History of the English speaking world

United Kingdom and Ireland

1. When was Stonehenge built, where is it on the map? (mark with A) Where did the building
blocks come from? (mark on the map with B) (3 pts)
Stonehenge was build 3000-2000 BC, it’s build on Salisbury Plain. The building blocks came
from South Wales.

2. Name two Celtic towns and two rivers that still have the Celtic names, mark them on the
map. (3 pts) (C and D for the towns, E and F for the rivers)
Towns: Leeds (C), Dover, Carlisle (D)
Rivers: Thames (E), Mersey (F), Severn, Avon

3. The Romans built a wall to keep out the Celts: when, where and what is it called? (G on the
map) (3 pts)
Hadrian’s Wall, build 122-130 AD

4. Explain what the tasks were of the lord of the manor during the eighth century. (3pts)
The tasks of the lord of the manor were: to manage and protect his land and the people who
worked it. Appoint officials to make sure that de villagers worked the lords land and paid
taxes in the form of crops. Act as a judge in the manor court

5. What happened to the shape of the fields that were farmed by the Saxons, compared to
the Celtic fields? Why? (3 pts)
The Celtic fields are big fields divided in little squares, this is because the Celts used cattle to
pull their ploughs. This was easier in little squares. The Saxons used long rectangle fields and
used a mouldbord.

6. What and where was Danelaw? (mark on map with H) (4 points)

The Danelaw was a piece of land (in the north/east of UK) that the Vikings (Danes) got from
the king to live there so that they would no longer raid other villages.

7. Explain the origins of Danegeld (max. 5 points)

By 950 the Vikings started raiding westwards again, so King Ethelred decided to pay the
Vikings to stay away. To get the money he set a tax on all his people to pay for this.

8. What happened in 1066? ( max. 10 pts)

In 1066 was the battle of Hastings fought. During that battle Harold Godwinson dies and
William of Normandy (the Conqueror) takes the throne.

9. What was the capital of England during the reign of William the Conqueror? Explain (4 pts)
There was no actual capital. Wherever the king moved around the country, he and his large
number of followers had to be given food by the local people and somewhere to stay.

10. Explain the feudal system (max. 6 pts)

 Every man has a lord and every lord has land that the people (vassals) work on. Vassals
promise to serve the king in times of war for up to forty days and give part of the produce
they produce to the lord.

11. Who was Thomas Becket and what happened to him? (5 pts)
Thomas Becket was chancellor of England and appointed archbishop of Canterbury during
the reign of Henry II. First he refused, later he accepted to help the king. Then changed his
mind and fled to France. When he returned in 1170 he was murdered in the name of the king
on the altar steps of the cathedral.

12. How did Parliament come about? (max. 10 pts)

King Henry III unwittingly brought about the beginning of the parliament with punishing
taxation and high-handed manner. Which drove the barons to rebel. In 1258 a group led by
Henry’s brother-in-law forced the king to accept the Provisions of Oxford. This created a
council of 15 members selected by the barons ta act as an advisory to the king. For the first
time the monarch had to share power.
Edward I went one stage further in 1295 summoning to Parliament two knights and lesser
Church figures from each county and, from each of various towns, two representatives that
did not belong to the clergy or aristocracy.
Under Edward III were in 1341 two houses of parliament emerging – the ‘lower house’ and
the ‘upper house’- which sat separately and would eventually be defined as the Commons
and the Lords.

13. Who was William Wallace and what happened to him? (5 pts)
William Wallace led the Scottish resistance movement, after one victory against an English
army. His resistance itself was destroyed by Edward in 1297. Edward captured Wallace and
executed him and put his head on a pole on the London Bridge. When Wallace died Scottish
nationalism was born.
14. Give 3 examples of how the Normans influenced the English language (3 pts)
After the battle of hastings, the French-Normans took over governing Britain and owned most
of the land. Their language and grammar adapted into the common tongue. A lot of words
about government and administration come from the Normans (counseil, governments,
cabinet, parliament, duke, madam, sir, religioun, preyere). Also words pertaining to the law,
the army, arts and occupations (peintre, tailloler, market, moneye). Because a lot of the
French were richer/more posh, words about expensive things and foods have French origin.
Like pork, beef, mutton. (processed foods) They influenced grammar and spelling systems.
Normans added suffixes and prefixes to English. (prefixes are; con-, de-, dis-, ex-, pre-, en-,
pro-, trans-) (suffixes are -ee , -ance, -ant, -ation , -ment, -ism, -ity, -able, -al , -ous, -fy, -ize.)
Words from French came in later centuries and were popular with the high classes because it
was fancy to speak French. Rendezvous, critique. The words terror and terrorism came up
from French during the French revolution. (the reign of terror) The introduced phrases like
“bon voyage” and “joie de vivre”

15. What was the Hundred Years Wars about, which countries were involved, and when was it
fought? (max 10 pts)
After 1400 Henry IV,V,VI kept trying to win back large territories in France. They claimed a
right to the French throne and fought the so-called ‘Hundred Years War’ (1337-1453). At first
they were successful, but then the plague happened. There were more plagues later during
 the 14th century, killing more people. After this there were not enough people to work on the
land, so the peasants had to be paid for their work. This made the poor more powerful and
when the king taxed his people over and over to pay for his war in France the peasants
revolted. When Henry V died in 1422 (nine month old Henry VI, came to the throne) the
French started to fight back and defeated the English army twice. The French were inspired
by Joan of Arc a mysterious peasant girl who claimed to hear heavenly voices. She was
captured by the Burgundians and given to the English, who burned her at the stake as a witch
in 1431. For the English went everything from bad to worse after that and in 1453 the
Hundred Years War ended.
England had lost everything except the port of Calais.

16. When did the Black Death strike Britain? What was its effect? (5 pts)
1348-1349, the population went from 4 million people to 2 million. More than one-third of
the population died.

17. The Wars of the Roses were fought between 1460 and 1485. Why are they called so? Who
fought who? How did they end? (max. 10 pts)
The name comes from the royal badges the two sides wore. One side had the white rose of
York and the other the red rose of Lancaster. Two rival branches of the house of Plantagenet
were fighting over the throne of England. (Lancaster and York). The last male line of the
house of Lancaster was killed during the war, and so the Tudor family inherited the line to the
throne. The houses of Tudor and York were then combined by way of an arranged marriage.

18. Explain how Henry VII managed to make so much money. (6 pts)
He made friends with former enemies, because thought that war was too expensive.
‘Business was good for the state’. Kept friends with the merchants and lesser gentry classes.
The only thing he spent money on was to build ships for a merchant fleet.

19. Give 2 reasons why Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church. (10 pts)
Catherine (wife Henry VIII) had by 1526 no son and Henry tried to persuade the pope to
allow him to divorce Catherine. The pope was controlled by Charles V of Spain who was
against the divorce, so was the pope.
Henry was extremely angry and decided to leave the Roman Catholic Church. 1531 he
persuaded the bishops to make him head of the Church in England, this became law after the
Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy in 1534. Then he could divorce Catherine and marry
his new love Anne Boleyn.
Henry’s break with Rome was purely political, he simply wanted to control the Church and
keep its wealth in his own kingdom.

20. What became known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries? (2 pts)

Henry VIII broke the Church of England away from the Catholic church in 1531. Then in 1536-
1539 he destroyed the English monasteries for their wealth and to suppress political
opposition.

21. Who is the leader of the Anglican Church? (2 pts)

The ruling king or queen of England. Right now King Charles III.
22. Why was Mary, Queen of Scots, held for 20 years as a prisoner, yet executed in 1587? (10
pts)
Mary was the Catholic daughter of Catherine. She married King Philip of Spain.
Mary burned Protestants, 300 people died this way during her 5 year reign.
Elizabeth I realized that the marriage that Mary had should be avoided. At the same time
there was a danger that the pope would persuade Catholic countries to attack England.
Finally there were still Catholic nobles in England who wanted a Catholic ruler -> Mary,
Queen of Scots.
Elizabeth kept her as a prisoner for twenty years. Mary had close connections to France,
which was a discouragement to Philip (Spain), he would not wish to defeat Elizabeth and put
Mary on the throne. (Giving England to the French) Mary named Philip as her heir to the
throne of England, this made Mary a serious threat. This led to Elizabeth agreeing to her
execution in 1587.
Mary was kept prisoner to stop Spain and France invading England.

23. In 1585 Queen Elizabeth helped the Dutch, which infuriated the Spanish king. In 1588 the
conflict was resolved: how? (5 pts)
Elizabeth secretly supported the Dutch rebels because she knew the Dutch revolt would keep
the Spanish too busy to threaten England. Elizabeth sent an army to help the Dutch rebels
fight Spain. For the first time English and Spanish armies were fighting each other.
The Armada anchored off Calais on 27 July 1588. The Duke of Parma and his army had not yet
arrived to join them, so the English fleet used this advantage sending in eight fireships on the
night of 28 July. Although no Spanish ships caught fire, the attack made the Spaniards panic,
cut their anchor cables and scatter out to sea to avoid them. A day of fierce fighting between
the two fleets followed, later called the Battle of Gravelines. During this battle the Spanish
were blown dangerously close to the shore. Then the wind changed and they sailed
northward in disorder.
On 31 July 1588 the Spanish fleet tried to turn around to join Parma and his army again.
However, the prevailing south-west winds prevented them from doing so.
The decision was made to give up and return to Spain by sailing north around Scotland.
Howard and his fleet pursued them into the North Sea for three days until it became clear
they were leaving. Bad storms completed the Spanish defeat: many of their fleeing Spanish
ships were wrecked off the coasts of Scotland and Ireland. Less than half the fleet made it
back to Spain.

