World History MCQs
World History Multiple Choice Quiz Questions (MCQs) on Ancient World History, Medieval World History and Modern World History for various UPSC, PCS and other Competitive Examinations.
21. Who is regarded as an inspiration of French Revolution?
[A] Rousseau
[B] Karl Marx
[C] Lenin
[D] Gramsci
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rousseau]
Notes:
Rousseau is regarded as the source of inspiration of the great French Revolution that took place in 1789 as his ideas not only inspired poets and men of letters but included the revolutionary upsurge that shook the French polity to its foundation.
22. Which of the following is also known as the “November Revolution”?
[A] French Revolution of 1918-1919
[B] German Revolution of 1918-1919
[C] Russian Revolution of 1918-1919
[D] Italian Revolution of 1918-1919
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [German Revolution of 1918-1919]
Notes:
The German Revolution of 1918-1919 or November Revolution, happened as part of the Revolutions of 1917–1923 and political violence in Germany (1918–33), was a civil conflict in the German Empire at the end of the First World War that resulted in the replacement of the German federal constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary republic that later became known as the Weimar Republic. The revolutionary period lasted from November 1918 until the adoption in August 1919 of the Weimar Constitution. It leads to the Weimar Republic victory, abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II, the monarchy of Germany and its 22 constituent monarchies abolished, suppression of leftist uprisings, including Spartacist uprising, end of the First World War and the establishment of the Weimar Republic.
23. Which country passed the “Enabling Act of 1933” that gave formal legal sanction to dictatorship?
[A] Germany
[B] France
[C] Italy
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Germany]
Notes:
Germany passed the “Enabling Act of 1933” that gave formal legal sanction to dictatorship. The Enabling Act of 1933, was a law that gave the German Cabinet—in effect, the Chancellor—the power to enact laws without the involvement of the Reichstag and to override fundamental aspects of the Weimar Constitution. The Enabling Act gave Hitler plenary powers and followed on the heels of the Reichstag Fire Decree, which had abolished most civil liberties and transferred state powers to the Reich government. The combined effect of the two laws was to transform Hitler’s government into a legal dictatorship.
24. What was the original purpose for the formation of the the “African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC)”?
[A] To peacefully campaign for independence of Guinea-Bissau from France.
[B] To peacefully campaign for independence of Guinea-Bissau from Portugal.
[C] To peacefully campaign for independence of Guinea-Bissau from Spain.
[D] To peacefully campaign for independence of Guinea-Bissau from Italy.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [To peacefully campaign for independence of Guinea-Bissau from Portugal.]
Notes:
To peacefully campaign for the independence of Guinea-Bissau from Portugal was the original purpose for the formation of the the “African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC)”. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) is a political party in Guinea-Bissau. Originally formed to a peaceful campaign for independence from Portugal, the party turned to armed conflict in the 1960s and was one of the belligerents in the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence. Towards the end of the war, the party established a socialist one-party state, which remained intact until multi-party democracy was introduced in the early 1990s.
25. Which of the following were the belligerents of the “Battle of Vertieres, 1803”?
[A] Haitian Rebels and France
[B] Haitian Rebels and Spain
[C] Haitian Rebels and Portugal
[D] Haitian Rebels and United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Haitian Rebels and France]
Notes:
Haitian Rebels and France were the belligerents of the “Battle of Vertieres, 1803”. The Battle of Vertieres was the last major battle of the Haitian Revolution, and the final part of the Haitian Revolution under Jean Jacques Dessalines. It was fought on 18 November 1803 between Haitian indigenous army, and Napoleon’s French expeditionary forces, who were openly committed to re-enslave the former enslaved people and regain control of the island.
26. The “Hungarian Revolution of 1956” was a nationwide revolution against which following power?
[A] Germany
[B] Soviet Union
[C] Italy
[D] Austria
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Correct Answer: B [Soviet Union]
Notes:
The “Hungarian Revolution of 1956” was a nationwide revolution against the Soviet Union. The Hungarian Revolution of 1956, or the Hungarian Uprising, was a nationwide revolution against the Hungarian People’s Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956. Leaderless at the beginning, it was the first major threat to Soviet control since the Red Army drove Nazi Germany from its territory at the End of World War II in Europe. The revolution was crushed by the Soviet Union which leads to its victory.
27. The “Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive, 1943” was a joint effort of Hungary and Italy, as part of World War II, against which country?
[A] Germany
[B] Soviet Union
[C] France
[D] United Kingdom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Soviet Union]
Notes:
The “Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive, 1943” was a joint effort of Hungary and Italy, as part of World War II, against the Soviet Union. The Ostrogozhsk–Rossosh Offensive was an offensive of the Voronezh Front on the Eastern Front of World War II against the Hungarian 2nd Army and partially Italian 8th Army as part of the Voronezh–Kharkov Offensive. The offensive is better known as part of Operation Little Saturn.
28. From which country, Indonesia was declared independent in 1945?
[A] Portugal
[B] United Kingdom
[C] Netherlands
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Netherlands]
Notes:
Indonesia was declared independent in 1945 from the Netherlands. In 1602, the Dutch established the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and became the dominant European power for almost 200 years. Only in the early 20th century did the Dutch dominance extend to what was to become Indonesia’s current boundaries. The Japanese invasion and subsequent occupation during World War II ended Dutch rule and encouraged the previously suppressed independence movement. Two days after the surrender of Japan in August 1945, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, influential nationalist leaders, proclaimed Indonesian independence and were appointed president and vice-president respectively.
29. Malaysia got its independence from which of the following country?
[A] France
[B] Germany
[C] USA
[D] UK
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Correct Answer: D [UK]
Notes:
Malaysia is an island country which is located in the south east Asia. The country was a British Protectorate until 1957.
30. Consider the following statements with respect to the important political traditions of the 19th century :
- Liberals supported the idea of constitutional monarchy based on the universal adult franchise.
- Radicals were opposed to the concept of private property.
- Conservatives were opposed to radicals and liberals.
Which of the above is / are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 1 and 2
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] Only 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Only 3]
Notes:
Liberals wanted a nation which tolerated all religions. They wanted to safeguard the rights of individuals against governments. They argued for an elected parliamentary government, rule of law, separation of power and an independent judiciary. However, they were not ‘democrats’. They did not believe in universal adult franchise, that is, the right of every citizen to vote. They felt men of property mainly should have the vote. They also did not want the vote for women. So, statement 1 is incorrect. Radicals wanted a government that was based on the elected majority. Many supported women’s suffragette movements. Unlike liberals, they opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory owners. They were not against the existence of private property but disliked concentration of property in the hands of a few. So, statement 2 is incorrect. Conservatives were opposed to radicals and liberals. Earlier, in the eighteenth century, conservatives had been generally opposed to the ideas of change. After the French Revolution, however, even conservatives had opened their minds to the need for change. By the nineteenth century, they accepted that some change was inevitable but believed that the past had to be respected and change had to be brought through a slow process. So, statement 3 is correct.