AP World History : War and Civil Conflict 1900 to Present

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP World History

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : War And Civil Conflict 1900 To Present

Following the re-militarization of the Rhineland which of these nations or territories was the first to be annexed or invaded by Nazi Germany?

Possible Answers:

Belgium

Sudetenland

Austria

Alsace-Lorraine

Poland

Correct answer:

Austria

Explanation:

The re-militarization of the Rhineland was significant because it represented a German violation of the Treaty of Versailles, which established a demilitarized Rhineland to protect France from German invasion. After this incident Hitler realized that the war weariness of the other major European powers would allow him to act without fear of repercussion. In 1938 Nazi Germany annexed Austria in what is known as the Anschluss.

Example Question #773 : Political History

The Russo-Japanese war was primarily fought for control of __________.

Possible Answers:

the Korean peninsula and Manchuria

Mongolia and Tibet

Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea

the northernmost islands of Japan

Siberia and Kamchatka

Correct answer:

the Korean peninsula and Manchuria

Explanation:

The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) was primarily fought for control of the Korean peninsula and Manchuria. It ended in victory for the Japanese and their continued expansion into mainland Asia.

Example Question #774 : Political History

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was an agreement between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany not to attack one another, and also __________.

Possible Answers:

to divide Poland and much of the rest of Eastern Europe into zones of control

to share surveillance and espionage

to resist attempts by the western powers to halt the spread of communism and fascism

to provide a combined fighting force to aid the Japanese in their conflict against the United States of America

to intertwine their two economies, particularly the production of coal and iron

Correct answer:

to divide Poland and much of the rest of Eastern Europe into zones of control

Explanation:

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was an agreement between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany not to attack one another. It was signed in 1939 and lasted until Nazi Germany invaded Soviet occupied Poland in 1941, thus violating the pact. The agreement also included secret provisions to divide Poland and much of Eastern Europe between the two major powers.

Example Question #774 : Political History

The Armenian Genocide began because the Ottoman government believed _______________.

Possible Answers:

its Armenian inhabitants were supporting Austro-Hungarian machinations

the Armenian elites were planning an insurrection against the Ottoman government

the Armenian middle class was growing too rich and powerful

its Armenian inhabitants were loyal to Russia

the Armenian peasantry was not paying sufficient taxes to the Ottoman government

Correct answer:

its Armenian inhabitants were loyal to Russia

Explanation:

The Ottoman government’s stated reason for carrying out the Armenian Genocide was fear that the Armenian inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire were loyal to the Russians. This was a time of precipitous decline and great insecurity for the Ottoman Empire, which lived under constant fear of Russian invasion.

Example Question #774 : Political History

All of these countries sponsored the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan except __________.

Possible Answers:

Iran

None of these; all these countries sponsored the Mujahideen

China

the United States

Pakistan

Correct answer:

None of these; all these countries sponsored the Mujahideen

Explanation:

The Mujahideen were Afghan resistance fighters who organized the Afghan defense forces during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Many countries provided aid to the Mujahideen including Pakistan, the United States, and China. Much of the support and weaponry given to the Mujahideen during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan has since been used on the army of the United States of America during the American occupation of Afghanistan.

Example Question #775 : Political History

The Iraqi invasion of __________ caused the United States to intervene and led to the Gulf War.

Possible Answers:

Oman

Kuwait

Pakistan

Iran

Saudi Arabia

Correct answer:

Kuwait

Explanation:

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait took place in 1990 and led to the involvement of the United States and the outbreak of the Gulf War.

Example Question #776 : Political History

Which of these nations remains divided along the 38th parallel; a line that has divided it since occupation at the end of World War II?

Possible Answers:

Korea

Japan

China

Germany

Vietnam

Correct answer:

Korea

Explanation:

At the end of the Second World War Korea was split into two occupied territories - a communist north occupied by the Soviet Union and a capitalist south occupied by the United States of America. This ultimately led to the outbreak of war in 1950. The war ended in a stalemate and the nation of Korea continues to be divided along the thirty-eighth parallel between communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea.

Example Question #46 : War And Civil Conflict 1900 To Present

Why did the detente between the Soviet Union and the United States become much more strained towards the end of the 1970s?

Possible Answers:

Improvements in relations between the Soviet Union and Western Europe and the American invasion of Vietnam

Improvements in relations between the Soviet Union and Western Europe and the American invasion of Iraq

Improvements in relations between the U.S. and China and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Improvements in relations between the Soviet Union and China and the American invasion of Vietnam

Improvements in relations between the U.S. and Eastern Europe and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Correct answer:

Improvements in relations between the U.S. and China and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Explanation:

The three most intense phases of the Cold War (the phases when open warfare or nuclear confrontation seemed most plausible) are probably the aftermath of World War Two and the Korean War; the early 1960s and the Cuban Missile Crisis; and the 1980s. For much of the 1970s there were talks of arms reductions and a cautious detente was being reached; however, in the latter half of the 1970s these trends started to reverse as tensions increased between the two superpowers. This was primarily the result of the Vietnam War, improving relations between the United States and China, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Example Question #777 : Political History

When did the Korean War occur?

Possible Answers:

19540-1958

1950-1956

1948-1958

1950-1953

Correct answer:

1950-1953

Explanation:

The dates of the Korean War are: June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953. The Korean War was between North and South Korea but had great international intervention. The United Nations, particularly the United States, fought for the South while China and the Soviet Union fought with the North. Though the causes are complex, it arose from tensions caused by WWII and the Cold War. 

Example Question #1491 : Ap World History

What is considered the "trigger" or cause of the Gulf War (1990-1991)?

Possible Answers:

The United Nations condemned Iraq for human rights abuses 

Iraq invaded Kuwait

Iraq cut off oil supplies 

Iraq invaded Afghanistan 

Correct answer:

Iraq invaded Kuwait

Explanation:

The Gulf War took place from 1990 to 1991 and was triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990 and the US, with its allies, launched Operation Desert Storm as a response, starting a war. Iraq's actions were condemned by the international communities, and economic sanctions were placed on the country. Led by the US into Saudi Arabia, many countries joined the Coalition and began aerial and ground attacks. 

The other options for this question are incorrect because they are not accurate for the time period, geographically incorrect, or irrelevant in this particular outbreak of war. 

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