24. Who succeeded the last protestant Tudor? Where did he come from? (2 pts)
The last protestant Tudor was queen Elizabeth I. She was succeeded by James VI of Scotland.
He was a descendant of Henry VII’s older daughter.

25. What did William of Orange do, at the invitation of Parliament? (3 pts)
Invade England in order to preserve Protestantism, to investigate the true parentage of James
II's child, and to call a 'free' Parliament, the Dutch ruler William of Orange landed at Brixham
with an invasion force on 5 November 1688 and proceeded to march on London.

26. What happened to the Irish Catholics after the Battle of the Boyne? (10 pts)
“The war in Ireland formally ended with the Treaty of Limerick in 1691. This allowed over
14,000 Irish soldiers under Patrick Sarsfield, to leave for France and allowed most Irish
Catholic land owners to keep their land provided they swore allegiance to William of Orange.
 However, the Protestant dominated Irish Parliament rejected these terms, not ratifying the
treaty until 1697—and then not in full—and imposed a tough Penal Code resented by Irish
Catholics for many years.” (from Wikipedia)

27. Which English king was executed? Why? When? (max. 6 pts)
King Charles I was executed on 30 January 1649. He was convicted of treason for refusing to
compromise over power-sharing, what led to a civil war.

28. Who was Lord Protector of England? (2 pts)

Oliver Cromwell

29. Who was “Bonny Prince Charlie”, what did he do, what was the end result? (10 pts)
He was the grandson of James II. In 1744, he travelled to France to take part in a planned
invasion to restore the Stuart monarchy under his father. When the French fleet was partly
wrecked by storms, Charles resolved to proceed to Scotland following discussion with leading
Jacobites. This resulted in Charles landing by ship on the west coast of Scotland, leading to
the Jacobite rising of 1745. The Jacobite forces under Charles initially achieved several
victories in the field, including the Battle of Prestonpans in September 1745 and the Battle of
Falkirk Muir in January 1746. However, by April 1746, Charles was defeated at Culloden,
which effectively ended the Stuart cause.

30. What was the effect of the enclosures? Explain (10 pts)
Enclosure is when an area of waste/common land is fenced in and claimed, disallowing
commoners from entering or using the land. The value of land would increase this way and it
would be easier to use for agriculture. The consequence of this trend was that many common
people started protesting about removal of their rights. The riots about enclosures are seen
as the precursor to the political protests in the 16th and 17th centuries. The enclosure of
common land also led to the depopulation of rural areas, as most people moved towards
cities for work and housing. It was also part of the conflict between upper and lower classes,
which ultimately lead to the erasure of English peasantry and created the bourgeoisie.

31. Why was John Wesley so important for the stability of Britain? (10 pts)
He was an Anglican priest who traveled around the country preaching an teaching. He
preached at every village, in every town he came to. Soon others joined his work, visiting the
new villages and industrial towns which had no parish church. John Wesley thought the
French Revolution was the work of the devil. He carefully avoided politics and taught people
to be hardworking and honest. As a result people accepted many of the injustices of the
times without complaint. Some even became wealthy through working hard and saving their
money.

32. What did William Pitt “the Elder” a.k.a. Lord Chatham, achieve with regards to the
overseas possessions of Britain? How? (6 pts)
During the Seven Years War (and French-Indian war in the American colonies), he defeated
the French and gained many territories in the compromise (Treaty of Paris 1763). Quebec,
Montreal, Bengol and Madras. Canada and India. This move solidified Britain’s dominance
over world affairs.

33. When was the Industrial Revolution and what were the results? (10 pts)
 1760 – 1840. It was a transition from hand-crafted production to machines and the
development of steam power and water power. Output and income increased, causing a
massive rise in population and creating a new group of rich people (factory owners).
Created the idea of individualism among British people. It’s the working people for
themselves and against the factory owners. It also started other philosophical ideal such as
socialism, communism and anarchism.

34. Charles Dickens had a great influence on the general public: how? (max. 5 pts)
His stories often contained criticism and exposure on the workhouses where poor/homeless
people worked for no money and in extremely dangerous conditions. The factory machines
could be deadly, diseases spread rapidly, people worked constantly without rest and the
environment was very unhygienic. When higher classes read his books, they started to realize
that the workhouses and lives of poor people were not safe or fair. Dickens created a slightly
more caring, gracious upper class. His work facilitated the development of homeless shelters,
the first pediatric hospital in the UK and orthopedics.

35. Who set up the first police force in London and when? (3 pts)
Founded by Robert Peel in 1829

36. How did the “public-school” system influence the colonies? (10 pts)
During the Victorian age son of wealthy factory owners were sent to public schools, where
they were educated and taught leadership. All the boys were taught to speak RP (the Queens
English) and these boys grew up to be teachers. And so they spread RP all over the country
and even throughout the colonies. (People in colonies were given an English education.)

37. Explain why Britain got involved in the First World War. (max 5 pts)
Britain had promised to guarantee Belgium’s neutrality in 1838, so when Germany went to
Belgium to attack France the Britian’s declared war on Germany. Also they feared that
Germany’s ambitions would change the map of Europe and Britain could not allow a major
enemy power to control the Low Countries.

38. How is the present Queen Elizabeth II related to King George I and why do they have
different surnames? (5 pts)
George I was part of the house of Hanover. He is Elizabeths great-great- great-great- great-
great-great-grandfather. With Victoria and Albert came the Saxe-Coburg & Gotha house.
George V started the house of Windsor. He is Elizabeth’s grandfather.
After WWI George V was worried about his German sounding name and changed the royal
name to Windsor, after Windsor castle.

39. How did the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 lead to a civil war in Ireland? (10 pts)
The resulting Anglo-Irish Treaty gave 26 counties of Ireland a parliament (the Oireachtas) with
jurisdiction over most domestic affairs, significant fiscal autonomy and a military force
(although the UK was to retain temporary control of several military ports).
The agreement was signed in London on 6 December 1921, by representatives of the British
government and by representatives of the Irish Republic including Michael Collins and Arthur
Griffith. The Irish representatives had plenipotentiary status acting on behalf of the Irish.
Republic, though the British government declined to recognise that status. As required by its
terms, the agreement was approved by "a meeting" of the members elected to sit in the
 House of Commons of Southern Ireland and [separately] by the British Parliament. In reality,
Dáil Éireann (the legislative assembly for the de facto Irish Republic) first debated then
approved the treaty; members then went ahead with the "meeting". Though the treaty was
narrowly approved, the split led to the Irish Civil War, which was won by the pro-treaty side.

40. What is known as “The Troubles”? When and how did they start and when and how did
they end? (max. 10 pts)
The Troubles was an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years
from the late 1960s to 1998. The conflict began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed to
have ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
Despite use of the terms Protestant and Catholic to refer to the two sides, it was not a
religious conflict. A key issue was the status of Northern Ireland. Unionists and loyalists, who
for historical reasons were mostly Ulster Protestants, wanted Northern Ireland to remain
within the United Kingdom. Irish nationalists and republicans, who were mostly Irish
Catholics, wanted Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom and join a united Ireland.
The Northern Ireland peace process led to paramilitary ceasefires and talks between the
main political parties, which resulted in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. This Agreement
restored self-government to Northern Ireland on the basis of "power-sharing" and it included
acceptance of the principle of consent, commitment to civil and political rights, parity of
esteem, police reform, paramilitary disarmament and early release of paramilitary prisoners.
America
1. What made so many countries send ships across the Atlantic Ocean in the 15th and 16th
centuries? (3 pts)
They wanted to trade in products from the east (“China” and “India”). At this time the Islam
religion was coming up and flourishing, but causing unrest and instability in the middle-east.
It was not safe to travel across land anymore, so people starting navigating the a new route
by ship.

2. What were the native Americans called and why? (2 pts)

Native Americans were originally called Indians (later American Indians), because when
Columbus and his crew arrived on American land (San Salvador), they thought they must
have arrived in India. The American continent was unknown to them and they thought if they
moved west around the globe they’d eventually reach India.

3. Who were the first settlers in what is now known as New England, by what name are they
generally known and why did they emigrate to America? (10 pts)

The Pilgrim fathers. A lot of people living in Britain in the 17th century were dissatisfied with
the way the church was governed. For some old-fashioned protestants, the British church
was not nearly strict enough and was too focused on the material. These puritans emigrated
to the new world, where there was freedom of religion and they could practice theirs
however they wanted.

4. What brought about the foundation of Rhode Island and how does it differ from
Massachusetts? (5 pts)

Roger Williams thought the puritan community was far too strict and wanted to be able to
believe in god in a way that made him happy. He defected from the puritans and made a deal
with native Americans for a piece of land where he started his own colony. Here the church
and state were separated. This was Rhode Island.

5. What is an indentured servant? (max 5 pts)

Indentured laborers were Europeans that signed a contract with the London Virginia
Company to come to America. The company would pay for the journey and supply housing,
the laborer would provide manual labour all day, every day. If they survived until the end of
the contract, they would be free. The people who signed had no money or means of survival
and signing was their only hope (they were often very young).

