Question 1

Name four of the African commodities that were coveted by Europeans in 1880-1900, and explain the technologies that enabled Europeans to seize remote or dangerous territories that had these commodities.

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include the following. Europeans wanted access to trade for palm oil, metals, diamonds, cocoa, cotton, and rubber. Many of these commodities were difficult for Europeans to access until the late nineteenth century, when the development of quinine combated the threat of malaria, a disease that had killed many Europeans. New military technology, including improved breech-loading rifles and the machine gun, and the growth of railroads and the telegraph gave Europeans the technological superiority that allowed them to seize African territory from its native owners.

Question 2

Describe the inroads that Russia made into Asia between the 1860s and the 1890s.

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include the following. For years, Russia absorbed small Muslim states in central Asia, including part of Afghanistan, and made inroads into Persia, China, and India. The building of the Trans-Siberian Railroad allowed Russia's government to have much better communications with Siberia and to begin to incorporate more fully parts of central and East Asia, and to begin to settle land-hungry peasants on Asian territory.

Question 3

Briefly describe Japan's approach to modernization in terms of its economy and government.

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include the following. In its effort to transform into a modern industrialized nation, Japan embraced foreign trade and industry and adopted many processes and customs that were similar to nations in the West. Western dress became the rule at the imperial court, Japan's German-modeled constitution emphasized state authority over individual rights, and the state promoted economic development through the funding of railroads, shipyards, and banks. The Japanese government also supported entrepreneurs such as Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi, in developing capital-intensive industries such as mining and shipping.

Question 4

Briefly explain why late-nineteenth-century imperialism was not as beneficial to European politics and Europeans as it was generally supposed to be.

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Question 5

Why were the dramatic economic fluctuations that followed the crisis of 1873 different from the economic cycles before 1850, and how did governments attempt to deal with them?

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Question 6

Briefly describe how changes in the workplace provided jobs for educated women as well as how social changes increasingly allowed women to work outside the home.

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Question 7

Why did increasingly fast-paced factory labor based on new technology create new problems for workers?

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Question 8

How did scientific ideas influence new social reforms and organizations for social improvement?

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Question 9

How did the Ballot Act of 1872 contribute to increasing agitation for home rule in Ireland?

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Question 10

Briefly describe the significance of Pan-Slavism in shaping the Balkan peninsula.

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Question 11

What factors led to the development of the "new imperialism" in the late nineteenth century? In your answer, be sure to take into consideration the economic, political, and social aspects of the European quest for empire.

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Question 12

How did the political and economic developments of the late nineteenth century affect women's roles in society? What new opportunities were women afforded and why? In what areas were they held back? In your answer, consider factors like the impact of imperialism, the revolution in business practices, the shift in consumption patterns, and the influence of mass politics.

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Question 13

Social Darwinism, which applied evolutionary theory to the social sphere, gained authority in Europe in the late nineteenth century. Explain how Social Darwinist ideas influenced European social and political policies in the late nineteenth century. What was their connection to the growth of nationalism and imperialism, and what was their role in domestic social policy?

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Question 14

Discuss the ways in which industrialization promoted the growth of mass politics. How did industrialization promote the formation of working-class organizations? How did industrialization change the means by which people formed their opinions about issues and politicians, and how did it in turn change the way citizens made their concerns known to the government?

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Question 15

How did the evolution of politics in Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia differ from that of western European nations from 1870 through 1890? Explain how the political climate impacted each nation economically and culturally.

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Question 16

The demand for raw materials along with business that was brought on by industrialism led to a rise in

Accepted Answer

The demand for raw materials and the expansion of business due to industrialism led to a rise in imperialism, as countries sought to control more territories to access their resources and markets.

Question 17

Why was Egypt an early and attractive target for European takeover in the age of imperialism?

Accepted Answer

Egypt was strategically important due to its location and the Suez Canal, which was crucial for trade routes to Asia. Its modernizing economy also made it an attractive target for European powers.

Question 18

The French followed up their colonization of Algeria by occupying what territory?

Accepted Answer

Following their colonization of Algeria, the French expanded their colonial empire by occupying Tunisia in 1881. This was part of a broader strategy to control North Africa and protect their interests in the Mediterranean.

Question 19

Although cruelty abounded under imperialist rule, what European ruler was known for inflicting the worst atrocities?

Accepted Answer

Belgian King Leopold II was known for inflicting the worst atrocities, particularly in the Congo Free State, where his regime was responsible for millions of deaths and widespread abuses.

Question 20

In the early 1880s, what touched off a scramble among European countries for colonies in Africa?

Accepted Answer

Leopold II of Belgium's claim to the Congo region in the early 1880s is widely recognized as a significant catalyst for the Scramble for Africa. His actions in the Congo, under the guise of philanthropy, led to the exploitation of the region's resources and people, prompting other European powers to stake their own claims in Africa to not fall behind in the competition for colonies and resources.

Quiz 23: Empire, Industry, and Everyday Life, 1870-1890