Question 1

Charles Darwin was influenced by Thomas Malthus's theory of population that claimed that more individuals are born than can possibly survive and that thus there must be a struggle for existence.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Charles Darwin was influenced by Malthus's theory of population and incorporated it into his own theory of evolution through natural selection.

Question 2

In seeking unification, many Italian nationalists in the 1850s looked for leadership from

Accepted Answer

The kingdom of Piedmont, led by King Victor Emmanuel II and his prime minister Cavour, emerged as the most significant force in the Italian unification movement. They were able to successfully negotiate alliances with other states and use military force to defeat rival powers, ultimately leading to the establishment of a united Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

Question 3

Among Napoleon III's great domestic projects was

Accepted Answer

Napoleon III's great domestic project was the reconstruction of Paris with broad boulevards, public squares, and municipal utilities. He hired renowned urban planner Georges-Eugene Haussmann to redesign the city, resulting in the creation of the famous Grands Boulevards and other iconic features of the Parisian landscape.

Question 4

England and France entered the Crimean War in 1854 because they feared growing influence in the Mediterranean by

Accepted Answer

England and France entered the Crimean War in 1854 to prevent Russia from gaining too much influence and control in the Mediterranean region.

Question 5

Charles Dickens, whose novels focused upon the English lower and middle classes, was the greatest of the Victorian novelists in realistically portraying urban industrial society.

Accepted Answer

Charles Dickens is widely considered to be the greatest of the Victorian novelists in realistically portraying urban industrial society, with a focus on the lower and middle classes.

Question 6

The prime minister of Piedmont who organized the Italian unification movement was

Accepted Answer

Camillo di Cavour was the prime minister of Piedmont and played a crucial role in the unification of Italy as he implemented policies of economic modernization and secured alliances with other European powers. Giuseppe Mazzini was a nationalist, Giuseppe Garibaldi was a military leader, and Victor Emmanuel was the king of Piedmont-Sardinia. The Duke of Alba was a Spanish nobleman and not involved in Italian unification.

Question 7

The Ausgleich of 1867 failed to grant minorities in Austria and Hungary equal rights and status.

Accepted Answer

The Ausgleich of 1867, also known as the Compromise of 1867, created the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary but failed to grant equal rights and status to minorities in both Austria and Hungary. Ethnic groups such as the Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Ukrainians, Romanians, and Croats did not receive the same level of autonomy and representation as the dominant Austrians and Hungarians. This led to growing tensions and conflicts that ultimately contributed to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I.

Question 8

In 1852 the Second Empire in France was created

Accepted Answer

The Second Empire in France was created through a constitutional referendum held in November 1852. The majority of French voters (73%) voted in favor of the restoration of the empire and Louis Napoleon became Emperor Napoleon III. Therefore, option E is the correct answer.

Question 9

Although his domestic accomplishments were significant, Napoleon III's foreign policy was much less successful, as exemplified in his failed attempt to install Archduke Maximilian of Austria as emperor of Mexico.

Accepted Answer

Napoleon III's failed attempt to install Archduke Maximilian of Austria as emperor of Mexico was a significant failure in his foreign policy.

Question 10

The Eastern Question refers to the disintegration of

Accepted Answer

The Eastern Question refers specifically to the decline and eventual disintegration of the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Question 11

Napoleon III's most disastrous foreign policy adventure occurred in

Accepted Answer

Napoleon III's most disastrous foreign policy adventure occurred in Mexico, where he sent troops to establish an Austrian archduke as emperor. The intervention was a failure, and the French troops were eventually forced to withdraw in 1866, leaving the Austrian emperor Maximilian to be captured and executed.

Question 12

In 1861 the new kingdom of Italy was subordinated to the control of Piedmont and Victor Emmanuel II.

Accepted Answer

After the unification of Italy in 1861, Victor Emmanuel II became the constitutional monarch of the Kingdom of Italy, which was composed of various independent states, including Piedmont. Piedmont did not exert control over the new kingdom, as it was just one of its constituent parts.

Question 13

The beginnings of Marxism can be traced to the publication of Karl Marx's Das Kapital.

Accepted Answer

The beginnings of Marxism are more accurately traced to the publication of "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, which predates the publication of "Das Kapital."

Question 14

An overall result of the Crimean War was

Accepted Answer

The Crimean War (1853-1856) significantly weakened the Concert of Europe, a system of balance of power that had been established to maintain peace after the Napoleonic Wars. The war exposed the vulnerabilities of the major powers and disrupted the alliances that had been in place. This disruption created a political vacuum and opportunities for nationalist movements in Italy and Germany, leading to their unification processes in the latter half of the 19th century.

Question 15

When Tsar Alexander II emancipated Russia's serfs, he also forced landowners to pay them reparations for generations of exploited labor.

Accepted Answer

Tsar Alexander II's emancipation reform in 1861 freed the serfs but did not require landowners to pay reparations for past labor exploitation. Instead, the serfs had to buy land from their former owners, often at high prices, through government-facilitated payments.

Question 16

The dominant foreign power in Italy prior to unification was

Accepted Answer

Austria was the dominant foreign power in Italy prior to unification, with control over much of northern Italy and the city of Venice. Austria fought several wars against Italian nationalists seeking to unite the country, including conflicts in 1848 and 1859.

Question 17

The nation state of Germany was founded at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.

Accepted Answer

The formation of the German Empire, led by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, was a result of the Franco-Prussian War and was proclaimed in 1871. Therefore, the nation state of Germany was indeed founded at the conclusion of this war.

Question 18

Of the following, under the Second Empire, Napoleon III was most interested in

Accepted Answer

Napoleon III was particularly interested in developing France's industry, as he believed that economic growth and modernization were the key to securing France's position as a major power in Europe. He implemented a number of policies to encourage industrialization and modernization, such as promoting railroad construction, investing in new technologies and industries, and instituting tariffs to protect French businesses. While he did take part in some foreign adventures, particularly in Africa, his primary focus was on building up the French economy at home.

Question 19

Unike most of the other nations of Europe, Britain did not experience a violent revolution in 1848.

Accepted Answer

Britain did not experience a violent revolution in 1848, unlike many other European nations such as France, Germany, and Italy. However, there were some protests and uprisings in certain parts of Britain, particularly in Ireland.

Question 20

The Crimean War was caused primarily by the Ottoman Empire's attempt to destroy the Christian holy places in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Accepted Answer

The primary cause of the Crimean War was the dispute between Russia and the Ottoman Empire over control of the holy Christian sites in Jerusalem and Palestine. The Ottoman Empire was not attempting to destroy these sites, but rather maintain control over them. Other factors contributing to the War included territorial disputes, balance of power politics, and colonial ambitions.

Quiz 22: An Age of Nationalism and Realism, 1850-1871