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 #7 : 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:

the abolition of free market capitalism and a return to mercantilism 

the supremacy of Parliament 

a return to Catholicism 

the supremacy of the monarchy 

the adoption of free market capitalism 

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 #11 : English Civil War And Great Britain

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

Possible Answers:

gambling

bars and pubs

metalworking

plays

sports

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 #12 : English Civil War And Great Britain

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

Possible Answers:

the rise of Oliver Cromwell

rising taxes

religious tensions between different Protestant sects

King Charles' inability to work with Parliament

fear of a Catholic heir to the English throne

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 Napoleonic Wars

The Peninsula War

The Thirty Years War

The War of the Spanish Succession

The American Revolution

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 #151 : 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

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

Possible Answers:

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

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

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 #1 : Absolutism And Constitutionalism

In what year did the French Revolution begin? 

Possible Answers:

1789

1815

1803

1905

1848

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 #2 : Absolutism And Constitutionalism

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

Thomas Jefferson

Rene Descartes

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.

Example Question #3 : Absolutism And Constitutionalism

The Congress of Vienna occurred after which major European conflict?

Possible Answers:

The Franco-Prussian War

World War One

The Napoleonic Wars

The Crimean War

The Seven Years' War

Correct answer:

The Napoleonic Wars

Explanation:

The Congress of Vienna was a meeting of various European heads of states in 1815 in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. The Congress was focused on two major issues: reordering Europe and protecting the "balance of power," and ensuring the continued legitimacy of the absolutist and constitutional monarchs of Europe.

Example Question #4 : Absolutism And Constitutionalism

In which century did Thomas Hobbes write Leviathan?

Possible Answers:

The nineteenth century

The nineth century

The eighteenth century

The seventeenth century

The sixteenth century

Correct answer:

The seventeenth century

Explanation:

The Leviathan was published in 1651 and was written by English philosopher Thomas Hobbes. In Leviathan, Hobbes argues that mankind is inherently selfish and inclined towards aggression and disorder. He purports that there exists a “state of nature” of mankind that is, primarily, the “war of all against all.” In order to prevent mankind from constantly warring with one another, Hobbes argues for an absolute monarch and a rigidly structured social order. Hobbes can be seen as the philosophical opposite of John Locke, who argued that mankind was inherently good and that absolute government corrupted those in power into serving solely their own interests. These two political philosophies have clashed ever since, particularly in Europe, and both remain deeply influential in contemporary political thought. 

Example Question #161 : 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

Francis Bacon's model of empiricism is concerned with which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Remedying the divisive problems of the Protestant Reformation in English society

Understanding the limitations of conventional mathematics and providing the groundwork for Newton's invention of calculus

Encouraging the teaching of the Socratic method in schools to engender creativity and unconventional thinking in young people

Establishing proper procedure for carrying out scientific experiments

Rejecting the role of the Catholic Church in secular European government

Correct answer:

Establishing proper procedure for carrying out scientific experiments

Explanation:

Francis Bacon was an English thinker during the Scientific Revolution. He might even reasonably be called "The Father of the Scientific Revolution" for his work on the scientific method and empiricism. The scientific method established an inductive method of inquiry that focuses on the procedure of scientific research to ensure it is carried out free from bias and outside influence to produce the most accurate results. Bacon's methods are still relevant and practiced today.

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