Free Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Whose rise to power in 1672 ended the Dutch Republic's first stadtholderless period?

   1. A.William III of OrangeCorrect answer: A
   2. B.William II of Orange
   3. C.Philip II of Spain
   4. D.Charles II of England

   Explanation: The Rijksmuseum states, "It didn’t end until his son William III came to power in 1672," referring to the stadtholderless period begun after William II died.

   Reference: The Republic — The Republic, introductory history

2. 2In the eighteenth century, what was the geographical scope of the Dutch East India Company's monopoly described by the Rijksmuseum?

   1. A.Dutch trade in Atlantic waters west of the Cape of Good Hope
   2. B.Dutch trade in Asian waters east of the Cape of Good HopeCorrect answer: B
   3. C.English trade in Asian waters east of the Cape of Good Hope
   4. D.Dutch trade in Mediterranean waters east of Gibraltar

   Explanation: The Rijksmuseum states, "It had a monopoly on all Dutch trade in Asian waters east of the Cape of Good Hope." The monopoly concerned Dutch trade, not all European trade.

   Reference: The Dutch East India Company (VOC) — The Dutch East India Company (VOC), introductory history

3. 3Which scientist presented the laws of motion and universal gravitation in the Principia?

   1. A.Isaac NewtonCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Robert Boyle
   3. C.Johannes Kepler
   4. D.Francis Bacon

   Explanation: The Royal Society describes Newton’s ideas in the Principia as including "his three Laws of Motion and law of universal gravitation".

   Reference: British astronaut Tim Peake’s next mission to International Space Station named Principia — Newton's ideas in the Principia

4. 4Who formed the National Assembly in France in June 1789?

   1. A.Third Estate deputies joined by some clergy and noblesCorrect answer: A
   2. B.The king's ministers and provincial intendants
   3. C.The clergy acting without representatives of other estates
   4. D.The nobility acting without representatives of other estates

   Explanation: Versailles records that "the deputies of the Third Estate, together with some members of the Nobility and the Clergy" formed the National Assembly.

   Reference: Versailles at the heart of the French Revolution — The Estates General and National Assembly

5. 5Why did Matthew Boulton seek a steam engine for his water-powered factory?

   1. A.The river already supplied more power than expansion required.
   2. B.The river could not supply enough power for expansion.Correct answer: B
   3. C.The water wheel was unable to power machinery at the factory.
   4. D.The river had been used only to cool the factory's engines.

   Explanation: The Science Museum explains that Boulton "wanted to expand but his river wasn’t big enough", so he sought a steam engine.

   Reference: James Watt, office equipment and high-street fashion — Boulton's factory and steam power

6. 6How did Metternich's government control political criticism before the 1848 revolution in Austria?

   1. A.It permitted political criticism while censoring only religious writing.
   2. B.It left political publications to voluntary review by publishers.
   3. C.It censored foreign publications but not domestic criticism.
   4. D.It censored printed matter and criticism of the political system.Correct answer: D

   Explanation: The Schönbrunn Group states that "All printed matter was strictly controlled" and criticism of the imperial household and political system was censored.

   Reference: Initial successes: the abolition of censorship — Opening summary

7. 7Who became the first king of the Kingdom of Italy formed in 1861?

   1. A.Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-SardiniaCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Napoleon III of France
   3. C.Franz Joseph I of Austria
   4. D.William I of Prussia

   Explanation: The Fondation Napoléon chronology identifies "Victor-Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia" as the kingdom’s first king.

   Reference: Life and Reign of Napoleon III — 1861 chronology

8. 8Whose assassination in June 1914 helped trigger the July crisis?

   1. A.Kaiser Wilhelm II
   2. B.Tsar Nicholas II
   3. C.Prime Minister Asquith
   4. D.Archduke Franz FerdinandCorrect answer: D

   Explanation: Imperial War Museums states, "On 28 June 1914 a Serbian-backed terrorist shot dead Archduke Franz Ferdinand". His assassination precipitated the July crisis.

   Reference: First World War Galleries: Large Print Guide — 02. Why War? Distant crisis

9. 9Why was Germany particularly vulnerable to the international financial crisis after 1929?

   1. A.Its economy depended on short-term loans from the United States.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Its economy depended mainly on long-term domestic government bonds.
   3. C.Its economy depended on short-term loans made to the United States.
   4. D.Its economy depended mainly on loans from German banks to foreign governments.

   Explanation: The Library of Congress country study states that German economic well-being "depended on short-term loans from the United States". Their recall intensified the crisis.

   Reference: Germany: A Country Study — Historical Setting, Great Depression and the Nazi rise

10. 10Which invasion began the Second World War in Europe in September 1939?

    1. A.Germany's invasion of Norway
    2. B.Germany's invasion of PolandCorrect answer: B
    3. C.The Soviet Union's invasion of Finland
    4. D.Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union

    Explanation: The Library of Congress states that the war began "with the Nazi invasion of Poland on Sept. 1".

    Reference: The Nazi War Atlas of Operation Barbarossa — The outbreak of war