World History MCQs

Notes:
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:
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:
During the war Germany and its allies were called Central Powers. England and her allies were called Allied Powers. Germany entered the war to defend Austria. Shortly all the powers in the hostile camps were automatically drawn into the war.

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.

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The fall of the Tszar is known as the February Revolution because, according to the old Russian calendar, it occurred on 27 February 1917.

Notes:
The unpopularity of the Kerensky’s government led to its collapse on 7th November 1917, when a group of soldiers occupied the Winter Palace, the seat of the Kerensky Government. An All-Russian Congress of Soviets met on the same day and assumed full political power. This event which took place on 7 November is known as the October Revolution because of the corresponding date of the old Russian calendar, 25 October.

Notes:
On December 30, 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics came into being. However, soon the new Soviet state was involved in a civil war. The officers of the army of the fallen Tsar organised an armed rebellion against the Soviet state. Troops of foreign powers—England, France, Japan, the United States and others— joined them. War was fought till 1920. By this time the ‘Red Army’ of the new state was in control of almost all the lands of the old Czarist empire. Indeed, a revolutionary wave lasted until 1923.

Notes:
Benito Mussolini was the originator of the idea of Fascism. He was born in 1883. Mussolini’s father an ironsmith, was a follower of Socialism. Hence, Mussolini was influenced by the socialistic ideology.

Notes:
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:
Between 1955 and 1958, West Asia remained the centre of the Cold War. In the series of western military pacts, the Baghdad Pact was concluded in 1955, later known as Central Treaty Organization (CENTO).