AP European History : Political History
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP European History
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Example Questions
Example Question #321 : Political History
Which of the following is not part of the legacy of Louis XIV?
France became a touchstone of religious tolerance
Louis greatly strengthened royal power
The French army became the strongest in Europe
French culture, manners, and customs became the European standard
France became a touchstone of religious tolerance
Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had given protestants a measure of equality. Louis sought to unify the nation under Catholicism and often persecuted protestants.
Example Question #322 : Political History
Ivan the Terrible is infamous for his violent treatment of his enemies, subjects, and those closest to him. He even killed what member of his inner circle?
His son, Feodor
His son, Ivan
His wife, Anastasia Romanovna
General Alexander Gorbatyi-Shuisky
His son, Ivan
Ivan the Terrible struck his son's wife, causing her to have a miscarriage. After these events Ivan confronted his father, Ivan the Terrible, and in a fit of rage Ivan the Terrible hit over the head with his septor killing him. Such tales of violence were a significant aspect of Ivan's reputation and lasting legacy.
Example Question #323 : Political History
What was the reason for French Wars of Religion between the French Government and the Huguenots in the 16th Century?
Regional autonomy
Huguenot attempts for independence
Religious differences
disagreement over the rightful heir to the throne
Religious differences
The French government was controlled by the Catholic Royal family, while the Huguenots were Protestants who did not want to follow the orders of the Catholic King. These conflicts began in 1562 and lasted all the way to 1598, when it was resolved by the Edict of Nantes, after which Henry IV took over as ruler of France.
Example Question #40 : War And Civil Conflict
What was Louis XIV's primary method for achieving his foreign policy goals?
Diplomacy
Strategic marriages of his children, nieces, and nephews
Constant warfare
Alliance building
Constant warfare
Louis XIV kept France in a near constant state of warfare. By the end of his reign France was left with virtually no allies, as they had gone to war with essentially every neighboring nation at least once.
Example Question #324 : Political History
Before the reign of Peter the Great Russia had no port city that was open and free from ice year round. Peter strove for many years to gain such a port. What nation did he fight in an attempt to gain such a port?
The Ottoman Empire
Sweden
China
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire controlled the whole of the Black Sea, which remained free of ice in the winter, and could therefore host a port for Russia that could connect them to the world through the whole year. Peter fought unsuccessfully with the Ottomans through his entire reign to gain territory on the Black Sea.
Example Question #325 : Political History
Which Northern European nation did Peter the Greats Russia fight against in the Great Northern War?
Denmark-Norway
Sweden
Poland
Lithuania
Sweden
Sweden was one of the foremost powers in Europe at the time of the Great Northern War. Russia sought to establish itself as a power to be reckoned with and therefore sought to defeat Sweden and take a significant chunk of its territory in what is modern day Latvia and Estonia. The Great Northern War began in 1700 and lasted until 1721.
Example Question #326 : Political History
Following Russian Victory in the Great Northern War, Russia annexed territory from Sweden along the Baltic Sea. After this Peter decided to build a new capital city for Russia in this territory. What was the name of this new city?
Riga
Murmansk
St. Petersburg
Tallin
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg was built on swampland on the shoreline of the Gulf of Finland. it was meant to be the new, modern, capital of Russia. It was also meant to be the major port for Russia, as it would be free from ice for more of each year than any other Russian port, as Peter had failed to take a warm water port from the Ottomans.
Example Question #585 : Ap European History
What major goal of Peter the Great did Catherine the Great finally see realized?
Westernizing Russia
Conquering Poland
Defeating Sweden
Winning a warm water port from the Ottomans
Winning a warm water port from the Ottomans
In the First Russo-Turkish War, Russia won a large portion of territory on the Black Sea, including the port city of Azov.
Example Question #586 : Ap European History
In the late 1700's Catherine the Great participated, along with Prussia and Austria, in the partition of which nation?
Poland
Hungary
Ukraine
Sweden
Poland
The Partitions of Poland took place from 1772-95, dividing the nation of Poland between these three more powerful nations.
Example Question #327 : Political History
Catherine the Great was Czar of Russia from 1762-1796. How did she become Czar?
She was the eldest child of the late Czar and inherited the throne
She had her husband (the Czar) killed
Her father died without a son and so she inherited the throne
the Romanov line ended without an heir, and she was invited to rule since she was the Czars cousin.
She had her husband (the Czar) killed
Catherine did not have a good relationship with her husband. She was also very hungry for power, and therefore she helped a group of guards and nobles who similarly disliked the Czar, to overthrow him, force him to abdicate, and ultimately killed him, leaving Catherine to inherit the throne.
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