6. Why do the people of Quebec speak French? (2pts)

There was a large French presence in north America, in the area that is now Canada. French
colonist called the area new France. Until 1763. The French colonists pushed settlers in west
but also settled above and challenged the natives. French-Indian wars 1754.

7. What’s in a name, explain: Virginia, Jamestown, Georgia and Louisiana. (4 pts, extra pt for
Maryland)
 Virginia is named after the virgin queen Elizabeth I. Jamestown is named after king James I of
England. Georgia is named after king George II. Louisiana was named after King Louis XIV,
because the French claimed the land in 1682. Maryland was named after Queen Henrietta
Maria, who was the wife of Charles I of England.

8. In 1733 the last English colony in America was founded by James Oglethorpe, which one
and who was it meant for? (5 pts)

Georgia. Oglethorpe wanted to establish a colony for the “unemployed and unemployable”.
People with in debtors prisons for instance.

9. Name the 13 original colonies (13 pts)

 New Hampshire
 Massachusetts
 Rhode Island
 Connecticut
 New York
 New Jersey
 Pennsylvania
 Delaware
 Maryland
 Virginia
 North Carolina
 South Carolina
 Georgia

10. By 1770 the colonies could be divided into 3 distinctive areas: explain (10 pts)

New England, the middle colonies and southern colonies? Something about the source of
industry and the background of people who live there (religion?).

11. What happened to Louisiana as a result of the French-Indian war? (4 pts) when? (1 pt)

Louisiana was given to Spain as part of the Treaty of Paris, which was signed in 1763 and
ended the French-Indian wars.

12. What was the “Boston Massacre”? (5 pts)

In 1770, American colonist protesters started throwing snowballs at British officers. This lead
to an altercation where an officers gun went off and 5 people died. The incident was
reported by Samuel Addams, who made out that the Americans were being slaughtered by
the British (that it was a massacre). He used the lie to provoke more colonists to stand up
against the British.

13. What was the “Boston Tea Party”? (5pts)

In 1773, a group of people dressed as native Americans threw 342 cases of tea overboard
into the sea in the night. This was a protest against the Brits as tea was expensive and this
would be a huge loss for them. As a punishment, the Boston Harbour was closed, prohibiting
all trading and travel.
14. How and when did the colonies turn into the United States of America? (5 pts)

On the 4th of July 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, in which
Americans separate themselves from Great Britain and declare themselves a separate
country with its own constitution.

15. Who (2 pts) wrote the Declaration of Independence, when was it published (2 pts) and
what (3 x 2 pts) is in it? (total 10 pts)

On the 4th of July 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. It
included the United States constitution and Bill of Rights.

16. The Constitution divides the power of the rulers into 3 distinctive parts: explain (10 pts)

The first branch of power is the executive, which is led by the President and makes sure that
laws are being obeyed. (and commands the military)

The second branch is legislative, which is Congress. Congress consists out of the senate and
the house of representatives. The members of these are voted in by American citizens in
each state. Congress makes laws.

The last branch is judicial, which is held by the supreme court. Supreme court is made up of 9
justices and they hear and decide cases and whether a law breaks the rules of the
constitution.

17. What is the difference between the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? When did they
become effective? (10 pts)

The American constitution is the supreme law of the US. It became effective on 4th of march,
1789. The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the constitution. Amendments are
additions or alterations to the original. The bill of rights describes the individual liberties of
Americans. Some of the most important are freedom of speech, the right to bear arms and
right to due process of law. It became effective on the 15th of December, 1791.

18. How were the new townships and states organized as the western frontier moved further
and further inland? (10 pts)

Townships were lots of 6x6 miles. Lots of 1x1 mile were bought at auction. A group of 5000
white men or more could elect a representative congress and a group of 60000 white men
could found a new state.

19. When and how did the states California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico
become part of the United States? How did this affect Oregon? (15 pts)

The state of Texas used to belong to Mexico. When it joined the US in 1845, war was
declared on Mexico. Mexico city was occupied in 1847 and in 1848 the states listed became
part of United States.

California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico became part of the
United States through treaties, purchases, and territorial acquisitions in the 19th
century. Oregon, already part of the U.S., was indirectly affected as the westward
 expansion and settlement of the new states contributed to the overall growth and
development of the western region. The completion of the transcontinental railroad
in 1869 further facilitated transportation and economic growth.

20. When was the American Civil War, how did it start and why? (10 pts)

The American civil war was a war fought between the north and the south of the US in the
years 1861 – 1865. British abolished the slave trade in 1807, which the north agreed with
easily (they did not practice it), but the south was dependent on slavery as that’s how they
made money (plantations). The next step was making new slaves illegal in the northern
states (1808). This caused many enslaved people to try and escape to the north. People
caught helping enslaved people escape faced severe penalties after the fugitive slave act of
1850. Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860 and opposed slavery expanding to the new
western territory. 11 confederate states seceded from the US and started the civil war.

21. What is the 13th Amendment and when did it become law? (5 pts)

The 13th amendment makes slavery illegal in the united states and all other us territory.
Made official on 6th of December 1865.

22. Why did Congress pass the Reconstruction Act, when, what was in it and what were the
consequences? (15 pts)

1867-1868. After the civil war the US was broken and divided. The act sets the requirements
for the rebel states (confederacy) to rejoin the union. Each state needed an new constitution,
which had to include universal male suffrage. It also defined they way black and white people
would live together a post-slavery America. The fourteenth amendment needed to be
implemented (which made black people American citizens). The 10 rebel states had to divide
into 5 districts under military control.

23. How did the southern states take away the blacks’ right to vote? (2 examples) (10 pts)

The southern states found loopholes to exclude black people from voting. They said black
people were allowed to vote, but only if their grandfathers could vote in 1865 (which was
hardly anyone). Then people could only vote if they paid a very high poll tax, which few black
people could afford.

24. What is meant by “segregation” (in American history)? (2 pts)

Segregation is the separation of black people from the rest society. They were not allowed in
the same stores, busses, barbers, schools etc.

25. What was the Oregon trail? (max. 10 pts if you can include details like dates etc.)

The Oregon trail is a wagon trail connecting the Missouri river with the Oregon valley. It was
used for emigrating from east to west (or vice versa). Lewis and Clark were asked by
president Jefferson to explore the Missouri to find a route to the Pacific ocean so that it can
be used for commerce. Their expedition started in 1804 and ended 1806. The first land route
across the US.

26. What is Monroe’s doctrine? (5 pts)

 1823. American continents are not to be colonized by European powers. Any attempt to
interfere or influence politically in the Americas is a potential threat. (James Monroe = 5th
president)

27. What is Roosevelt’s Corollary? (5 pts)

1904. President Roosevelt added to the doctrine that the US would intervene as a last resort
so that other nations in the western hemisphere did not violate the rights of the US or invite
foreign aggression. So the US used military power to restore stability in nations and used the
corollary as justification to intervene in Cuba for instance.

28. Which countries became American after the Spanish-American war of 1898? (8 pts)

Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam.

29. How did Hawaii end up being an American State? (5 pts)

Hawaii became American territory in 1898 after the Spanish-American war, which caused an
upsurge of nationalism and the US wanted to claim the independent state so nobody else
would. After a referendum where most voters agreed Hawaii should join the United States, it
did so in 1959.

30. In 1902 Cuba became an independent state. However, with a few provisos: name 2 and
explain. (max. 8 pts)

The guarantee that Cuba would not transfer any of its land to any foreign power but the
United States, limitations on Cuba’s negotiations with other countries, the establishment of a
U.S. naval base in Cuba and the U.S. right to intervene in Cuba to preserve Cuban
independence.

The US had just ended its war with Spain and did not want Spain to try and influence Cuba or
any state in the Americas again. Cuba was well positioned for defense against eastern
attacks.

31. When and why did America get involved in the First World War? (10 pts)

In 1917, German torpedoes hit American shipping and passenger vessels, after which
America declares war on Germany. The US had also loaned a lot of money to the Allies in
Europe. If they lost the war, they’d lose the money, too. The Zimmerman telegram from
Germany to Mexico was intercepted, in which Germany promises American territory to
Mexico if they aid in the war.

32. People say that the Treaty of Versailles more or less caused the Second World War, why?
(5 pts)

The peace treaty of Versailles punished Germany very harshly, causing its economy to crash,
government to be powerless and military greatly weakened. All this left Germany very
vulnerable and discontent. When Adolf Hitler rose to power, he promised to fix these issues
and made arguments very appealing to the public, making him very popular. The people
were poor and desperate and ready to follow Hitler.
33. What is the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats with regards to the
economy and how did this become clear during the Depression? (10 pts)

The Great Depression acted as the catalyst for a transformation of the party system that
moved the Democrats from minority to majority status. The New Deal Democratic coalition
put Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House and the Democratic Party in control of
Congress. They had support from the working class and various ethnic and minority groups
with already existing strength in the South. The basis of Democratic appeal to blue-collar
workers, low-income individuals, and recent immigrant was the party's liberalism in
economic matters. Roosevelt and the Democrats favored federal government activity to
combat the Depression and proposed programs to benefit disadvantaged groups.

