History Exam Study Questions (Chapter 15)

Haydn and Mozart perfected which musical style? a) classical b) baroque c) romantic d) modern

A While baroque music reached its peak during the first half of the eighteenth century, at the end of the century, Haydn and Mozart perfected the Classical style of music, leaving a lasting artistic legacy. The Romantic style would follow.

Although the authority of the King of France was technically absolute, the French state had chronic financial problems during Louis XV's reign. Which of the following contributed LEAST to the French economic distress? a) the King's opulent and lavish lifestyle b)Warfare c) the tax farming system d) The parlements

A Although he had a reputation among his subjects for his expensive lifestyle, costing him popularity, warfare and problems in tax collection were much more damaging factors, causing the bankruptcy of the French monarchy.

Upon inheriting the Austrian throne, Joseph II said that he had made what "the legislator of my empire"? a)philosophy b) power c) the Catholic church d) economic wealth

A As an enlightened monarch, Joseph II believed that it was his duty to rule according to the ideals of the Enlightenment. Although stable power and a healthy economy were vital for strong state, Joseph was conscious of a higher calling for the ruler.

The ability of Louis XV and XVI to reform France's finances was hampered by the... a) Parlements b) Philosophes c) peasants' inability to pay taxes d) Polish crisis

A Nobles were able to use the parlements to protect their exemption from paying taxes

The English Poor Laws.... a) required poor citizens to work on public projects or in workhouses b) provided a minimum wage for unskilled workers c) made it illegal for an impoverished mother to abandon her child d) granted a daily minimum ration of bread for the underprivileged

A Such laws were intended to control the poor rather than to offer them help. In some places, founding hospitals did allow women to give up their children without legal repercussions.

The Triangle of Trade, centered on the Caribbean, connected inhabitants of... a) Africa, the Americas, and Europe b) Europe, Canada, and Africa c) Africa, the Americas and the Mediterranean d) Africa, India, and Europe

A The entire Americas were involved in trade, from North to South, forming one point in the triangle an supplying many of the luxury items desired by Europeans. Europe offered manufactured goods, while slaves were taken from Africa to provide labor in the Americas.

British rural communities lost their land and were changed forever after 1750 because of .... a) the abolition of serfdom b) the enclosure movement c) the introduction of nutrient-rich potatoes d) Charles "Turnip" Townshend

B Although both the creation of large, commercial agricultural properties and the introduction of new crops and techniques were central to the Agricultural revolution, the enclosure movement allowed large landowners to dispossess the land of small farmers, destroying some local communities. Charles "Turnip" Townshend simply experimented with crop rotation and turnip cultivation.

On the eve of their revolution, American colonists lost patience with British rule and protested... a) their lack of universal suffrage b) the fact that they were taxed without being represented in Parliament c) the lack of religious freedom in England d) the slave trade

B American colonists were provoked to fight for their political independence from Britain by heavy taxes. Because they had no political input on the subject, they felt that they were not given the same rights as the king's subjects living in Britain.

George I and George II preferred to choose their ministers from which political party? a) the Tories b) the Whigs c) the Stuarts d) the Conservatives

B Because the Tories had favored replaces them with a Catholic Stuart, George I and George II chose their ministers from the Whigs

The influx of people from the countryside into cities looking for work as a result of the eighteenth century population explosion led to.... a)a decrease in industrial production b) increased poverty c) decline in the cottage industry d) the expansion of urban hospitals

B Cities were not prepared for the influx of people in terms of job opportunities and living amenities. This was the ironic price of the declining death rate and population explosion.

The continuing importance of religion and piety in life and a sense that official churches had become bureaucratized were reflected in the spread of... a) Protestantism b) religious revivals c) free Bibles d) charity hospitals

B Religious revivals spread throughout Europe and North America among several religions. One of the major revival movements was Methodism, founded in England by Wesley.

Peter the Great accomplished all of the following except for.... a) modernizing Russia's military and government b) freeing the Russian serfs c) making Russia a dominant power in the northeastern Europe d) making Russian nobles serve the state in the military and bureaucracy

B Russian peasants remained serfs until 1861. Peter attempted to Westernize Russia and make it a great power by modernizing Russia's military and governments, making Russia a dominant power in northeastern Europe and by making Russian nobles serve the stat in military and bureaucracy.

In the eighteenth century Atlantic economy, much wealth, commerce, and human suffering was generated by.... a)the Seven Years' War b) the slave trade c) Liverpool's banks d) King George II

B The slave trade was an integral part of the Atlantic economy, while the banks of Liverpool were merely one aspect of this larger mechanism. As such, the slave trade led to great wealth for some, and intense suffering for others.

Catherine the Great's attempts to implement her enlightened ideals in Russia resulted in.... a) a new constitution b) peace c) greater subjugation of the peasantry d) a Russian Encyclopedia

C Although Catherine spoke of improving the lives of peasants, she actually lessened their freedom in return for the nobles' support, especially in the 1767 Decree of Serfs. Catherine never attempted a new constitution, peace or a Russian Encyclopedia although she did try to reform the Russian legal code. Catherine's ambitious foreign policy would not allow for long periods of peace.

Middle class ideals and tastes were reflected in the literary form of the .... a) short story b) epic poem c) novel d) political essay

C Because much of the new reading public tended to be the bourgeoisie, the modern novel reflected their interest.

Politics in England tended to be more stable and effective than politics elsewhere in the 18th century. Which of the following contributed to this record of stability in Britain? a) The nature of British representation b) Low levels of political corruption c) the idea of a "loyal opposition" d) the absolute nature of the British monarchy

C Despite the great flaws of the political system, the British none the less developed a system of public debate between the party in power and a "loyal opposition" that greatly contributed to political stability.

Frederick the Great believed that the fundamental rule guiding European governments was... a) to achieve peace at any cost b) that a strong leader must never break a signed treaty c) to extend their territories d) to respect the sovereignty of independent states

C Frederick had stated that "the fundamental rule of governments is the principle of extending the territories" implying that the principle of balance of power did not mean that rulers desired peace and would shun war as a means of expanding their power.

After the ascension to the throne of George I in England, the Tories favored replacing him with .... a) Parliament b) George II c) James Stuart d) Robert Walpole

C The Tories supported a failed rebellion in favor of James, because they believed the rule of a Catholic Stuart would increase their power within Parliament in relation to the Whigs.

The growth of cottage industry helped to set the stage for... a) the Agricultural revolution b) the enclosure movement c) the Industrial Revolution d) increased taxation

C The enlargement of the cottage industry extended the money economy and the commercial marketplace in preparation for an even greater economic transformation and expansion in manufacturing.

British troops surrendered, ending the American revolution in 1781 at... a) New York b) New Amsterdam c) Yorktown d) Pittsburgh

C This defeat convinced the British of the need to recognize American independence. The British had fought the French near Pittsburgh in 1755 during the French and Indian War.

Poland was partitioned by the following three European powers: a) Russia, Prussia, France b) Russia, France, Austria c) France, Prussia, Austria d) Russia, Prussia, Austria

D Russia, Prussia and Austria divided and annexed Polish territory between 1772 and 1795 to satisfy their state-building ambitions.

Interest in popular literature directed at "ordinary people" expanded at the end of the eighteenth century because... a) the bourgeoisie had mastered early marketing techniques b) the European lower classes underwent a religious revival based on reading the Bible c) the price of printed materials went down d) literacy was increasing

D The most important reason was the rise of literacy due to the printing press, business needs, and a greater number of primary schools. More people were able to enjoy the written word, and interest in popular literature increased.