SAT II World History : Europe

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II World History

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : English Civil War And Great Britain

The Gunpowder Plot was a __________ plan to __________.

Possible Answers:

Puritan . . . blow up the Houses of Parliament 

Catholic . . . blow up the Tower of London

Puritan . . . assassinate James II

Catholic . . . blow up the Houses of Parliament 

Puritan . . . blow up the Tower of London 

Correct answer:

Catholic . . . blow up the Houses of Parliament 

Explanation:

The Gunpowder Plot was a plan designed by a group of Catholic extremists to blow up the Protestant-dominated Houses of Parliament, in 1605. It was foiled when the conspirators were discovered below the Houses of Parliament, setting up fuses and explosive devices. 

Example Question #3 : English Civil War And Great Britain

The Scottish primarily supported __________ during the early stages of the English Civil War. 

Possible Answers:

Parliament

the Monarchy 

Catholicism 

Calvinism 

Lutheranism 

Correct answer:

Parliament

Explanation:

During the English Civil War, the Scottish allied themselves with the forces of Parliament. At the Battle of Marsten Moor, the combined forces of Scotland and Parliament defeated the Royalists. 

Example Question #121 : Europe

The Clarendon Code was designed to __________.

Possible Answers:

ensure the supremacy and uniformity of Catholicism in France

reduce the Scottish, Irish, and Welsh to second-class status in the emerging British Empire 

ensure the uniformity and supremacy of Anglicanism in England 

ensure the supremacy and uniformity of Catholicism in England 

integrate the Scottish, Irish, and Welsh into English society in the emerging British Empire

Correct answer:

ensure the uniformity and supremacy of Anglicanism in England 

Explanation:

The Clarendon Code is the name given to a series of laws passed in England during the Restoration period following the English Civil War. The laws were designed to ensure the uniformity and supremacy of the Anglican faith in England, and to prevent the conversion of the English people to Catholicism or other forms of Protestantism. The Act of Uniformity and Conventicle Act are both aspects of the Clarendon Code.

Example Question #4 : English Civil War And Great Britain

Shortly after the English Civil War ended, the monarchy was restored. Due to dissatisfaction with the tyrannical rule of Oliver Cromwell, during the restoration the Tories supported __________.

Possible Answers:

a return to Catholicism 

the adoption of free market capitalism 

the abolition of free market capitalism and a return to mercantilism 

the supremacy of the monarchy 

the supremacy of Parliament 

Correct answer:

the supremacy of the monarchy 

Explanation:

During the Restoration period of English history, two political parties emerged in the English Parliament—the Tories and the Whigs. The Whigs favored the supremacy of Parliament over the monarchy and were heavily opposed to a Catholic monarch sitting on the throne. The Tories, on the other hand, favored the supremacy of the Crown over Parliament and a return to the old-world order. 

Example Question #122 : Europe

All of the following were banned in Puritan England, EXCEPT __________.

Possible Answers:

plays

metalworking

sports

bars and pubs

gambling

Correct answer:

metalworking

Explanation:

When the Puritans came into prominence in England, they sought to implement a system of laws that reflected their interpretation of the Bible. Essentially anything that could be described as "sinful," or even just "entertainment," was banned. This included sports, drinking, plays, gambling, and many other components of English cultural tradition. Metalworking, of course, is more of a necessity than the others, not related to human behavior and so continued. 

Example Question #123 : Europe

All of the following were causes of the English Civil War except _____________.

Possible Answers:

fear of a Catholic heir to the English throne

King Charles' inability to work with Parliament

the rise of Oliver Cromwell

rising taxes

religious tensions between different Protestant sects

Correct answer:

the rise of Oliver Cromwell

Explanation:

Oliver Cromwell's rise to power occurred as a result of the fighting of the English Civil War, not the other way around.

The other answers-the king's inability to work with Parliament, high taxation (particularly ship money), tension between different Protestant sects, and fear of a Catholic heir (since the king's wife was Catholic)--describe factors that all contributed to the start of the English Civil War. 

Example Question #1 : Absolutism And Constitutionalism

French participation in what conflict helped spur the French Revolution?

Possible Answers:

The American Revolution

The Peninsula War

The Thirty Years War

The Napoleonic Wars

The War of the Spanish Succession

Correct answer:

The American Revolution

Explanation:

The French King Louis XVI sought to help the American colonies revolt against Great Britain to take advantage of weakening his chief rival. Many Frenchmen, however, appreciated the notions of liberties, rights, and democracy that were being fought for in America. As a result, many French intellectuals and commoners saw the American Revolution as an example when they grew more infuriated with their monarch's power in 1789.

Example Question #2 : Absolutism And Constitutionalism

The 1815 Congress of Vienna was primarily concerned with which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Restoring the balance of power in Europe and protecting the rule of Europe's monarchies

Restoring Austro-Hungarian supremacy over Europe and protecting the rule of Europe's monarchies

Punishing Napoleon and protecting the rule of Europe's monarchies

Restoring Austro-Hungarian supremacy over Europe and encouraging the transition to Republicanism

Restoring the balance of power in Europe and encouraging the transition to Republicanism

Correct answer:

Restoring the balance of power in Europe and protecting the rule of Europe's monarchies

Explanation:

The 1815 Congress of Vienna took place in the immediate aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. Its primary concern was establishing what has come to be called "The Concert of Europe." Essentially, this means balancing the territory of all the major European nations to discourage them from engaging in warfare with one another (restoring the balance of power). Its secondary concern was ensuring the continued rule of Europe's absolute and constitutional monarchs and preventing the transition towards Republicanism.

Example Question #3 : Absolutism And Constitutionalism

In what year did the French Revolution begin? 

Possible Answers:

1803

1789

1848

1815

1905

Correct answer:

1789

Explanation:

The French Revolution began in 1789. It is widely considered one of the most important events in European history, particularly in the history of European transition from absolutism to constituional monarchy to republicanism; however, like many revolutions, it ended up consuming itself and resulting in a dictatorship.

Example Question #124 : Europe

Which of these Enlightenment philosophers stated that all men have a inalienable right to life, liberty, and property?

Possible Answers:

John Locke

Immanuel Kant

Thomas Hobbes

Rene Descartes

Thomas Jefferson

Correct answer:

John Locke

Explanation:

While its true that Thomas Jefferson did write in the Declaration of Independence that all men have a right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," he was taking his ideas from the earlier writings of John Locke. Locke argued against governmental absolutism and firmly believed in the rights of men to govern themselves. He argued that the only legitimate form of government came from the consent of the people and that all men have a right to life, liberty, and (private) property.

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