CLEP US History II Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The key goal of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 was primarily to spread and protect democracy in the region. The Bush administration argued that removing Saddam Hussein from power would lead to the establishment of a democratic government in Iraq, which they believed could serve as a model for democracy in the Middle East. This objective was tied to a broader belief that promoting democracy could help stabilize the region and counteract extremist ideologies.

The idea was that a democratic Iraq would not only be beneficial for its citizens but could also contribute to peace and security in the broader Middle Eastern context. This approach was influenced by the post-9/11 landscape, where the U.S. aimed to promote political reform and reduce the appeal of terrorism rooted in authoritarian regimes.

While other choices present alternative historical contexts or motivations, they do not capture the specific ideological framing of the Iraq War as articulated by the U.S. government at the time. The focus on containing communism was more relevant to earlier decades, while the establishment of a dictatorship contradicts the stated intentions of the invasion. Increasing military presence in the region may have been a consequence of the invasion, but it was not articulated as a primary goal.