AP World History : Political History

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP World History

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Example Questions

Example Question #133 : Political Protest, Reforms, And Revolution

Along with the Indian National Congress, which group campaigned for Indian independence in the first half of the twentieth century?

Possible Answers:

Congress of Bangladesh

Muslim League

Hindu League

Muslim National Congress

Congress of Pakistan

Correct answer:

Muslim League

Explanation:

The Indian National Congress was founded in the late nineteenth century and soon grew to be the largest and most influential organization campaigning for Indian independence. The Muslim League was founded in 1906 and worked alongside the Indian National Congress in pursuit of independence. The stated goal of the Muslim League was to ensure the political and social rights of Muslims during the transition from British rule.

Example Question #542 : Political History

Which of these best describes the changes made in Iran after the Iranian Revolution?

Possible Answers:

The country withdrew from the international arena and stopped trading with most of the rest of the world

The country enacted a rapid modernization and westernization movement and improved access to higher education for women and poor people

The country abandoned its modernization movement and instituted a government based on strict adherence to Islamic law

The country enacted a policy of rapid industrialization at the expense of agricultural production, which led to a widespread famine

The country dramatically improved agricultural production at the expense of industrial production, which led to economic stagnation

Correct answer:

The country abandoned its modernization movement and instituted a government based on strict adherence to Islamic law

Explanation:

Prior to the Iranian Revolution, Iran was a country in the midst of a decades long modernization movement. However, the Iranian Revolution ushered Ayatollah Khomeini into power and he instituted a government based on strict adherence to Islamic law.

Example Question #134 : Political Protest, Reforms, And Revolution

Immediately following Indian independence the country was split into ______________.

Possible Answers:

India and Nepal

India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan

India, Nepal, and Pakistan

India and Pakistan

Correct answer:

India and Pakistan

Explanation:

Indian independence was achieved in 1947 and immediately after the country was divided into a Hindu India and a Muslim Pakistan - a division that is named the Great Partition. It was a period of great instability and devastating sectarian violence as many millions of people migrated thousands of miles. Bangladesh became an independent country in 1971. It had originally been a part of Pakistan, known as East Pakistan.

Example Question #133 : Political Protest, Reforms, And Revolution

The Great Leap Forward intended to __________.

Possible Answers:

remove all traces of foreign influence from Chinese territory

ally China with the other newly formed communist nations in Asia

improve Chinese industrial and agricultural production

remove all traces of China’s cultural legacy and re-educate the population

improve the Chinese military and adopt western military practices

Correct answer:

improve Chinese industrial and agricultural production

Explanation:

The Great Leap Forward was an economic policy of the Communist Party of China under Mao. Its primary goals were to transform China from a largely agrarian society to a modern socialist state through immediate industrialization and the collectivization of resources. Many modern historians believe that the Great Leap Forward led to widespread famine and the death of tens of millions of people in China.

Example Question #135 : Political Protest, Reforms, And Revolution

The Cuban Revolution of 1959 __________.

Possible Answers:

was brutally crushed by the United States government

ushered a theocratic regime into power in Cuba

ushered a communist regime into power in Cuba

led to the end of Castro’s communist regime in Cuba

was brutally crushed by the communist government of Fidel Castro

Correct answer:

ushered a communist regime into power in Cuba

Explanation:

The Cuban Revolution of 1959 ushered a communist regime, led by Fidel Castro, into power in Cuba. This negatively impacted Cold War relations between the United States and the Soviet Union because it meant the existence of a militarized communist state less than one hundred miles off of the American mainland.

Example Question #136 : Political Protest, Reforms, And Revolution

During his rule Reza Shah (1925-1941) implemented all of the following policies in Iran, except for _________________.

Possible Answers:

the abolition of the capitulations that allowed Europeans living in Iran access to their own consular courts

the abolition of the mandatory wearing of the veil for women

the introduction of modern education

the imposition of Islam on all groups in the population

the imposition of European dress on the population

Correct answer:

the imposition of Islam on all groups in the population

Explanation:

Reza Shah pursued a policy of secularization rather than one of imposing religion on the population.

Example Question #1265 : Ap World History

Which of these best describes the “Intifada”?

Possible Answers:

A violent uprising of Jews living under British rule in the Palestinian Mandate

An alliance of several Middle Eastern countries against the existence of the Israeli state

The rise of the Taliban and fundamentalist Islam to fill the power vacuum in Afghanistan following the Soviet invasion

A violent uprising of Palestinians against Israeli occupation

None of these answers accurately describes the “Intifada”

Correct answer:

A violent uprising of Palestinians against Israeli occupation

Explanation:

The term “intifada” refers to a series of violent uprisings of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. The first “intifada” is also the most famous one, it took place from 1987 to 1993. Relations between Israel and Palestine have oscillated in intensity over the years, but have always been contentious and intermittently violent ever since the creation of Israel in the wake of the Second World War.

Example Question #137 : Political Protest, Reforms, And Revolution

Muammar al-Gaddafi gained power in which country as the result of a coup d’etat?

Possible Answers:

Egypt

Tunisia

Algeria

Libya

Lebanon

Correct answer:

Libya

Explanation:

Muammar al-Gaddafi came to power in a coup d’etat in 1969 and ruled Libya until he was deposed in the Libyan Civil War of 2011. During Gaddafi’s reign Libya embraced a sort of proto-socialism.

Example Question #541 : Political History

Which leader came to power in following the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War?

Possible Answers:

Chiang Kai-Shek

Mao Zedong

Lin Biao

Zao Enlai

Deng Xiaoping

Correct answer:

Mao Zedong

Explanation:

Mao Zedong, widely considered the founding father of modern Communist China, came to power June 19, 1945 and was the first chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. He came to official power after defeating the Kuomintang in the Chinese civil war and forcing Chiang Kai-Shek onto the island of Formosa (Taiwan). 

Example Question #1266 : Ap World History

Select the primary and most influential outcome of the Chinese 1916-1919 May Fourth Movement.

Possible Answers:

The seizure and annexation of Taiwan and Tibet

An economic and political alliance with Leninist Russia

The creation of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

A resurgence in intellectualism and foreign political ideology

The signing of a peace treaty between Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek

Correct answer:

The creation of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Explanation:

The May Fourth Movement takes its name from massive public protests that occurred throughout May 1919, in which thousands of students, young intellectuals, and tradespeople gathered to protest their government’s interactions with and accommodations of foreign powers. The seeds of this dissatisfaction were first sown by the Treaty of Versailles (which ended World War One), whose terms were largely unfavorable to China. Many Chinese people were especially incensed by the Treaty’s awarding of disputed territories to Japan – this furor was only increased by the Chinese government’s apparent easy acquiescence to the Treaty’s demands. It was this explosion of nationalistic and anti-foreign sentiment that set off the May Fourth Movement, as more and more individuals began to call for an end to their current leadership, whose ranks, they felt, were far too dominated by foreign appeasers and isolated intellectuals. Many of these protesters were inspired by the recent populist and socialist systems then being employed by Lenin’s Russia. The most vital and long-lasting consequence of this movement was the creation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was founded by many of these student protesters and young, disaffected scholars. The ensuing chaos would eventually lead to the Chinese Civil War and the CPC’s subsequent victory and political dominance under Mao Zedong.

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