All European History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Political Parties; Elites; Ideologies; Mass Politics
Nicolae Ceaușescu was the Communist dictator of which European country from 1967 to 1989?
Hungary
Romania
Yugoslavia
Bulgaria
Albania
Romania
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Communist politician who became the head of state of Romania in 1967.
He became famous later in his rule for his extremely strict policies regarding free speech and the press and his brutality against those who held anti-government sentiments. He was overthrown in 1989 when he ordered his forces to open fire on protestors. Eight days later, both he and his wife were captured and executed by firing squad.
Example Question #2 : Political Parties; Elites; Ideologies; Mass Politics
Which European leader delivered the infamous line "We will bury you!" in a famous televised speech?
Benito Mussolini
Nicolae Ceaușescu
Nikita Khrushchev
Joseph Stalin
Winston Churchill
Nikita Khrushchev
The phrase was uttered to western ambassadors by Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev at the Polish embassy in Moscow, 1956.
It has been contended that the phrase was a mistranslation from Russian into English by Khrushchev's translator, suggesting that a more accurate translation would have been "We shall outlive you."
Example Question #1 : Political Parties; Elites; Ideologies; Mass Politics
Which political ideology views human history primarily as a struggle between economic classes and predicts that the working class will eventually revolt and overthrow the wealthy?
Marxism
Fascism
Totalitarianism
Republicanism
Calvinism
Marxism
Karl Marx explained this ideology in The Communist Manifesto. Communism, or Marxism, describes human history as a constant struggle between the rich and poor, and predicts the eventual uprising where the working class (the proletariat) rebels and seizes control.
Totalitarianism is a political system in which the government controls every facet of society and individuals liberties are nearly non-existent.
Fascism is the brand of totalitarianism that developed in European nations such as Germany, Italy, and Spain in the 1920's and '30's, which is also characterized by intense government propaganda to create loyalty to a charismatic leader.
Calvinism is not a political ideology, but a religion. It is a form of Protestantism that differs from other Christian sects in its belief in pre-determination, the idea that one's destination in the afterlife is already determined at birth.
Republicanism is an ideology in which the government is run by representatives elected by the citizens.
Example Question #2 : Political Parties; Elites; Ideologies; Mass Politics
"All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions."
"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."
The above quotes are most closely associated with which movement?
Mercantilism
The Protestant Reformation
The Crusades
The Enlightenment
The Renaissance
The Enlightenment
The two quotes (from John Locke's Second Treatise on Government (1689) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's The Social Contract (1762)) voice the Enlightenment ideal that all men are born with the same natural rights.
Example Question #1 : Political Parties; Elites; Ideologies; Mass Politics
Before the French Revolution, the First Estate referred to which of the following groups?
The commoners
The clergy
The press
The aristocracy
The clergy
The First Estate referred to the clergy in France, so that would be the best answer. The aristocracy was the Second Estate, so that would not be the best choice. The commoners were the Third estate, so likewise that would not be the correct answer here. The free press is sometimes referred to as the Fourth Estate to signify its importance to society, but it was not officially recognized as such before the French Revolution, so that would not be the best answer.
Example Question #2 : Political Parties; Elites; Ideologies; Mass Politics
Before the French Revolution, the Second Estate referred to which group of people?
The aristocracy
The press
The commoners
The clergy
The aristocracy
The clergy were referred to as the First Estate, so that would not be the correct answer here. The commoners were known as the Third Estate, so that too would not be a correct choice. The free press is sometimes called the Fourth Estate, however that term was not in use before the French Revolution, so that would not be the best answer here. Lastly, the aristocracy were referred to as the Second Estate, so that would be the best answer to this question.
Example Question #3 : Political Parties; Elites; Ideologies; Mass Politics
Before the French Revolution, the Third Estate referred to which group of people?
The aristocracy
The press
The clergy
The commoners
The commoners
The free press is sometimes called the Fourth Estate but that term was not in use before the French Revolution, so that would not be the correct choice. The clergy were known as the First Estate, so that would not be the best answer here. The aristocracy were known as the Second Estate, so that is not the correct choice either. Lastly, the commoners were known as the Third Estate, so that would be the best answer.
Example Question #6 : Political Parties; Elites; Ideologies; Mass Politics
The citizen-commoners of the Roman Republic were known as which of the following?
The Second Estate
The First Estate
Patricians
Plebeians
The Third Estate
Plebeians
The Patricians were the ruling class of the Republic, so that would not be the best answer here. The First Estate referred to the clergy in pre-Revolution France, so that would not be a good answer. The Second Estate referred to the aristocracy in France before the Revolution, so that would not be the correct choice. Similarly, the Third Estate referred to the commoners in France, so that would not be the best choice here. Lastly, Plebeians was the term given to the citizen-commoners in the Republic, so that would be the best choice for this question.
Example Question #3 : Political Parties; Elites; Ideologies; Mass Politics
Which of the following was the most powerful family during the Renaissance era?
The House of Medici
The House of Sforza
The House of Petrucci
The House of Este
The House of Spinosa
The House of Medici
The Medici family was an extremely powerful Italian family that controlled the largest bank in Europe during the Renaissance and helped contribute to the great artistic works of the time. Between 1430 and 1470 they spent the equivalent of 500 million dollars commissioning paintings, sculptures, city squares and buildings. Several of Lorenzo Medici’s court members would become some of the world’s most famous artists, such as Piero, Leonardo da Vinci, and Sandro Botticelli. Even Michelangelo, painter of the Sistine Chapel, lived with Lorenzo for 5 years and was a close friend of the family.