The Republicans, who appealed more to the middle-class, business groups, and northern
white Protestants, were critical of this expansion of government interference in the economy
and creation of a variety of social welfare programs. By the late 1930s, the lines between the
two parties were clearly drawn, both in ideological and socioeconomic terms.

34. How did the Second World War affect the United States’ economy? (5 pts)

Before the war was the great depression, with unprecedented unemployment levels. World
war II saw the greatest mobilization of an idle economy ever. War needs created 17 million
new civilian jobs and caused industrial productivity to increase by 96% and corporate profits
to double. People needed food, clothes, materials, weapons etc. all over the world and the
US stepped up to the task.

35. Explain “Containment” (10 pts)

Containment was a foreign policy undertaken by the US during the cold war in an attempt to
stop the spread of communism. People had great fear of the eastern powers (especially the
Soviet Union) and how their communist system threatened their capitalist one (and the
blossoming economy). Fear of communism among Americans was greatly increased by the
copious amounts of propaganda at the time. They would place military stations at multiple
shifting political points and try to push back the soviet union.

36. What was the Cuban Crisis in 1962 about? What caused it and who were the main players?
(15 pts)

After Castro takes over in Cuba and in American businesses in 1959, American troops try to
take him down but are defeated on the Bay of Pigs. This leads to a game of bluff between
Castro, president Kennedy and Khrushchev (secretary of soviet union). Soviets and Cuba are
working together to threaten America. They have missiles aimed at one another and
threaten to fire. (156 long distance missiles aimed at soviet union). The Cuban missile crisis
was the closest the two superpowers ever came to nuclear conflict.

37. What was the Marshall Plan? (5 pts)

1947-1952. Also named the economic recovery act, signed by president Truman. It was to
help restore the economic infrastructure of Europe after WWII.

38. What happened during the Korean War? (10 pts)

 1950-1953. North Korea was under influence of Russia and China and South Korea under
American influence. Both sides claimed to be legitimate government of all Korea. The
tensions were increased because of the cold war between the two superpowers. China
threatened America with a nuclear bomb. North Korea invaded the south in 1950. 2,5 million
Koreans died.

39. How did President Nixon end the war in Vietnam? Who negotiated the deal? (10 pts)

Henry Kissinger was sent to negotiate and offered to withdraw American troops from
Vietnam in 1973. The strengthened Vietnam forces marched into Saigon presidential palace
with tanks and ended the war. 1975.

40. What happened in August 1963 in Washington?

Martin Luther King gave a speech about his dream for an America without segregation.

Australia & New Zealand

1. Who was the first sailor to use the name Australia, when? Who was the first
European who led the first landing on Australian soil, without realizing it was
Australia? When? (5 pts)
The first written records about Australia date back to 1606, when Pedro Fernandes
de Queirós, a Portuguese navigator sailing for the Spanish Crown sighted a very large
island south of New Guinea, which he named La Australia del Espiritu Santo (or was it
Willem Janszoon who charted part of the west coast of Queensland…?) . After
becoming separated from its flagship, a ship in the Queirós expedition
(commandeered by Spaniard Luis Váez de Torres) passed through Torres Strait, from
where he might have sighted Australia's northern coast. These discoveries inspired
several mariners —among them, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman— to further chart the
area.
The expedition eventually led in 1770 to the British discovery and charting of the
eastern coastline of Australia. It was Cook who claimed the new land for the British
Crown.

2. Who was the first captain to sail to Van Diemen’s land and New Zealand? When? (4
pts)
Abel Tasman was the first European to reach ‘Van Diemen’s Land’ (Tasmania) and New
Zealand in 1642.

3. Who claimed Australia for Britain and when? Describe his journey previous to his
charting the eastern coast of Australia. (max 10 pts)
James Cook claimed Australia for Britain in 1770. In 1769, James Cook sailed the HMS
Endeavour to Tahiti in order to observe the transition of Venus across the sun
(sponsored by England’s Royal Academy). They reached Tahiti after 8 months’ sailing,
 in relatively good health due to experimental food like sauerkraut (eat it or be
flogged!). Having recorded Venus’ moving in front of the sun, Cook set sail again in an
extensive effort to locate the supposed Southern Continent to the south and west of
Tahiti. The expedition eventually led in 1770 to the British discovery and charting of
the eastern coastline of Australia.

4. When is Australia Day and what does it celebrate? Explain (max. 10 pts)
January 26. It celebrates the day that the First Fleet (11 ships that carried about 1500
people – half of them convicts) arrived in Sydney Harbor in 1788.

5. Describe the first convict transports to Sydney, include details like what years, how
many convicts and locations of settlements. (max 10 pts)
1788 Captain Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet arrived from England. Phillip brought
732 convicts and a small group of soldiers to start a penal colony. They landed at a
small inlet which they called Sydney Cove. This was named after Lord Sydney who
was the British government's Home Secretary.

6. Where did the first settlers go for their supplies? (max 5 pts)
They had to find good water, food if possible and land that might support crops for
food. Then clear the land and set up.

7. What happened to the convicts who had served their time in Australia? (3 pts)
They were allowed to earn their own living and live independently. The majority of
convicts stayed on in Australia after their sentences were served. Once free, they
could own land and, under Governor Lachlan Macquarie (1810–21), some were
appointed to key positions in the colonial government.

8. How long have the Aborigines been living in Australia? (2 pts)

Around 40000 years
9. Explain what happened to the Aborigines when the country was being settled by
British convicts and government officials (and soldiers to guard the prisoners) (max
10 pts)
European settlement was an invasion. The spread of European civilisation throughout
the continent was a conquest which led to the near destruction of Aboriginal
civilisation. The British intended to take their land. From the European point of view,
Aboriginal people did not really 'own' the land. The Aboriginal people, on the other
hand, considered the land to be theirs, and saw European settlement, which quickly
began to rob them of their hunting and fishing grounds, as an invasion they should
resist. They also had little understanding or respect for Aboriginal culture. Most
Europeans at that time considered their civilization to be superior, and thought that
Aboriginal people were backward and in need of help.

The deliberate ill treatment of Aboriginal people, the terrible impact of European
diseases and the introduction of alcohol all contributed to a breakdown of Aboriginal
society. When their tribal lifestyle was destroyed, the Aborigines came to live on the
edge of European settlement, begging and taking up the worst European habits.
Europeans saw this as evidence of their backwardness. On the other hand, if
 Aborigines took up weapons to defend their land, they were seen as evil savages who
needed to be taught a lesson.

10. Who was Pemulwuy? Story, dates etc. (max 10 pts)

He was one of the first leaders of the resistance and a member of the Botany Bay
tribe. He organized Aborigines living in the Sydney area to make attacks on European
settlers and their property. In 1790 Pemulwuy killed Governor Phillip’s gamekeeper, a
man he believed to be responsible for mistreating Aborigines. In retaliation, Phillip
ordered his soldiers to capture or kill six people from Pemulwuy's tribe. In doing this,
Phillip was acting brutally and against British law. Such an action was uncharacteristic
of Phillip, but it showed that he did not believe that Aboriginal people had to be
treated according to the same laws and Europeans.

Phillip's solders failed to find Pemulwuy or any of his tribe. Despite two expeditions
to Botany Bay (carrying, as Captain Tench recorded, 'ropes to bind our prisoners with,
and hatchets and bags, the Aboriginals easily kept clear of the soldiers. During his
remaining time as Governor, Phillip failed to capture Pemulwuy, who continued to
lead attacks on settlers all around the outskirts of Sydney.
In 1797, during a fight with soldiers and settlers at Parramatta, Pemulwuy was
wounded and captured. Within a short time, however, he escaped and resumed
leadership of his people. Then, in 1801, Sydney's third Governor, Philip Gidley King,
offered a reward for Pemulwuy.
In 1797, during a fight with soldiers and settlers at Parramatta, Pemulwuy was
wounded and captured. Within a short time, however, he escaped and resumed
leadership of his people. Then, in 1801, Sydney's third Governor, Philip Gidley King,
offered a reward for Pemulwuy.
Finally, in 1802 Pemulwuy was shot dead by two settlers. His head was cut off and
sent to Governor King. The Europeans rejoiced at Pemulwuy's defeat but so too did
some of those Aboriginal people whose tribal life had already broken down. They
wanted to return to an existence on the edge of European settlement where they
had begun to rely on handouts. In the long run, of course, Pemulwuy's resistance
failed.

11. Explain how the British could justify the fact that they claimed ownership of
Australian territories, knowing that other people were living there? (max 10 pts)
The British did not consider Aboriginal people as the rightful owners of this land. New
South Wales, as Cook had called it, was regarded as terra nullius. This is legal term, a
Latin expression which means 'land belonging to no one'. Aboriginal people may have
been on the land first but they did not own it because they did not use the land or
show ownership in the same way as Europeans did. Thus Europeans felt free to settle
anywhere in Australia, ignoring Aboriginal rights to land they had occupied for
thousands of years.

12. What is the significance of the Myall Creek Massacre in the grand scheme of things
in Australia? Explain and include details like dates.(max 10 pts)
 At Myall Creek the Aborigines were massacred for sheep stealing (they didn’t do it). It
was a group of women, children and elderly people who were living on friendly terms
with European workers at Myall Creek station. On a weekend in June 1839, they were
attacked by a group of men on horseback. The men were armed with swords and
pistols. The aboriginals were tied together and they led them away to a place to get
murdered. 28 Aboriginals were murdered, many hacked to death or decapitated with
swords. The bodies were later burned.
The murderers were charged with the crime and brought to trial. Seven men were
found guilty of the murders and were hanged. This is the first time that Europeans
were hanged for murdering Aborigines.
The conviction of the Myall Creek murders was one triumph for those whites who
were determined to see Aborigines treated as equals before the law.

