Period 9 · 1980–Present · 4–6% OF THE EXAM

APUSH Unit 9 Practice Questions

Unit 9 brings the story to the present: the Reagan Revolution and the end of the Cold War, globalization and the tech boom, demographic change, and America after September 11. A small slice of the exam, but easy points if you know the throughlines.

Unit 9 quick facts

Time period
1980–Present
Exam weight
4–6% of the APUSH exam
Unit practice
24+ Unit 9 questions
Adaptive bank
56+ questions in Period IX
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How to study APUSH Unit 9

  1. Review the time period first: 1980–Present is the boundary for most Unit 9 questions.
  2. Connect each fact to a larger APUSH theme, especially causation, continuity and change, comparison, and historical argument.
  3. Practice multiple-choice questions until you can explain why the correct answer is right and why each distractor is wrong.

What Unit 9 covers

Sample Unit 9 questions

“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we’ve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people.”
— Ronald Reagan, First Inaugural Address, 1981

1. The ideas expressed in the excerpt most directly reflect which of the following developments of the late twentieth century?

  1. A.Growing bipartisan support for expanding Great Society social programs
  2. B.Increasing public confidence in federal management of the economy
  3. C.A resurgence of conservatism critical of New Deal–style liberalism
  4. D.A revival of Progressive Era faith in expert-led government agencies
Show answer

Correct answer: C. A resurgence of conservatism critical of New Deal–style liberalism

“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we’ve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people.”
— Ronald Reagan, First Inaugural Address, 1981

2. Which of the following policies enacted during Reagan’s presidency most directly reflected the ideas expressed in the excerpt?

  1. A.Cutting income tax rates and reducing federal regulation of industry
  2. B.Expanding federal funding for urban renewal and public housing
  3. C.Creating new cabinet departments to oversee education and energy
  4. D.Raising tariffs to shield domestic manufacturers from foreign competition
Show answer

Correct answer: A. Cutting income tax rates and reducing federal regulation of industry

“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we’ve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people.”
— Ronald Reagan, First Inaugural Address, 1981

3. The political coalition that elected Reagan and embraced the sentiments in the excerpt drew its strength most directly from

  1. A.industrial labor unions and urban political machines in the Northeast
  2. B.suburban and Sun Belt voters joined by newly mobilized evangelical Christians
  3. C.university students and activists associated with the New Left
  4. D.farmers in the Great Plains seeking expanded federal price supports
Show answer

Correct answer: B. suburban and Sun Belt voters joined by newly mobilized evangelical Christians

Practice all Period 9 questions →

Unit 9 FAQ

What does APUSH Unit 9 cover?▾
APUSH Unit 9 covers 1980–Present. Key topics include reagan and the conservative resurgence, the end of the cold war, globalization and the digital revolution, demographic and social change, and related historical developments from Period 9.
How much of the APUSH exam is Unit 9?▾
College Board lists APUSH Unit 9 as 4–6% of the APUSH exam. Students should study it in proportion to that weight while still reviewing the full course.
How many APUSH Unit 9 questions are on apush.app?▾
This unit page includes 24+ Unit 9 practice questions, and the adaptive practice session pulls from a broader 56+ question bank for Period IX.

Study every APUSH unit

Unit 11491–1607Unit 21607–1754Unit 31754–1800Unit 41800–1848Unit 51844–1877Unit 61865–1898Unit 71890–1945Unit 81945–1980Unit 91980–Present

Source alignment

Unit ranges and exam weights follow the public AP United States History course framework. For the official course outline, see the College Board APUSH course page and the APUSH Course and Exam Description.

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