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 #15 : Major Developments

The First Indian National Congress was founded in ________.

Possible Answers:

1946

1941 

1914 

1885 

1857

Correct answer:

1885 

Explanation:

The First Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by a collection of British and Indian elites who were seeking greater political participation for themselves. However, over the years it transitioned into India’s leading organization pushing for Independence and immediately after independence the INC became the dominant political party in India’s newly-established democracy - a dominance that has only very recently been challenged by the rise of the Hindu-nationalist BJP. 

Example Question #16 : Major Developments

The European Union was officially founded in the ________, after the signing of the Maastricht Treaty.

Possible Answers:

1990s 

1980s 

1950s

1960s

1940s

Correct answer:

1990s 

Explanation:

The present European Union was founded on November 1st 1993. The European Union is a political and economic organization of European states designed to foster co-operation, transparency, and friendship. In terms of the wide prism of the whole of European history it can be viewed as a direct consequence of hundreds of years of brutal international European wars - the last two of which, World War’s One and Two were the most severe and all encompassing - and the desire to forever end war in Europe. 

Example Question #1 : Development Of Cities

The "Great Migration" of the twentieth century involved __________.

Possible Answers:

Europeans fleeing conflict in Europe and migrating to the United States

Jews fleeing Europe and moving either to the newly established country of Israel, Canada, or the United States

Catholics moving from the Northeast to the South and West of America

Hispanics moving from the Southwest to the Northeast of America

African-Americans moving from the South to the North and West of America

Correct answer:

African-Americans moving from the South to the North and West of America

Explanation:

The so-called "Great Migration" took place from approximately 1910 to 1970. It was a massive movement of African-Americans (roughly six million) from the South of the country to cities in the North and West. Cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles were primary destinations for African-American migration.

Example Question #1 : Colonization And Imperialism

Which of the following best describes the Sepoy Uprising?

Possible Answers:

A rebellion in India against British rule

A rebellion in Vietnam against Chinese occupation

A rebellion in the United States against taxation without representation

A rebellion in Anatolia against the Ottoman Empire

A rebellion in China against foreign influence

Correct answer:

A rebellion in India against British rule

Explanation:

The Sepoy Uprising, which took place in India, was a revolt by native Indians serving in the English army—known as sepoys—against British rule.

The Boxer Rebellion was a revolt in China as a protest against foreign influence.

The Whiskey Rebellion was a revolt in the United States against taxation without representation.

Example Question #1 : Colonization And Imperialism

Leopold II __________.

Possible Answers:

was exiled to the United States following his defeat by the forces of Napoleon

contested French and Prussian dominance of the European continent during the Franco-Prussian Wars

is most frequently remembered for his support of the arts and sciences during his fifty year reign on the Belgian throne

was responsible for a mass humanitarian disaster in the Congo region in the late nineteenth century

abdicated his throne in favor of the installation of a republican government

Correct answer:

was responsible for a mass humanitarian disaster in the Congo region in the late nineteenth century

Explanation:

Leopold II was King of Belgium from 1865-1909. He is primarily remembered for his establishment and subsequent gross exploitation of the Free Congo State. Leopold II believed that in order for Belgium to be a strong nation, it had to own colonies of its own, so he occupied and controlled the African Congo region. Millions of Congolese perished under the brutal and apathetic rule of the Belgians. The Congolese were enslaved to collect ivory and rubber, mutilated and murdered when they did not meet the quotas set by the Belgian authorities, and denied access to education and health care.

Example Question #2 : Colonization And Imperialism

The Berlin Conference was __________.

Possible Answers:

crucial to ending the hostilities of the Franco-Prussian War

attended by dignitaries from all over the fragmented German states and resulted in unification under the leadership of Prussia

a spectacular failure due to a complete breakdown of diplomatic protocol

intended to ensure a lasting peace on the European continent by limiting the size of armed forces

primarily concerned with dividing up African territory between the European powers

Correct answer:

primarily concerned with dividing up African territory between the European powers

Explanation:

The Berlin Conference occurred in 1885 and was primarily concerned with dividing up the African territory amongst the European powers. It occurred at the height of the last era of European Imperialism. It also, notably, coincided with the rise of Germany and the growing aspirations of Leopold II of Belgium.

Example Question #4 : Colonization And Imperialism

Which of these is NOT a territory in which land was gained by the United States as a result of the Spanish-American War?

Possible Answers:

Guam 

Hawaii 

The Philippines

Cuba 

Puerto Rico 

Correct answer:

Hawaii 

Explanation:

The United States defeated the waning Spanish empire in the Spanish-American War in 1898. As a result of the war, the United States briefly gained control over Cuba and the Philippines and somewhat permanently gained control of Puerto Rico and Guam. Many historians consider the Spanish-American War to be the moment where America emerged as the dominant imperial and global power of the twentieth century. Hawaii was annexed by the United States around the same time, in 1897, but would remain a territory until 1959, when a national referendum voted to join the United States as the fiftieth state in the Union.

Example Question #5 : Colonization And Imperialism

The Suez Canal was built in which country during the nineteenth century?

Possible Answers:

France 

Egypt 

Mexico 

Britain 

Panama 

Correct answer:

Egypt 

Explanation:

The Suez Canal was built in Egypt by the British and the French in the nineteenth century. The motivation behind building the Suez Canal becomes immediately apparent when viewing a map. Before the canal was built, a ship sailing from India to Europe had to go around the whole continent of Africa, but the Suez Canal allows ships to sail directly from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean, cutting down the journey's distance by more than half.

Example Question #6 : Colonization And Imperialism

Which was the last African territory to remain free of European Imperialism?

Possible Answers:

Congo 

Ghana 

South Africa 

Algeria

Ethiopia 

Correct answer:

Ethiopia 

Explanation:

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, there was a rapid occupation of the African continent by the European powers. Of the five countries mentioned in the answer choices, South Africa was occupied first by the Dutch, then the British; Algeria by the French; Ghana by the British; and the Congo by the Belgians. Only Ethiopia, under the skilled leadership of Haile Selassie, remained free of European control.

Example Question #3 : Socioeconomic Classes 600 Bce To 600 Ce

Which of the following is a factor that contributed to the collapses of both the classical empires of Rome and Han?

Possible Answers:

Invasion by the Visigoths

Decreases in population

Invasion by the Huns

Increases in population

Difficulty collecting taxes

Correct answer:

Difficulty collecting taxes

Explanation:

Difficulty in collecting taxes was a major contributing factor to the fall of both the Han and Roman empires. In the Roman Empire, wealthy land owners avoided paying taxes, and tax collectors were often driven away by the private armies of these wealthy landowners. In the Han Empire, scholar officials were not required to pay taxes, and an increase in population led to smaller family farm operations, which in turn made it more difficult for people—especially in the peasant class—to pay taxes.

While the population increase in the Han Empire contributed to its collapse, the collapse of the Roman Empire was partially attributable to population decreases caused by plagues.

Invasion by the Huns and the Visigoths took place only in the Roman Empire, not in the Han Empire.

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