SAT II World History : SAT Subject Test in World History

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Colonialism

The Sepoy Mutiny occurred __________.

Possible Answers:

after the assassination of Gandhi 

during the Great Partition 

immediately after the Easter Rebellion 

in the British Raj 

in the Belgian colony of Congo 

Correct answer:

in the British Raj 

Explanation:

The Sepoy Mutiny (sometimes called the First War of Indian Independence or the Indian Rebellion of 1857) occurred in Northern India. Much of India at the time was under British control, and the government was generally referred to as the British Raj. It has become common policy to state that the rebellion began when Hindu and Muslim Sepoys (another word for soldiers) were told that the grease used in their rifles was from either pork or beef fat—pork would offend Islamic customs and beef would offend Hindu customs; however, the rebellion was really an outpouring of long-held frustrations and angers. It would eventually be brutally put down by the British and resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of Indian civilians.

Example Question #1 : Global Developments

Which of the following groups was interpreted by the British Empire to be at the top of the Northern Indian caste system?

Possible Answers:

Vaishyas 

Kshatriyas

Dalits

Brahmans

Shudras 

Correct answer:

Brahmans

Explanation:

The Indian caste system has existed for hundreds of years as a means of enforcing social stability and obedience; however, it has often been rather fluid, and rarely has it been uniformly enforced across the whole vast Indian subcontinent. Following the arrival of the British, however, the imperialist government needed a way to further entrench their system of power, so they sought to solidify and normalize the caste system. They placed Brahmans (priests and religious figures) at the top, followed by the Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), then Vaishyas (merchants), and finally Shudras (workers and peasants). Below the established caste system there existed, and indeed still exists, an “untouchable caste” of Dalits.

Example Question #4 : 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

Social Darwinism was a factor in the growth of which of these empires?

Possible Answers:

Carthaginian 

Greek 

Roman 

Spanish 

German

Correct answer:

German

Explanation:

This question is primarily asking you to identify which of these empires rose to prominence in the second half of the nineteenth century, as this was the time period in which Social Darwinism became a factor in European Imperialism. Social Darwinism was a political manipulation of Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” biological theory and was used to “justify” conquering and ruling native people under the guise that they were better off being ruled by "fitter" human beings. The only one of these empires that was rising in the second half of the nineteenth century was the German empire. The Roman, Carthaginian, and Greek empires were all in their ascendency in the classical era, and the Spanish empire rose to prominence in the late-Medieval and early-Renaissance eras.

Example Question #7 : 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

The Platt Amendment concerned the presence of the United States in __________.

Possible Answers:

Bolivia 

Nicaragua

Cuba

Mexico 

Panama

Correct answer:

Cuba

Explanation:

The Platt Amendment was issued following the Spanish-American War in 1901. It effectively gave the American government complete control (albeit temporarily) over the Cuban government and stipulated that American troops would remain in Cuba and that naval bases would be constructed.

Example Question #1 : Global Developments

The established elites of India were ________.

Possible Answers:

radically eliminated following the arrival of the British Empire

overthrown by the British and reinstated in positions of bureaucracy 

economically ruined by the arrival of the British Empire 

at the height of their power at the arrival of the British Empire

primarily reinforced by the arrival of the British Empire 

Correct answer:

primarily reinforced by the arrival of the British Empire 

Explanation:

Following the arrival of the British in the Indian subcontinent the established elites were generally reinforced in their legitimacy and control of the territory. The British arrived with only a couple of thousand men and were faced with the task of administering a population of tens, if not hundreds, of millions so they rather had little choice but to manipulate the existing forms of power. 

Example Question #3 : Colonialism

The Roosevelt Corollary was added to which longstanding American political belief?

Possible Answers:

The Wilmot Proviso

The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

Manifest Destiny

Horatio Alger; Rags to Riches

The Monroe Doctrine

Correct answer:

The Monroe Doctrine

Explanation:

The Monroe Doctrine states that the United States will prevent any further European imperialism in the American hemisphere through diplomacy and military force if necessary. The Roosevelt Corollary, added to the Monroe Doctrine by Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, redefined exactly what was acceptable practice for the United States in the issue of imperialism. Roosevelt declared that the United States had the right to intervene in any kind of conflict, even in support of a European power, if the conflict is fomenting unrest and chaos in the Western hemisphere.

Example Question #4 : Colonialism

The Seven Years’ War is also called __________.

Possible Answers:

The French-Indian War

The Vietnam War

World War Two

The Mexican-American War

The Spanish-American War

Correct answer:

The French-Indian War

Explanation:

The Seven Years’ War was a global conflict fought between the two imperial powers of France and Britain. In the North American theatre the conflict has come to be called the French and Indian War. Many Native Americans fought on the side of Britain and the colonists against the French. The war resulted in victory for the British (including Britain taking control of the subcontinent of India), but led indirectly to the American Revolution.

Example Question #5 : Colonialism

The Berlin Conference (1884–1885) led to __________.

Possible Answers:

the end of World War One

the division of Africa by the European imperial powers

a complete overhaul of the German political system

the loss of French territories in Europe and North America

the separation of Germany into a capitalist west and a communist east

Correct answer:

the division of Africa by the European imperial powers

Explanation:

The Berlin Conference took place in 1884 and 1885 and coincided with Germany’s emergence as a prominent European and imperial power. At the Berlin Conference, the European imperial powers sought to divide the entire continent of Africa among themselves.

Example Question #6 : Colonialism

The Treaty of Nanking (1842) gave Britain political control over __________.

Possible Answers:

Hong Kong

mainland China

North Korea 

South Korea 

Singapore 

Correct answer:

Hong Kong

Explanation:

The Treaty of Nanking ended the First Opium War between Britain and China. The treaty was an unequal one, as it resulted in numerous concessions being offered by the Chinese and none being offered by the British. The treaty opened China up to European trade and gave the territory of Hong Kong over to British control.

Example Question #231 : Sat Subject Test In World History

Which event led directly to control of what would come to be called British India by the British government?

Possible Answers:

The Sepoy Mutiny

The Battle of Plassey

The Seven Years' War

The Massacre at Amritsar

World War II

Correct answer:

The Sepoy Mutiny

Explanation:

In the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, Indian troops serving the British revolted against British rule, but were defeated, and the British government took direct control of British India from the East India Company shortly after. The Seven Years' War and the battle of Plassey occurred a century earlier, and simply marked the start of British dominance in India. The massacre of Amritsar and World War II both occurred in the 20th century, long after direct British rule in India started.

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