13. What is meant by the “Stolen Generation”, explain and include details like dates
(max 10 pts)
In 1910 non-Indigenous Australians began to take Aboriginal children from their
homes and families. These children were given to white families, to be raised as
white children or to institutions and orphanages where they were forced to
assimilate to white society. Between 1910 and 1970 (when it stopped) over 100,00
children had been separated from their families and culture.

14. Name two areas specifically which ‘belong’ to the Aboriginal people, are controlled
by them and are only accessible to people who have obtained a permit (5 pts)
Arnhemland and Kakadu reservations

15. Who was the first governor to transform the penal settlement into a colony,
arriving in Sydney in 1810? Include as many details as you can (max 10 pts)
Lachlan Macquarie. He's claimed as the "Father of the Nation" for the coordination of
the new colony for the many buildings, roads and bridges constructed and the
beginning of the first proper town planning in New South Wales. In April 1809
Macquarie was appointed Governor of New South Wales, designated to take over
from William Bligh due to the mutiny of the settlers and took up his commission as
governor on the 1st January 1810. His term in office coincided with an increase in the
number of convicts sent to the colony. His solution was to commence an ambitious
program of public works (new buildings, towns, roads) to help absorb these numbers.
He encouraged well-behaved convicts into the wider community through tickets-of-
leave. This policy of encouraging convicts and former convicts brought him into
conflict with an influential, conservative, section of the local society. This group,
known as the "exclusives", sought to restrict civil rights and judicial privileges to
itself. Many of these free settlers also had influential friends in English political
circles. Frustration and recurring bouts of illness led him to submit his resignation on
several occasions. He finished his term in 1821 and died later in 1824.

16. What do you know about John MacArthur, the paymaster of the New South Wales
Corps? (max 10 pts)
 He lived from 1766-1834. He had great influence in bringing the wool industry to
Australia. He controlled the army and used convicts to work his land. MacArthur was
the most powerful officer in the Corps. However after a dispute with his senior officer
he was sent to England for trial (for abusing his power and involvement in the rum-
trade). He resigned from the army so that he would not be severely punished for his
actions. He took samples of wool from his farm at Parramatta and showed London
officials who were impressed with what they saw. In 1805, Macarthur was granted an
extra 200 hectares when he returned to the colony to graze sheep. There he
developed merino sheep that were well suited to the conditions.
17. There is something called “Mandatory Sentencing” in Australia, what is it and
explain in detail what the rules are (max 8 pts)
Mandatory Sentencing was introduced in 1997 in Australia is also something that
contributes to the fact that many Aboriginals are in prison. Mandatory Sentencing
implies that anyone who has turned 17 years old and was not previously
sentenced, is obligatory sentenced to 14 days in prison if he/she is caught shop-
lifting, damaging or committing any other minor crime. If the same person commits
a crime again he/she is sentenced to 3 months in prison and the third time the
person commits a crime he/she is sentenced to a year in prison. Even if this law is
the same for everyone, Aboriginal and white Australian, it is more likely that
Aboriginals are affected by this, considering their poor situations at home, in school,
alcohol and drug abuse.

18. When was the Commonwealth of Australia formed and which states did it
comprise? (max 6 pts)
It was formed on 1 January 1901. The constitution excludes Aborigines from the
national census, leaving them to be considered "fauna."
Federation of the colonies was achieved after a decade of planning, consultation and
voting, and the Commonwealth of Australia was born. In 1911, His Majesty King
George V proclaimed Australia as a Dominion of the British Empire.
The Northern Territory was transferred from the control of the South Australian
government to the Commonwealth in 1911.

19. What and when was the Burke/Wills expedition? (max 10 pts)
During 1860, crossing Australia almost through the middle from the south to the
north and back again. William Wills studied surveying and astronomy and this led him
to being offered the position as Robert O’Hara Burke’s deputy. Much of what we
know of the expedition comes from a diary kept by Wills and it appears that Burke
was an arrogant man who put little value on the lives of the men who made up his
expedition. The goal was to cross Australia from Melbourne up to the northern
coastline. It was an expedition that was judged to have failed even though the party
did make the crossing. The expedition departed Melbourne on 20th August 1860 and
included George Landells, Burke’s second in command. 25 camels were imported for
the trek as they were considered to be ideal for crossing the desert country. Upon
arrival at Menindee on the Darling River, Burke planned to form a depot and leave
most of his men and supplies there. After this, Burke took a small party north to
Cooper Creek. They arrived in November and waited for the arrival of the rest of the
party, Bruke got impatient and he set out again before the return of his men. Four of
 them, Burke, Wills, King and Gary headed north in December with enough supplies to
last six weeks. They made it to the Gulf of Carpentaria at the mouth of the Norman
River in February. After 2 days they headed back, only 3 made it to the camp at
Cooper Creek. Instead of heading further south after regaining strength. They
foolishly headed to Mount Hopeless, despite the help of Aboriginals, they could not
find any food or water. Wills perished by June and two days later Burke died. King
survived by interacting with the Aboriginals and was found by a rescue party in
September.

20. What is ANZAC day and when is it? (max 8 pts)

25 April. Commemoration of Australia and New Zealand for victims of war and for
recognition of the role of their armed forces. It marks the first major military action
fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC
stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

21. When did Australia become an independent and sovereign nation? (2 pts)
In 1919 following the end of WWI

22. Why did Australia choose an alliance with the United States during WW II? Explain
(max. 10 pts)
The war came closer to home when HMAS Sydney and the German raider Kormoran
sank each other off Western Australia: the 645-strong crew of the Sydney were all
lost. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor and on Allied states throughout East Asia and
the Pacific, from 8 December (Australian time) 1941, Curtin insisted that Australian
forces be brought home to fight Japan. After the Fall of Singapore in February 1942,
15,000 Australian soldiers became prisoners of war. A few days later, Darwin was
heavily bombed by Japanese planes, the first time the Australian mainland had ever
been attacked by enemy forces, an event which caused a state of near-panic
throughout the country. Over the following 19 months, Australia was attacked from
the air almost 100 times. The shock of Britain's defeat in Asia in 1942 and the threat
of Japanese invasion caused Australia to turn to the United States as a new ally and
protector.

23. What is the ANZUS treaty, when and by who was it signed and what was its result?
(max 5 pts)
The ANZUS defense treaty was signed in 1951 with the United States and New
Zealand, and Australia committed troops to the Korean War and the Malayan
Emergency. Since 1951, Australia has been a formal military ally of the U.S. under the
auspices of the ANZUS treaty.

24. Who were the Moriori people? Where did they live and what happened to them?
(max 8 pts)
The Moriori were closely related to the Maori people. The Moriori left the south
island to settle on the Chatham Islands, where they developed into a different type of
people. The Maori were quite a belligerent, sometimes violent and aggressive
people, even known to occasionally cannibalise their enemies, and the Moriori on the
 Chatham Islands were known for their non-violence and passive resistance. This, in
the end, led to their near-extinction in the 19th century.

25. Who were the first people to live in New Zealand? Since when? (3 pts)
The Polynesians discover and settle New Zealand, thought to be sometime between
950 and 1130 AD. These are the ancestors of the Maori people.

26. What is the story of Abel Tasman’s discovery of New Zealand? (max 10 pts)
In 1642 he is the first to sail in New Zealand waters. The first encounter between
Māori and European is violent, leading to bloodshed. After partly charting the
coastline, Tasman leaves New Zealand without ever having had the occasion to set
foot ashore. From the journal that Tasman kept about whatever happened during his
journey, we know that several attempts were made at establishing contact, but the
intentions were not clear. They couldn’t communicate with each other and the crews
of the Dutch ships thought that the natives were friendly. When a sloop with 6 crew-
members was assaulted by the Maori and 4 were killed, Tasman named the bay:
“Murderers’ Bay” and left. Further north they encountered groups of more than 20
boats (catamarans), but they didn’t take any chances and fired their canons at them.
Tasman never actually set foot on New Zealand soil…..It was during this journey that
Tasman also charted the location of Van Diemen’s land, the island which was later
named Tasmania, in honour of the man who was the first to record its existence to
the Europeans.

27. What was the situation regarding Europeans in and around New Zealand by the
end of the 18th century? Explain (max 5 pts)
In 1769 James Cook, British explorer, and Jean François Marie de Surville,
commander of a French trading ship, both arrive by coincidence in New Zealand
waters at the same time. Neither ship ever sights the other.
British, Americans and French were active in various trades around New Zealand.
Their whalers, traders and sealers were working around the New Zealand coastline.
Deep-sea whaling commenced during the years 1791-2, the first arrival being the
whaler, "William and Ann". Shortly later, in 1792, the whaler "Britannia" began
operating in Dusky Sound (South Island).
From 1797 American whalers arrived, and during the 1830s the French whaling ships
turned up in significant numbers. Seals were hunted, and their skins taken for the
Chinese market. Spars were also cut for the Chinese market and the Indian Navy. The
flax trade grew.

