Question 1

Positivism was
A)the idea that positive thinking made life better.
B)an economic philosophy calling for a positive trade balance.
C)a new mathematical theory.
D)the idea that human progress is inevitable.
E)the idea that modern technology is a positive thing.

Accepted Answer

Positivism was a social and political philosophy that emerged in the 19th century, which asserted that human progress is inevitable. It was based on the belief that scientific knowledge and rational thinking could solve all human problems, leading to the betterment of society. The philosopher Auguste Comte is credited with founding positivism.

Question 2

Why did the historian Joseph Ernest Renan face opposition?
A)He argued that the Scriptures should be studied like any other historical document.
B)He argued that France and French culture were neither unique nor great.
C)He argued that the French Revolution was a mistake.
D)He argued that France should emulate British politics.
E)He argued that religion was the "opium of the masses."

Accepted Answer

Joseph Ernest Renan faced opposition because he argued that the Scriptures, particularly the Bible, should be studied like any other historical document, which challenged the traditional religious beliefs of many people in his time.

Question 3

One of Friedrich Nietzsche's most famous quotes is,
A)"God is dead … and we have killed him."
B)"God does not play dice."
C)"Modern life is an iron cage."
D)"Women's rights are … a mad,wicked folly."
E)"Show me an angel and I will paint one."

Accepted Answer

This quote represents Nietzsche's critique of the decline of religion in western society and the death of God as a moral authority. He believed that the loss of religion left a moral vacuum that needed to be filled by individual will to power and creating one's own values.

Question 4

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)believed that society could be studied using
A)art.
B)science.
C)literature.
D)anthropology.
E)psychology.

Accepted Answer

Auguste Comte is considered to be the founder of sociology as a scientific discipline. He believed that society could and should be studied using scientific methods, just like any other natural science.

Question 5

Impressionism was an artistic style that
A)emphasized feelings.
B)emphasized form over matter.
C)depicted natural scenes of the countryside with humans incorporated in the picture.
D)wanted to "impress" the viewer with bold colors.
E)wanted to "impress" critics with new forms.

Accepted Answer

Impressionism is an artistic movement that emphasizes capturing the fleeting effects of natural light and color in the countryside, often featuring humans or man-made structures as part of the scene. The movement de-emphasizes the form of objects and emphasizes the overall sensory impression.

Question 6

What were the Barbizon painters?
A)a group that painted formal portraits
B)a group that painted village life
C)a group that painted religious scenes
D)a group that painted imaginary scenes
E)a group that painted city life

Accepted Answer

The Barbizon painters were a group of French painters in the mid-19th century who painted scenes of rural life, particularly landscapes and village life. They were named after the village of Barbizon, where many of the painters lived and worked.

Question 7

Just before the First World War,the largest and best-organized socialist party in Europe was
A)the British Labor Party.
B)the French Radical Party.
C)the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party.
D)the Italian Socialist Party.
E)the German Social Democratic Party.

Accepted Answer

The German Social Democratic Party (SPD) was the largest and best-organized socialist party in Europe before World War I. It had a significant number of members and won a substantial number of seats in the German Reichstag. The SPD was dedicated to achieving socialist reforms through parliamentary means, and had a strong influence on the labor movement both in Germany and internationally.

Question 8

Émile Durkheim attributed the rise in crime and other modern problems to
A)the high consumption of alcohol.
B)the use of drugs.
C)increased poverty.
D)the women's movement.
E)urbanization and the decrease of religious practices.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim believed that modern society's individualistic values and decreased emphasis on traditional religion led to a breakdown in social solidarity, leading to an increase in deviant behavior such as crime. Urbanization played a role in this shift away from traditional values and practices, as people were more anonymous and disconnected from their communities in urban areas.

Question 9

What were some of the paternalistic policies utilized by late-nineteenth-century industrialists to maintain worker loyalty?
A)They provided free food for all workers.
B)They reminded them that the factory owners were like the patriarchs of the Bible.
C)They encouraged workers to save money by matching sums,and started funds for insurance and pension plans.
D)They required mandatory church attendance.
E)They employed only married men in the factory.

Accepted Answer

Late-nineteenth-century industrialists utilized paternalistic policies such as encouraging workers to save money by matching sums, and starting funds for insurance and pension plans to maintain worker loyalty. This approach was aimed at creating a sense of family among workers and improving their standard of living.

Question 10

The avant-garde were
A)artists who created in the old,pre-1789 tradition.
B)artists working in the "positivist" tradition.
C)artists who saw themselves in the forefront of a new era.
D)women artists.
E)artists who were inspired by women.

Accepted Answer

The term "avant-garde" refers to artists who saw themselves as being at the forefront of a new era, breaking from traditional artistic conventions and pushing boundaries in terms of style, subject matter, and technique.

Question 11

During the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries,socialists were divided into two groups,
A)according to nationality.
B)according to gender.
C)according to occupation.
D)Marxist socialists and reform socialists.
E)Christian socialists and social democrats.

Accepted Answer

During the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, socialists were divided into two main groups based on their ideological differences: Marxist socialists, who believed in revolution and the establishment of a socialist society through class struggle, and reform socialists, who believed in working within the existing political systems to gradually bring about social and economic reforms. Other ways of dividing socialists during this time period, such as nationality, gender, occupation, or religious beliefs, were not as significant as the division between Marxist and reform socialists.

Question 12

Two opposing views of anarchism (one violent,the other peaceful)were championed by
A)Guesde and Millerand.
B)Millerand and Jures.
C)Jures and Guesde.
D)Bakunin and Kropotkin.
E)Bakunin and Millerand.

