World History MCQs

Notes:
In a revolution in 1911, China was proclaimed a republic. Dr. Sun Yat Sen had played an important role in this revolution. After this revolution failed, he formed a party called Kuomintang (KMT) and led the nationalist struggle against foreign domination and internal divisive forces for a number of years. After him, the leadership of KMT was taken over by Chiang Kai Shek. So, statement 1 is correct. Communist Party of China was formed in 1924 CE. Mao was playing a very important role in it. For a long time, there was a civil war like situation between the communists and the KMT. But, in 1930, when the Japanese attacked China with the aim of subjugating the whole country, both sides agreed to work together to resist the Japanese aggression. Thus, statement 2 is correct.

Notes:
Soviet Russia always suspected that the capitalist countries of Western Europe were siding with the Fascist forces to undermine Russia. Still, realizing the rising threat from Nazi Germany, Britain and France started negotiations with Soviet Russia for an alliance with Germany. But, the talks broke down. Soviet Union was now looking for some sort of strategic protection. So, on 23rd August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact. Under this pact, both were not supposed to attack one another. On 1st September, Germany invaded Poland and started WWII. So, option ‘a’ is the correct answer.

Notes:
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on 3 March 1918 between Russia and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire). It ended Russia’s participation in World War I.

Notes:
The first Soviet constitution was adoped on July 10, 1918. It created the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic.

Notes:
In the first party convention of Milan, Mussolini announced the programmes and Charter of demands of the party. They were:

• Nationalisation of factories
• Confiscation of surplus money from the capitalists
• Universal Franchise
• Forfeiture of the Church property
• Eight hours work in factories
• Framing of a new constitution.

These demands of the Fascist Party soon achieved popularity in Italy.

Notes:
Mussolini was an action oriented Prime Minister. He took the following steps for the reorganization of administration.

• The dacoits living in the interiors of Naples and Sicily were crushed.
• The economic and social conditions of the labourers were improved.
• Trade Unions were abolished.
• The entire powers of the Parliament were snatched.
• Members faithful to the leader alone were appointed as ministers and officers.

Notes:
On becoming Germany’s Chancellor in 1933, Hitler undertook a rearmament programme. His aggressive foreign policy led to the Second World War. Similarly, Mussolini organized the Fascist movement in Italy. He believed in dictatorship, aggressive foreign policy and colonial policy. Thus, he emerged as the Il Duce or supreme commander. The emergence of dictatorship in Europe paved the way for Second World War.

Notes:
The inter-war period witnessed the rise of dictatorships in Europe. The inter-war period is otherwise called the period of dictators. Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan witnessed the rise of dictators. In Germany, the Weimar Republic was weak. Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party took full advantage of the weakness of the Republican Government and brought the government under his control. He started aggression. He captured Austria and Czechoslovakia. At last he attacked Poland and World War II started.

Notes:
The end of the Second World War saw the rise of the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. as Super Powers. The strained relationship between these two countries till the collapse of the U.S.S.R is known as the Cold War. The term ‘Cold War’ was used for the first time by Bernard Baruch. Thereafter this term gained popularity through the journalist Walter Lippman.

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).