World History MCQs

Notes:
In January 1776, Thomas Paine came to America from England and issued a pamphlet “Common Sense”. It attacked the idea of hereditary monarchy and advocated democratic government. More than one lakh copies of this 50 page booklet were distributed throughout the thirteen colonies. It inculcated the fighting spirit among the Americans.

Notes:
The bankruptcy of French treasury was the starting point of the French Revolution. Louis XVI was faced with a serious financial situation. There was also no alternative but to propose new taxes.

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The States General consisted of three Estates Chambers. The first Estate was represented by the nobles, the second the clergy and the third by the common people. When the king called for its meeting, each Estate sat separately. However, the members of the third estate demanded a joint sitting and one vote for each member. As the first and second Estates did not concede to this demand, there was a deadlock. On 17th June 1789, the third Estate declared itself as the National Assembly.

Notes:
A large number of soldiers were brought to Versailles and Paris. Necker, the popular minister was also dismissed. On hearing this, the mob of Paris became violent. They attacked the State prison called the Bastille, murdered the guards and freed the prisoners. The fall of the Bastille was regarded in France as a triumph of liberty. The nobles voluntarily surrendered their feudal rights and the privileges on 4th August 1789. Feudalism and serfdom were abolished. The principle of equality was established.

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The term ‘Industrial Revolution’ was used by European scholars – Georges Michelet in France and Friedrich Engels in Germany.

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The primary cause of the Industrial Revolution was the scientific inventions. The earliest mechanical inventions came in the textile industry.

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England entered into an alliance with Japan in 1902. In 1904, they made alliance with France. In 1907 Russia joined this alliance. This had resulted in Triple Entente. Thus Europe was divided into two camps. The secret nature of these alliances brought about the war of 1914.

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Lenin, who was in exile in Switzerland at the time of the February Revolution, returned to Russia in April. Lenin gave his “April Theses”. This promised people what they wanted.

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After the war, Japan was placed under control of the Supreme Commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The new constitution took effect on 3rd May 1947. The United States and 45 other Allied nations signed the San Francisco Peace Treaty in September 1951. Following the treaty, Japan was made an independent nation once again.

Notes:
Following World War II, Poland found itself within the Soviet sphere of influence, leading to the establishment of a communist state. This period, lasting until 1989, was characterized by Soviet dominance in Polish political affairs, shaping the country’s governance and international relations during the Cold War era.