World History MCQs

Notes:
The First World War and the Civil War in the wake of Bolshevik revolution had ravaged the Russian economy. Famines had consumed millions of people. In 1921, industrial production was 14% of what it had been before 1914. Redistribution of land had affected food production. Soviet government had adopted the War Communism to deal with the unprecedented situation. Whatever was produced in the industries and on farms was highly rationed. All this created widespread resentment. In 1921, a new policy, called the New Economic Policy (NEP) was adopted and the War Communism was withdrawn. It was launched by Vladimir Lenin. Peasant control was restored on their produce, salaries were paid in cash, trade in goods was reopened and efforts were made to rehabilitate the economy. In some industries, private management was introduced and many small industries were allowed to remain in private hands. A large number of cooperatives were set up. Along with this, strategically important industries remained under government control. So, all the statements are true.

Notes:
In June 1940, France surrendered in the WWII. While the northern France was occupied by the German troops, a French government was allowed to retain control over about half of France. This government moved to Vichy, hence it was called the Vichy government and the area under its control was called the ‘Vichy France’. The Vichy France collaborated with the Nazi Germany and in turn, it was allowed to maintain control over its colonies. So, statement 1 is correct. Charles de Gaulle, who had been a colonel in the French army at the time of the German invasion of France, had escaped to Britain after the surrender by the French government. Under the leadership of de Gaulle, now General de Gaulle, the Free France movement was started and a French army was organised in Britain to fight against the Nazi Germany. Charles de Gaulle later went on to become the President of France. So, statement 2 is correct.

Notes:
After the Japanese occupation of Korea ended as a result of the defeat of Japan, Korea had been divided into two occupation zones- the northern zone under the Soviet Union and the southern zone under the USA. The division was along the 38th parallel. Both these powers set up friendly regimes within their occupation zones in the North and South Korea respectively. The Korean War could also not change this boundary. So, the correct answer is option ‘b’.

Notes:
‘What Is the Third Estate?’ is a political pamphlet written by French thinker and clergyman Abbe Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes in January 1789, shortly before the outbreak of the French Revolution. In the pamphlet, Sieyes argued that the Third Estate – the common people of France – constituted a complete nation.

Notes:
On 4th July 1776, the American Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. It was prepared by a committee of five led by Thomas Jefferson who included the ideals of human freedom in it.

Notes:
Diderot and D’ Alembert published the Encyclopedia. It contained several essays and articles written by revolutionary thinkers.

Notes:
The immediate cause was the assassination of Arch Duke Francis Ferdinand who was heir to the Austrian throne. Arch Duke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated by Serbians in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo when they paid a visit to this city on 28th June 1914. The news of this murder shocked many countries. Austria-Hungary was already sick of Serbia and she decided to take advantage of the new situation to crush her. The murder of their crown prince and his wife resulted in an ultimatum being sent to Serbia for immediate compliance of certain terms. Serbia’s reply did not pacify Austria-Hungary. Hence, Austria-Hungary backed by Germany declared war on Serbia. Russia mobilised her forces in favour of Serbia.

Notes:
One of the most important events in the history of socialist movement was the formation in 1864 of the International Working Men’s Association or the First International. During the short period of its existence, the International exercised a tremendous influence on workers’ movements in Europe.

Notes:
After the end of the First World War, Palestine had been handed over to Great Britain under the mandate system. But the struggle arose between the Arabs and the Jews which created disturbance and tension in Palestine. After the Second World War U.N.O. appointed a special committee to study the problem of Palestine. The Committee recommended immediate partition of Palestine into three parts – an Arab State, a Jewish State and the City of Jerusalem which was to be governed by the Trusteeship Council of the U.N.O. Thus, an independent state of Israel was established for the Jews in 1948.

Notes:
With the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe occurred. The bipolar world became unipolar world. On 31st July 1991, American President George Bush and Soviet leader Michael Gorbachev signed the ‘historic’ START – I Treaty in the Moscow Summit. This marks the end of the Era of Cold War.