28. Why did the British get involved in New Zealand, what were the backgrounds to the
Treaty of Waitangi and when was it signed? (max 10 pts)
The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed, on 6 February 1840. The Treaty of Waitangi is
New Zealand's founding document. It takes its name from the place in the Bay of
Islands where it was first signed, on 6 February 1840. This day is now a public holiday
in New Zealand. The Treaty is an agreement, in Maori and English, that was made
between the British Crown and about 540 Maori rangatira (chiefs).
Ceded the sovereignty of New Zealand to Britain; Maori gave the Crown an exclusive
right to buy lands they wished to sell, and, in return, they were guaranteed full rights
 of ownership of their lands, forests, fisheries and other possessions; and that Maori
would have the rights and privileges of British subjects.

29. What was in the Treaty of Waitangi? What date was it signed (commemorated on
New Zealand’s National Day) (max 10 pts)
The Treaty of Waitangi was first signed, on 6 February 1840. The sovereignty of New
Zealand to Britain; Maori gave the Crown an exclusive right to buy lands they wished
to sell, and, in return, they were guaranteed full rights of ownership of their lands,
forests, fisheries and other possessions; and that Maori would have the rights and
privileges of British subjects.

30. Who was Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne? (max 10 pts)

After having served in the Seven Years War, Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne returned
to France to take successive command of four ships from La Compagnie des Indes.
This was between the years of 1761 and 1768. However, when La Compagnie des
Indes dissolved du Fresne found himself unemployed. In search of employment and
finance, du Fresne presented a project to Pierre Poivre, Civil Administrator of the Ile
de France. One of the aims of the project was to explore the South Pacific, in the
hope of locating Terra australis incognito. du Fresne's proposition was accepted, and
two ships were prepared for the voyage : the "Mascarin", with du Fresne in
command and Jules Crozet as 2nd Captain, and the "Marquis de Castries", a 16 gun
ship with Ambroise-Bernard-Marie du Clesmeur in command.

On 25th March 1772, the Frenchmen sighted New Zealand - and in particular a snow-
covered peak rising out of the horizon, "land having the appearance of a small island
where one could see two white patches". du Fresne named this mountain of New
Zealand Le Pic Mascarin.
Two ships laid anchor near the present day town of Russell, in the Bay of Islands.
Extremely friendly relations with the Maori were established, while they were
repairing their ships (storm damaged them). Du Ferense made a number of visits
inland. The French not fully understanding the consequences, committed the crime
of desecrating a “tapu”area. The Maori exploded and the French were attacked by
several hundred Maori, killing Marion and the 26 other people.

31. How did the French claim possession of New Zealand? (max 5 pts)
12th July 1772, the French buried a bottle at Waipoa, on Moturua. Within the bottle
were enclosed the arms of France and a formal statement taking possession of the
whole country; with the name of "France Australe".

32. What do you know about the “head-for-musket” trade? When, why, how and what
was the result? (max. 10 pts)
The Musket Wars were between 1820 and 1835. Before the arrival of Europeans
Maori fought with spears. The arrivals of traders led to a musket trade with local
Maori. This resulted in the inter-tribal Musket Wars. The tribes without the muskets
to defend themselves soon found a way of obtaining these weapons. The European
traders were more than willing to trade muskets for embalmed tattooed heads.
 In war, the Māori custom was to take the heads of their victims, embalm and
preserve them, and then present the heads to the family of the killed warrior.
Because of the lucrative trade in dried heads, with muskets as the end goal, Māori
warriors began fighting other tribes uniquely to gain heads for ammunition. Muskets
were always available, but heads began to run short, and soon the Māori found
himself unable to continue supplying dried heads as previously.
News of the head for musket trade reached Britain, and caused an outcry. As New
Zealand was not yet a colony the British were unable to do much to stop this trade.
They were, however, able to pass a law against the trading of heads to Australia in
1831, and after this date head trading dwindled rapidly.

33. What do you know about the first wave of Chinese immigrants in New Zealand?
(max 5 pts)
In the 1870s and 1880s, several thousand Chinese men, mostly from the Guangdong
province, migrated to New Zealand to work on the South Island goldfields. Although
the first Chinese migrants had been invited by the Otago Provincial government they
quickly became the target of hostility from white settlers and laws were enacted
specifically to discourage them from coming to New Zealand.

34. What happened to the New Zealand economy by the end of 19 th century, it
changed from wool and local trade to……. Why? What was the result of this new
development? (max. 5 pts)
Towards the end of the 19th century, the economy—based on wool and local trade—
changed to the export of frozen meat and dairy products to Britain. This change was
enabled by the invention of refrigerated shipping that allowed foodstuff to be
transported over long distances. Refrigerated shipping remained the basis of New
Zealand’s economy until the 1970s. In the 21st century, New Zealand's trade in skim
milk and butter increased, thanks to their high price.

35. When were women given the right to vote in New Zealand? (2 pts)
The right to vote was given in 1893 for woman.

36. What do you know about Western Samoa at the start of WWI, during the war and
after the war? (max 5 pts)
Samoa was a colony of Germany. New Zealand forces took Western Samoa from
Germany in the early stages of the war, and New Zealand administered the country
until Samoan Independence in 1962.

37. How did New Zealand cope with the Depression? (max 5 pts)
In New Zealand, the effects of the crash were not immediately apparent. But from
1930 export prices began to plummet, falling 45% by 1933. To a country
overwhelmingly dependent on agricultural exports, this was devastating. The
government tried to ease Depression conditions through unemployment relief
schemes, which often required men to travel long distances for small pay.

38. What was the effect of Britain’s joining the European Common Market on the
economy of New Zealand? Explain, give details (max 5 pts)
 From the 1890s, the economy had been based almost entirely on the export of
frozen meat and dairy products to Britain, and in 1961, the share of New Zealand
exports going to the United Kingdom was still at slightly over 51%, with
approximately 15% more going to other European countries. Britain's accession to
the European Community forced New Zealand to not only find new markets, but also
re-examine its national identity and place in the world.
Robert Muldoon, Prime Minister from 1975 to 1984, and his Third National
government responded to the crises of the 1970s by attempting to preserve the New
Zealand of the 1950s. His conservatism and antagonistic style helped create an
atmosphere of conflict in New Zealand. Some innovations did take place, for example
the “Closer Economic Relations” agreement with Australia, and in 1983 the term
"dominion" was replaced with "realm" by letters patent.

39. what do you know about New Zealand and Nuclear Power? Explain, give details
(max 10pts)
The Fourth Labour Government also revolutionized New Zealand's foreign policy,
making the country a nuclear-free zone and effectively leaving the ANZUS alliance. In
1984, Prime Minister David Lange barred nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships
from using New Zealand ports or entering New Zealand waters. Under the New
Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987, territorial sea,
land and airspace of New Zealand became nuclear-free zones.

The Act prohibits "entry into the internal waters of New Zealand 12 miles (22.2 km) radius by
any ship whose propulsion is wholly or partly dependent on nuclear power" and bans the
dumping of radioactive waste within the nuclear-free zone, as well as prohibiting any New
Zealand citizen or resident "to manufacture, acquire, possess, or have any control over any
nuclear explosive device."

This is a milestone in New Zealand's development as a nation and seen as an important act of
sovereignty, self-determination and cultural identity. New Zealand’s three decade anti-
nuclear campaign is the only successful movement of its type in the world which resulted in
the nation's nuclear-free zone status being enshrined in legislation.

40. Nowadays New Zealand’s economy depends mainly on….., this used to be….. (farm
produce), however, another source of income is becoming increasingly
important….. (max. 10 pts)
New Zealand's economy is still very dependent on farming, although the old trinity of
meat, dairy and wool has been supplemented by fruit, wine, timber and other
products. Tourism is a major industry, and the country has been successful in
attracting several major film productions, most notably the Lord of the Rings trilogy,
directed by New Zealander Peter Jackson, which in turn bolstered New Zealand's
tourism image.
India

1. The ancient city of Harappa dates back to approx. ……………………(which year?), it was one of
the main cities of which civilization?, where is it on the map? (3pts)

Approximately 3000 B.C., part of the Indus civilization.

2. The Vedas were introduced by which people? Approx. when? (2 pts)

Vedas are early Hindu scriptures and were introduced by the Aryans, who populated India
between 1500 and 500 B.C.
3. The Vedas were written in which language? (2 pts)
Sanskrit.

4. How did the Aryan people influence Indian society? (max. 10 pts)
The Caste system originated with them, which became the base of Indian society for
hundreds of years. Even now, though its officially abolished, the remnants of the system are
still very visible in modern India. The caste system divides people into 5 ranks based on their
professions. 1. Brahmins (priests and teachers) 2. Ksatriyas (fighters and rulers) 3. Vaisyas
(merchants, farmers, craftsmen) 4. Sudras (labourers) 5. Untouchables

5. Alexander the Great came from………………….and he managed to defeat the Persian kings in
northern India in the year………………….., when he went back home, he left garrisons behind
to protect what? (3pts)
He came from Greece. He defeated the Persian kings in 331 B.C. Alexander returned home,
leaving behind garrisons to keep the trade routes open.

6. In the 5th century BC Siddharta Gautama did something special, what? (explain, 5pts)
He was from Nepal and decided on a new way of thinking that he thought would cleanse his
mind and end suffering. He stopped eating, believing that if he put himself above such trivial
needs he would reach a new height of consciousness though meditation. He inspired many
to follow his way of thought and it started the Buddhist religion.

