First Exam

Question 1

French King executed during French Revolution

Answer 1

Louis 16th

Question 2

Congress of Vienna, time period

Answer 2

1814-15

Question 3

Key Diplomatic figures of Congress of Vienna

Answer 3

Talleyrand of France
Alexander I of Russia
Lord Robert Castlereagh of Great Britain
Klemens von Metternich of Austria/HRE

Question 4

Views of Castlereagh

Answer 4

Liberalism and Nationalism are problems that can be solved by allowing some reforms to keep a lid on revolution.

Question 5

Views of Metternich

Answer 5

Extremely conservative and very suspicious of the liberal ideas of the French and in some sense the American revolution. Liberalism and Nationalism should be resisted.

Question 6

Define liberalism in the context of the Congress of Vienna

Answer 6

Universal male suffrage.
Constitutional Monarchy in place of absolute monarchy.
Laissez-faire capitalism.

Question 7

Define Nationalism in the context of the Congress of Vienna

Answer 7

Association of pride with a nation state.

The romantic idea of self-determination for peoples with shared identity: ethnicity, language, religion.

Question 8

Goals and Results of Congress of Vienna

Answer 8

No one country among the powers should dominate Europe.

Must prevent another Napoleon Bonaparte.

France must be restored to original borders, no punitive measures taken against France.

Question 9

Name the 5 great powers during the age of mass politics

Answer 9

Austria, Great Britain, Russia, France and Prussia

Question 10

Who wrote The History of Naval Power and why is it important?

Answer 10

Alfred Mahan

He argued that in order to be a first rate military power you need a strong Navy. Massive investment in Navy follows.

Question 11

Why are the revolutions of 1830 and 1848 important?

Answer 11

It lead to more demand for liberties and reform, though little in the way of reform actually happens. Heavily influenced the creation of Belgium via the Treaty of London.

Question 12

What was Great Britain’s relationship to Belgium?

Answer 12

Great Britain would allow the creation of Belgium so long as Belgium remained a neutral power. In return for perpetual neutrality, Great Britain is obligated to defend Belgium from other nations.

Question 13

Who wrote Das Kapital?

Answer 13

Karl Marx and Fredrich Engles

Question 14

Ideas of Karl Marx

Answer 14

Not everyone has benefited from the Industrial Revolution, Urban poverty is a real problem. Marx advocated creating a classless society in which the worker will own and control the means of production.

Question 15

Czar in power during Crimean War

Answer 15

Nicholas I

Question 16

Crimean War

Answer 16

A war where Russia, seeking a warm-water port, tries to seize the Crimea peninsula. Britain and France, worried of a Russian controlled Mediterranean, come to the Ottoman’s aid and thwart Russian expansion.

Question 17

Nicholas I

Answer 17

Very conservative, oppressive and reactionary.

Started war in Crimea.

Question 18

Alexander II

Answer 18

Finished out war in Crimea.
A big reformer, he abolished serfdom on April 5, 1861, though a system wasn’t implemented to replace the feudal system. Though more liberal then Nicholas I, he wasn’t liberal enough and revolutionary groups assassinate him with a homemade bomb.

Question 19

How did Alexander II change the Russian military?

Answer 19

Only had to serve 6 years instead of 25. Became a more professional army. Allowed widows to remarry much quicker than before.

Question 20

Alexander III

Answer 20

Just like Nicholas I, reactionary, oppressive.
Establishes secret police.
His goal is to suppress revolution by any means.

Question 21

Nicholas II

Answer 21

Nice guy, but distrusted the masses. Hugely disconnected from his people.

Had 4 daughters and 1 son. Young Alexi has hemophilia. Leads Nicholas’ wife to consult a disreputable charlatan known as Rasputin.

Question 22

Russian Revolution of 1905

Answer 22

In the wake of a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Japanese, 100,00 factory workers march on the Czar’s palace. Guards fire on the crowd , killing 300. This shatters the people’s image of the Czar as protector of the people. Mass strikes ensue demanding a National Assembly, universal males suffrage, and freedom of the press. Duma (National Assembly) is established, though it held limited power.

Question 23

Otto Von Bismarck

Answer 23

Born from a lesser branch of Prussian nobility, he quickly rose through the ranks, a shrewd politician and diplomat. His one goal was German unification under Prussian leadership. Wasn’t big on liberal reform. Believed in “Real Politik”: a rational assessment of cost and consequences of actions in order to protect the best interests of the state.

Question 24

Territories that Prussia fought for against Denmark

Answer 24

Holstein-Schleswig

Question 25

7 weeks War

Answer 25

1866 between Austria and Prussia.

Prussia comes out as the lead in German state, Austria takes a back seat when it comes to German unification.

Prussia dominates northern confederation (Lutheran)

Bavaria dominates the South (catholic)