AP European History : AP European History

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP European History

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Example Questions

Example Question #461 : Ap European History

Why does France celebrate Bastille Day?

Possible Answers:

It marks the day that Napoleon became Emperor

It marks the end of the Reign of Terror

It marks the day of the beginning of the French Revolution

It marks the end of the French Revolution

Correct answer:

It marks the day of the beginning of the French Revolution

Explanation:

Bastille Day celebrates the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress, July 14th, 1789; which was the beginning of the French Revolution.

Example Question #462 : Ap European History

When the Tudor Line of England died with Elizabeth I, since she had no children, what new monarchy took over as the Kings and Queens of England.

Possible Answers:

The House of Windsor

The House of Stuarts

The House of Lancaster

The House of York

The House of Hannover

Correct answer:

The House of Stuarts

Explanation:

After the end of the Tudor line, the King of Scotland, James VI of Scotland, was invited by Parliament to take the throne of England and untie the two nations under one Stuart monarchy.

Example Question #463 : Ap European History

All of the following caused the English Civil War except _____________.

Possible Answers:

fears over increasing threats to royal authority

increased taxation

reforms to the Church of England that inspired fears of Catholicism

the widespread demand for an expanded electorate

King Charles I's inability to work with Parliament 

Correct answer:

the widespread demand for an expanded electorate

Explanation:

Although the Levellers did want to expand the electorate, they were only one part of the Parliamentarians, who were only one side of the fight during the Civil War. All of the other answers describe tensions that led to the war--increased taxation, fears over Catholicism, and the inability of Parliament and King Charles I to work together.

Example Question #464 : Ap European History

What was the first Constitution adopted by a European Government?

Possible Answers:

Constitution of France

The Spanish Constitution

May 3rd Constitution (Poland)

The Greek Constitution

Correct answer:

May 3rd Constitution (Poland)

Explanation:

Poland became the first nation to adopt a Constitution in 1791 when it attempted late reforms meant to pull the nation together and to defend against increased aggression by Poland's neighbors. It ultimately proved to serve the opposite as a new Polish government under this constitution would have been more powerful, and thus prompted Poland's neighbors (Prussia, Russia, and Austria) to invade and take over before this could happen.

Example Question #465 : Ap European History

What caused Henry VIII to split England off from the Roman Catholic Church and form the Church of England?

Possible Answers:

The Pope refused to annul Henry's second marriage

The Bishop of Canterbury told the Pope that Henry VIII wasn't going to church anymore

The Pope would not annul (cancel/allow a divorce) Henry's marriage with Catherine of Aragon

Henry VIII didn't like the Catholic church anymore and wanted to make his own church that he would like

The Pope wouldn't recognize Henry's daughter as ruler of England

Correct answer:

The Pope would not annul (cancel/allow a divorce) Henry's marriage with Catherine of Aragon

Explanation:

Henry wished to get a divorce with his then wife, Catherine, so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. Mostly because Catherine could not produce a male heir for him. 

Example Question #466 : Ap European History

What conflict, partially financed by the French Monarchy, was a key contributing factor to France's debt, which caused the monarchy to unfairly tax its citizens, which helped lead to the revolution of 1789?

Possible Answers:

The American Revolution

The War of the Roses

The French and Indian War

The Seven Years War

The Hundred Years War

Correct answer:

The American Revolution

Explanation:

The American Revolution was a key drain on France's funds, which caused the Monarchy to (ill-advisedly) decide on extreme taxation on the poor as a method to pay their debts.

Example Question #467 : Ap European History

Pugachev's Rebellion (1773-1774) was significant for which of the following reasons?

Possible Answers:

Pugachev's Rebellion was the first major uprising against a Russian Tsar. 

Pugachev's Rebellion was the last major uprising against a Russian Tsar before 1917.

Catherine deported all Cossacks out of the Russian Empire as punishment for supporting the Rebellion. 

It seriously hampered any enlightened tendencies of Catherine I of Russia and reinforced reactionary tendencies among Russia's ruling class. 

Pugachev was revealed to be the deposed Tsar Peter III in disguise. 

Correct answer:

It seriously hampered any enlightened tendencies of Catherine I of Russia and reinforced reactionary tendencies among Russia's ruling class. 

Explanation:

After Pugachev's Rebellion Catherine I took a strong stance against any revolutionary tendencies, domestic and abroad. She would subsequently take a negative view of both the American and French Revolutions. The other answers are incorrect for the following reasons: There had been several major uprisings against Russian Tsars before Pugachev, and his rebellion was not the last major uprising until 1917, as the Revolution of 1905 was absolutely a major uprising. There was a rumor that Pugachev was Peter III, but this was a lie spread by Pugachev to engender dissent against Catherine I. Finally, following Pugachev's rebellion Catherine opted to integrate and assimilate the Cossacks more into Russian culture and institutions, rather than deport them. 

Example Question #211 : Political History

The so-called "Auld Alliance" against the Kingdom of England in the early modern period refers to the formal and informal friendly relations between __________.

Possible Answers:

Ireland and Scotland

France and Spain

France and Ireland

France and Scotland

Scotland and Denmark

Correct answer:

France and Scotland

Explanation:

The "Auld Alliance" was a later term to denote the era between 1295, when John Balliol of Scotland and Philip IV of France formed an alliance against Edward I of England, and 1603, when James VI of Scotland united the crowns of Scotland and England as James I of England. The alliance was based on each country's long-standing issues with England, which often drew one country into the other's conflicts with the English monarchy.

Example Question #2 : Domestic And Foreign Policies

Which of the following did NOT contribute to the decline of Spain following its sixteenth-century golden age?

Possible Answers:

The revolt in the Netherlands against Spain in the late sixteenth century 

The expulsion of middle-class Jews and Muslims from Spain due to the Inquisition

Spain's lack of success in establishing successful, lucrative colonies during "the Age of Exploration"

Spain's ongoing war against England in the late sixteenth century

Heavy inflation, possibly resulting from the silver bullion flooding in from Spain's colonies

Correct answer:

Spain's lack of success in establishing successful, lucrative colonies during "the Age of Exploration"

Explanation:

Following the reign of Philip II, Spain went into a decline after experiencing a "siglo de oro" (golden century). The expulsion of Jews and Muslims may have contributed. Spain began to experience heavy inflation during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; a growing population and demand most likely contributed to this inflation, and some historians believe that increased silver bullion imports from Spain's colonies further contributed. Finally, Spain's involvement in religious wars of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries contributed to its decline, in part because they were so costly. In Spain's war against England, the famed Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588, though the war continued to drag on. Additionally, the Spanish-controlled Netherlands were in revolt through the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, culminating in a free Dutch Republic in 1648. Note, however, that Spain's exploration and colonization efforts during the sixteenth century were highly successful, with many colonies in North and South America, as well as the Philippines in Asia.

Example Question #3 : Domestic And Foreign Policies

The Soviet Union policy of glasnost was designed to __________.

Possible Answers:

allow greater autonomy for the Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe

reduce the number of nuclear weapons held in the Soviet Union

restructure the Soviet economy by allowing some capitalist reforms

provide transparency of government actions by loosening restrictions on freedom of press

reach a detente with the United States and the governments of Western Europe

Correct answer:

provide transparency of government actions by loosening restrictions on freedom of press

Explanation:

The Soviet policy of glasnost was initiated in 1985 during the administration of Mikhail Gorbachev. It was designed to provide openness and transparency in government by loosening the previously tight restrictions on freedom of the press. It was accompanied by perestroika, a restructuring of the Soviet economy to provide rudimentary capitalism.

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