7. Why was the great king Ashoka (268-231 BC) so important within the history of India?
(5pts)
Ashoka used to be a fierce warrior, but during one of his very gruesome battles, he decided
to change his ways and become peaceful. He converted to Buddhism and as king spread it to
much of central Asia.

8. The Gupta dynasty ruled from approx. AD 300, which part of India? Until when? (3 pts)
Until approximately 467 A.D. /500 A.D. Most of central India, leaving out the west side of the
southern tip. They conquered 21 kingdoms.

9. The Chola dynasty ruled from approx. AD 300, which part of India? Which areas did the
Cholas control at about AD 1050? (6pts)
The chola empire covered most of the southern tip of India, going up further on the east side
than the west, and half of Sri Lanka. From AD 300 the Chola held the power in the south of
India. These were Dravidian people, the original settlers of the Indus civilization. The Chola
extended their power across the Bay of Bengal and reached the height of their power at
around 1050AD. Their reign lasted until approx. 1300 AD, when another dynasty, the
Pandyan, regained its original power. This area was known as the richest land in the world.
The Tamil country was not conquered by the Muslim Sultans of Delhi until the 16 th century.

10. The first encounters between Muslim invaders and the Hindu/Buddhist population in India
took place when? (explain) (3 pts)
Muhammad Ghor’s armies invaded India and destroyed the Buddhist temples of Bihar in
1192. They conquered the Hindu kingdoms in 1202

11. From 1202 until1397, the north was ruled from the Sultanate of ………… by………….(4 pts)
Ruled from the Sultanate of Delhi by Ghor
12. In 1397 the north was invaded by a very cruel army from…………….led by………… (2 pts)
Mongolian invasions led by Timur Lang

13. From 1527 the northern half of India was ruled by which dynasty? (originally from Kabul) (2
pts)
Mughal Dynasty.

14. In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe was instructed by King James I to do what? (5pts)
To establish relations with Shah Jahangir. He stayed for three years and became ambassador
to the Mughal empire.

15. Name 3 of the first trading posts the British established in India during the first half of the
17th century. (3 pts)
The company established trading posts in Surat (1619) and Madras (1639). The Crown turned
Bombay over to the company in 1668, and the company established a presence in Calcutta in
1690.

16. Explain the structure of the factories in India, as these were set up by the British during the
17th century. (3 pts)
Factories were warehouses where Indian workers processed goods and shipments to send
out on east India company ships. The factories were run by English people/officers.

17. By the 18th century, what were the main commodities the British were trading from India?
(5 pts)
cotton, silk, indigo dye, saltpeter, and tea. The spice trade had been taken up by the Dutch,
who had a monopoly.

18. In 1670 King Charles II made the Company more powerful than ever, how? (5pts)
The east India company was granted ultimate rights by Charles II. This means they have the
right to autonomous territorial acquisitions, to mint money, to command fortresses and
troops and form alliances, to make war and peace, and to exercise both civil and criminal
jurisdiction over the acquired areas.

19. By the second half of the 18th century, Bengal was effectively under British rule, who was
the first governor? (2 pts)
Warren Hastings

20. During the first half of the 19th century, a number of changes were made to the official
position of the East India Company in India: explain (5 pts)
In the 1813 Charter Act, the monopoly the EIC had on trading with India was ended. After
that the monopoly on trading with China was also abolished.

21. In the north of India: What happened in 1857-1858? (explain) (5 pts)

The sepoy rebellion. Sepoys are Indian soldiers fighting for Britain. This happened after years
of general disrespect from the British soldiers and officers and a string of incidents where
British insulted and attacked the Indian religions. The culmination event was when new rifles
were introduced in 1852 and the paper cartridges of ammunition were sealed with animal fat
(either cow or pig). But as the cartridges needed to be opened with the teeth, it would mean
sepoys had to ingest the fat. Cows are sacred to Hindu people and pigs are unclean to
Muslim people. In both cases it goes against their religion to eat the animals.
22. Charles Canning was the first Viceroy of India, from 1858 till 1862: name 4 things that were
changed/ introduced during his reign. (8 pts)
Canning is credited for ensuring that the administration and most departments of the
government functioned normally during the rebellion and took major administrative
decisions even during the peak of the Rebellion in 1857, including establishing the first three
modern Universities in India, the University of Calcutta, University of Madras and University
of Bombay based on Wood's despatch. Canning passed the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act,
1856 which was drafted by his predecessor Lord Dalhousie before the rebellion. He also
passed the General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 (It required every soldier of Bengal army
to go overseas for deployment if required). the Indian Penal Code was drafted in 1860 and
came into force in 1862. It is the official criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code
intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law.

23. Who was Mahatma Gandhi? (max.10 pts)

Gandhi was an Indian lawyer and political resistance leader. He studied law in Britain and
fought for rights of Indians in south Africa. He lead completely non-violent protests and
encouraged a general strike in 1918, calling it “a day of prayer and contemplation”. He lead
the Indian National Congress Party in 1921. He campaigned against poverty and
untouchability and for women’s rights, religious amity and economic independence. He did
an hunger strike against the violence that happened after India and Pakistan split. He was
murdered by an extremist in 1948.

24. Who was Mohammed Ali Jinnah? (max. 5 pts)

He was founder and governor general of Pakistan. Before that he was a barrister and
politician. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the
inception of Pakistan on 14 August 1947. He advocated for Hindu-Muslim unity and the
political rights of Muslim people in India. The difference between him and Gandhi is that
Jinnah wanted to separate the religions and Gandhi wanted people of all religions to live
together peacefully.

25. What happened to India in 1947? (5 pts)

The partition of India. The nation got split into India and Pakistan. India was meant for Hindu
people and Pakistan for the Muslims. People living on either side were forced to move their
lives to the other country in one day. In the chaos 1 million were killed. They were trampled
or killed or crushed. Extreme violence erupted and the relationship between the two
countries/groups was negatively affected forever.

26. When did Burma become a part of the British Empire? In what form? (3 pts)
After three wars where British gained parts of the country, and Burma became a province of
British India on January 1 1886.

27. Who was Aung San and what part did he play during World War II? (5 pts)
During Burma’s fight for independence from the British, a strike gets organized by the
students union in 1935. One of the organizers was Aung San. Shortly before the outbreak of
World War II, Aung San fled Burma and went to China to solicit foreign support for Burmese
independence. During the Japanese occupation of Burma, he served as the minister of war in
the Japan-backed State of Burma led by Dr. Ba Maw. As the tide turned against Japan, he
switched sides and merged his forces with the Allies to fight against the Japanese.
 He was a Burmese politician, independence activist and revolutionary. Aung San is
considered the founder of modern-day Myanmar. He was Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of War of the State of Burma from 1943 – 1945 and Premier of British Crown Colony
of Burma from 1946 – 1947.

28. What happened to the Muslims in Burma? (3 pts)

After Burma became Myanmar and Aung San and the cabinet were murdered in 1947 and
new leader took over the country. The new leader was a socialist and intolerant towards
other religions and ethnic minorities. In 1991, approximately 250,000 Muslim Rohingyas (an
ethnic group from southwestern Burma) were forced from their homes by Burman forces.
They crossed the border into Bangladesh, where they were given refugee status and aid from
the international community that was not available to them inside Burma.

29. King Rama III of Siam, concluded a trade agreement with the British in 1826, what was in
the agreement and what were the results? (5 pts)
The treaty acknowledged Siamese claims over the five northern Malay states of Kedah,
Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu—the future Unfederated Malay States—and Patani. The treaty
further guaranteed British possession of Penang and their rights to trade in Kelantan and
Terengganu without Siamese interference. The five Malay states were not represented in the
treaty negotiation. In 1909 the parties of the agreement signed a new treaty that superseded
that of 1826 and transferred four of the five Malay states from Siamese to British control,
Patani remaining under Siamese rule.

30. In 1868, Chulalongkorn became the King of Siam (at the age of 15), he reigned as Rama V.
He was educated by…………………………., but lost his faith in the British: explain (max 5 pts)
A British governess.
In Burma, while the British Army fought the Burmese Konbaung Dynasty, Siam remained
neutral. Britain had agreements with the Siamese government, which stated that if the
British were in conflict with Burma, Siam would send food supplies to the British Army.
Chulalongkorn honored the agreement. The British expected he would send an army to help
defeat the Burmese, but he did not do so.
Siamese authorities had exercised substantial control over Malay sultanates since Ayutthaya
times. The sultans sought British support as a counterweight to Siamese influence. In 1909,
the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 was agreed. Four sultanates were brought under British
influence in exchange for Siamese legal rights and a loan to construct railways in southern
Siam.

Africa

1. Where did Africa get its name from? (max 2 pts)

The name is derived from multiple different words in Greek, Egyptian, Latin and Phoenician.
Words with meanings; sunny, without cold, motherland. The name was first commonly used
by Europeans in the 17th century.

2. How did the spread of Islam during the Middle Ages influence the European interaction
with Africa and Asia? (max 5 pts)
 Because of the spread of Islam in the middle east and Asia, those areas were unruly and
unpredictable. It was not safe anymore for Europeans to travel through the area, so they had
to go by water. Finding the fastest/safest route around Africa was difficult and deadly. And
made goods from the east even more valuable.

