly non-Hispanic whites and African Americans, due to various factors including socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and political mobilization efforts.

Question 5

In traditional U.S. constitutional theory, Native American tribes are separate "nations."

Accepted Answer

According to traditional U.S. constitutional theory, Native American tribes are considered to be separate "nations." This recognition of tribal sovereignty has been upheld over the years through various court decisions and legislative acts.

Question 6

Brown v. Board of Education declared that segregation did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment.

Accepted Answer

Brown v. Board of Education declared that segregation did indeed violate the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.

Question 7

In the United States, women earn approximately 50 cents for each dollar earned by men.

Accepted Answer

While the gender pay gap still exists in the United States, the difference between men and women's earnings is not as extreme as 50 cents to the dollar. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2021, women earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men on average. However, this varies based on factors such as race, ethnicity, and occupation.

Question 8

The "separate but equal" doctrine was made official interpretation of the equal protection clause in 1896 with the decision in the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.

Accepted Answer

The "separate but equal" doctrine was actually struck down as unconstitutional in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which declared segregation in public schools to be a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.

Question 9

As of the writing of this book, gays and lesbians in all 50 states have the legal right to marry.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As of the writing of this book,...

Question 10

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 recognized tribes as legal governments.

Accepted Answer

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, also known as the Wheeler-Howard Act, acknowledged tribes as legal governing entities and provided them with the authority to establish their own constitutions and governments.

Question 11

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made the segregation of public space based on race, color, religion, or national origin illegal.

Accepted Answer

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin, and made segregation of public spaces based on these factors illegal.

Question 12

The Dawes Act of 1887 allowed Native Americans to maintain their own culture.

Accepted Answer

The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by breaking up their reservations and allotting land to individual Native Americans. It was meant to force them to adopt American culture and ways of living, not maintain their own culture.

Question 13

The "March on Washington" was led by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1969.

Accepted Answer

The "March on Washington" was led by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963.

Question 14

Blacks have made notable progress in education, but the proportion of college graduates is still two-thirds that of the white population.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, as of 2019, the proportion of black adults ages 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher was 25.8%, while the proportion for white adults was 41.4%. This means that the proportion of college graduates among black adults is about two-thirds that of the white population.

Question 15

The American Indian Movement led to the passage of the Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in 1975.

Accepted Answer

The American Indian Movement played a significant role in raising awareness about the issues and challenges facing Native Americans, leading to increased government attention and ultimately the passage of the Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in 1975. This legislation granted Native American tribes greater control over their own affairs and provided funding for education and economic development initiatives.

Question 16

Cuban Americans have higher educational levels than other Hispanics in the United States.

Accepted Answer

According to a report by Pew Research Center, Cuban Americans have higher levels of educational attainment compared to other Hispanic groups in the United States.

Question 17

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on April 4, 1968.

Accepted Answer

Martin Luther King Jr. was actually assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, not Dallas, Texas.

Question 18

Puerto Ricans are American citizens represented by voting members in the U.S. Congress and with electoral votes for president.

Accepted Answer

Puerto Ricans are American citizens but do not have voting members in the U.S. Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections, though they can participate in presidential primaries. They are represented by a non-voting Resident Commissioner in Congress.

Question 19

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced relocation of the Five Civilized Tribes.

Accepted Answer

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the forced relocation of the Five Civilized Tribes, including the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole, from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).

Question 20

Most immigrants come to the United States for political asylum.

Accepted Answer

While some immigrants do come to the US for political asylum, there are many other reasons why people immigrate, including seeking better economic opportunities, reuniting with family members, or pursuing education.

Quiz 10: Power, Race, and Gender