Accepted Answer

Bakunin and Kropotkin are well-known figures in the history of anarchism, representing different strands of the ideology. Bakunin is often associated with a more revolutionary and potentially violent approach to achieving an anarchist society, while Kropotkin advocated for peaceful means, emphasizing mutual aid and cooperation.

Question 13

Late-nineteenth-century writer Émile Zola shocked critics because
A)he used explicit language.
B)he described sexual acts in detail.
C)he attacked the established order.
D)he was pro-monarchist during a republican era.
E)he realistically depicted working-class life.

Accepted Answer

Émile Zola was a French writer who shocked critics with his realistic depictions of working-class life.

Question 14

Which European country was the first to offer workers health and accident insurance?
A)Germany
B)Great Britain
C)Austria-Hungary
D)France
E)Italy

Accepted Answer

Germany was the first European country to offer workers health and accident insurance. The program, known as the Sickness Insurance Law, was introduced in 1883 by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. The law required all employees to participate in a health insurance program, and employers were required to contribute to the cost. This was a groundbreaking social welfare policy that set an example for other countries to follow.

Question 15

What was the main reason the British Poor Law did not work?
A)It was underfunded.
B)People who enrolled were treated like prisoners.
C)It worked on a volunteer basis.
D)It was allowed to expire after fifty years.
E)Most people did not know about it.

Accepted Answer

The main reason the British Poor Law did not work was that people who enrolled were treated like prisoners. The law required anyone seeking relief to enter a workhouse, where they were separated from their families, given menial work, and subjected to harsh conditions. This deterred many from seeking help, leading to widespread poverty and suffering.

Question 16

The irony about the painter Claude Monet was
A)that he did not sell a painting in his lifetime.
B)that he was not trained as a painter.
C)that he was color blind.
D)that he started painting scenes from city life,but ended his life painting exclusively scenes from his garden.
E)that people confused him with the painter Édouard Manet.

Accepted Answer

Monet is known for his series of paintings of his garden at Giverny, which became his primary focus later in life, contrasting with his earlier works that included urban scenes.

Question 17

What is the piece of evidence historians have been able to use to come to the conclusion that alcoholism was prevalent in France during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries?
A)police reports of drunken and disorderly conduct arrests
B)court reports of drunken and disorderly conduct convictions
C)reports and letters from foreigners visiting the country
D)the high number of establishments licensed to sell alcohol (one per fifty-four people)
E)complaints from women's groups

Accepted Answer

The high number of establishments licensed to sell alcohol (one per fifty-four people) indicates that alcohol consumption was prevalent in France during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. This suggests that alcoholism was likely a widespread issue during this time period.

Question 18

A series of laws between 1897-1911 attempted to help the poor in Great Britain.The result was
A)a great and unqualified success.
B)a total failure.
C)that about one-third of the British poor still did not receive any assistance.
D)that most laws were not enforced.
E)that the laws were not effective for a variety of reasons.

Accepted Answer

The series of laws passed between 1897 and 1911 in Great Britain aimed at helping the poor did have some impact, but they were not entirely successful. Despite these efforts, a significant portion of the poor population, about one-third, still did not receive any assistance. This indicates that while the laws were a step in the right direction, they were not comprehensive or effective enough to reach all those in need.

Question 19

In response to the rise of unionization and socialism,Pope Leo XIII authored the encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891),which
A)proclaimed that the pope was infallible.
B)declared socialism a sin.
C)recognized that workers had some legitimate complaints.
D)advised people to turn to the Church for solace.
E)declared that the Church had no place in politics.

Accepted Answer

The encyclical Rerum Novarum recognized that workers had some legitimate complaints and called for a more just and equitable society. It did not declare the pope infallible, declare socialism a sin, advise people to turn to the Church for solace, or declare that the Church had no place in politics.

Question 20

In the late-nineteenth century,women started demanding the right to vote.In Britain,the scope of the issue was highlighted by
A)women demonstrating in the streets.
B)a woman throwing herself in front of the king's horse.
C)violent actions by women.
D)the number of men who supported women's causes.
E)a petition (signed by more than 250,000 people)calling for reforms.

Accepted Answer

The petition signed by over 250,000 people calling for reforms, including the right for women to vote, was a significant indicator of the scope of the issue in Britain. While there were some demonstrations and violent actions by women, the sheer number of signatures on the petition showed that it was a widespread concern. The action of a woman throwing herself in front of the king's horse, while dramatic, was an isolated incident and did not have as much impact as the petition.

Quiz 20: Political and Cultural Responses to a Rapidly Changing World

Positivism was

Why did the historian Joseph Ernest Renan face opposition?

One of Friedrich Nietzsche's most famous quotes is,

Auguste Comte (1798-1857) believed that society could be studied using

Impressionism was an artistic style that

What were the Barbizon painters?

Just before the First World War,the largest and best-organized socialist party in Europe was

Émile Durkheim attributed the rise in crime and other modern problems to

What were some of the paternalistic policies utilized by late-nineteenth-century industrialists to maintain worker loyalty?

The avant-garde were

During the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries,socialists were divided into two groups,

Two opposing views of anarchism (one violent,the other peaceful) were championed by

Late-nineteenth-century writer Émile Zola shocked critics because

Which European country was the first to offer workers health and accident insurance?

What was the main reason the British Poor Law did not work?

The irony about the painter Claude Monet was

What is the piece of evidence historians have been able to use to come to the conclusion that alcoholism was prevalent in France during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries?

A series of laws between 1897-1911 attempted to help the poor in Great Britain.The result was

In response to the rise of unionization and socialism,Pope Leo XIII authored the encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891) ,which

In the late-nineteenth century,women started demanding the right to vote.In Britain,the scope of the issue was highlighted by