3. Where and what was “Elmina”, why was it given this name and by who? (5 pts)

Elmina is a town in Ghana. The name means “mine” in Portuguese. This is the place
Portuguese landed during their navigation of the route to India, and where gold was
discovered. The area is also called the “Gold Coast”.

4. Who was the first to round the southernmost tip of Africa, (naming it …...) and when did
he do this? (3 pts)

The cape of good hope was first rounded by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488. Dias' discovery paved
the way for Vasco da Gama's voyage to India.

5. Who was the first to sail around Africa, and reach Calicut in India? How and when? (max 5
pts)

Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama was the first to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean when
he arrives at Calicut on the Malabar Coast. Da Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, in July
1497, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and anchored at Malindi on the east coast of Africa.

6. Who was the first British sailor to reach South Africa and when? (2 pts)

After the Portuguese, Francis Drake (British) managed to sail around the cape in 1581.

7. What was the first English possession Africa and when was it built? (2 pts)

Sierra Leone. British built a factory there in 1628.

8. Who founded Capetown, when and why? (max 5 pts)

Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company. 1652. The Dutch were not intent on
colonizing the area, but needed a place to stop, rest and stock up on fresh food while sailing
to India. A farming system was set up there with farmers from European countries.

9. The Province of Freedom and Freetown were established on land bought from…………. in
which country? (2 pts)

The British bought a piece of land from native Africans in Sierra Leone.

10. Who were the first inhabitants of the Province of Freedom, arriving in 1787? (max. 4 pts)

The British wanted to make amends after abolishing slavery and didn’t want the black slaves
who fought for Britain in the American war of independence to end up in America. The men
were sent to the province of Freedom and given 1000m2, a shovel and a pot to start their
new life. The first inhabitants were 330 black men and 70 white prostitutes. They were sent
there in 1787. Later in 1792 they were joined by 1100 freed slaves.
11. Zachary Macaulay was one of the first governors of Sierra Leone. He became a very
important man in the abolitionist movement. Explain (max 5 pts)

He had formerly lived on an American plantation, where slaves were used for the labour. He
had seen first-hand the gruesome and inhumane way black people were treated and had
decided he did not approve. When he was governor he treated the former slaves with more
decency than other white officers had and did his best to improve the lives of black people
(compared to the ones in America). As he was rich, white and held an official position, his
ideas had a lot of influence.

12. The slave trade was abolished by Britain in…… (2 pts)

1807.

13. How did Napoleon affect the situation in the Cape Colony? (5 pts)

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, there was a “tug-of-war” between the British and the
Dutch. Both were attempting to recapture the Cape colony when it belonged to the other. In
1814 the Dutch ceded South Africa to the British, in the hopes the colony would remain safe
from Napoleon (Holland was under his rule at the time).

14. How did the influence of the British in Africa differ from their influence in America and
India during the first half of the 19th century? (5 pts)

As with the other areas, British colonizers left their language, architecture & sport behind.
But British did not implement themselves in Africa as they did in India and North America.
Brits moved into India and made changes to feel at home (and spread their culture). They
built English buildings, started schools and political parties, train stations etc. The British
moving to the US completely severed ties to Britain and created a new home (while
banishing original inhabitants). In both cases they stayed for a long time/forever and forced
their ways onto the natives. The British did not merge with native Africans. First they sent
missionaries to spread Christianity, but kept their distance for a long time. When brits did
move to Africa (for raw materials) they remained separate. White people stayed with white
people and black with black people. This segregation meant that the British influence on
African culture is much smaller than in India or US.

15. What was written about Kuruman in the Missionary Magazine? (3 pts)

Kuruman, in present-day South Africa, was a significant mission station in the 19th
century, notably associated with missionaries like Robert and Mary Moffat. Their
work focused on promoting Christianity, education, and literacy in the region. The
Missionary Magazine likely covered these missionary activities, contributing to the
historical narrative of Kuruman.

16. What happened in 1867 and in 1869, that caused the attitude of Britain towards Africa to
change? (4 pts)

Diamonds and Gold were discovered in South Africa, which made the British change their
mind about colonizing and taking over the industry in the area.
17. Who was Cecil Rhodes? (max 10 pts)

He was member of parliament and later prime minister of south Africa in 1890. He moved to
Natal from Britain at 17 years old, then relocated again to Kimberley. At the time he settled
there, valuable recourses were discovered in the area. He was very opportunistic and
ambitious and implemented himself into the mining industry in a powerful position. He got
rich and influential because of the business. His plan was to build an underground railroad to
Cairo for transporting goods. He moved into politics and eventually became PM. He was also
a white-supremacist.

18. Who were the main financers behind the colonization of Africa? (2 pts)

British mining in SA, east India trading company, Afrikaans agriculture?

19. In the 1880s George Goldie was active in West Africa. What did he do and where? (max 5
pts)

Sir George Dashwood Taubman Goldie KCMG FRS (20 May 1846 – 20 August 1925) was a
Manx administrator who played a major role in the founding of Nigeria. In many ways, his
role was similar to that of Cecil Rhodes elsewhere in Africa but he did not seek publicity. He
was president of the Royal Geographical Society. He conceived the idea of adding to the
British Empire the regions of the lower and middle Niger, and for over twenty years his
efforts were devoted to the realization of this conception. The method by which he
determined to work was the revival of government by chartered companies within the
empire, a method supposed to be buried with the British East India Company. The first step
was to combine all British commercial interests in the Niger, and this he accomplished in
1879 when the United African Company was formed.

20. Frederick Lugard was active in East Africa in……………..He became the first High
Commissioner of…………………..and in 1912 he became the first Governor-General of…………..
(max 5 pts)

Lugard was Military Administrator of Uganda from 1890 to 1892. High Commissioner of the
Northern Nigeria Protectorate 1900 – 1906. Governor-General of Nigeria 1912.

21. When did Bismarck organise the Berlin Conference? (2 pts)

1884

22. What was decided at the Berlin Conference and by whom? (5 pts)

African territory borders were drawn on a map (divided into separate states/countries). The
territories were claimed and decided by European powers and not discussed with any
Africans. First one to call dibs gained territory and was made effective by occupation of the
area.

23. Name 5 territories/countries that were British in 1914 (purposegames.com- African

colonies 1914) (max 5 pts)

Union of South Africa, Bechuanaland, southern Rhodesia, northern Rhodesia, British east
Africa, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Egypt, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast.
24. Name 5 raw materials from Africa, that were essential for the European markets and
industries (5 pts)

Gold, diamond, rubber, ivory, cotton, palm oil.

25. How did the Boer Wars come about? (max 10 pts)

The Boers were Dutch immigrants (Afrikaners) who lived as farmers in South Africa. As more
Brits started to immigrate to SA and decided they should rule the place, Boers became
resentful towards them. In the 30s and 40s, the Great Trek happened. Which was Boers
attempting to escape the area and British rule. They moved to the west and founded two
new states (Transvaal and orange free state). When gold and diamonds were discovered, a
large amount of Brits moved to SA and tried to conquer black and Afrikaans areas to start
mining. The Boers rebelled and started the Boer wars in 1880-1881 and 1899-1902.

26. How did the Boer Wars end, when and why? (max 10 pts)

After the Boers won the first war, British reacted cruelly and completely destroyed Afrikaans
areas. After the mass murder of Boers, they were forced to come to an agreement with the
brits. On 31 May 1902, the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed and the Boers accepted British
sovereignty but with limited self-government. The Boer republics were fully integrated into
the Union of South Africa in 1910.

27. What was stipulated in the Treaty of “Vereeniging”? (max 5 pts)

That the two Boers republics (Orange free state and south African republic/Transvaal) were
to be combined under the British Empire.

28. What were the consequences of the Boer Wars in Britain? (max 5 pts)

The Boer Wars strained Britain economically and led to a reevaluation of imperial
policies. The use of concentration camps stirred public outcry and influenced military
reforms. Political repercussions included criticism of the government, while some
Boers emigrated to other parts of the British Empire seeking new opportunities.

29. When was the Union of South Africa created and who was its first Prime Minister? (3 pts)

In 1910. Louis Botha.

30. Name four territories that remained under British rule after the creation of the Union of
South Africa (4 pts)

Cape province, Natal, Orange free state and Transvaal are the 4 states of the union of S.A.,
which are self-governing, but still belong to Britain. African territories still under British rule
were Basutoland, Bechuanaland, southern Rhodesia, northern Rhodesia.

31. What was the Maritz-rebellion (in South Africa) and when did it happen? (max 5 pts)
 The Maritz rebellion, also known as the Boer revolt or Five Shilling rebellion, was an armed
insurrection in South Africa in 1914, at the start of World War I. It was led by Boers who
supported the re-establishment of the South African Republic in the Transvaal. Many
members of the South African government were themselves former Boers who had fought
with the Maritz rebels against the British in the Second Boer War, which had ended twelve
years earlier. The rebellion failed, and its ringleaders received heavy fines and terms of
imprisonment or execution.

32. What changed in Africa as a result of the first World War? (max 5 pts)

World War I resulted in changes in African colonial control, with German colonies
redistributed among Allied powers. The war led to increased exploitation of African
resources and labor, disrupting traditional trade patterns. Economic shifts occurred,
favoring cash crops. The war's social and cultural impact included exposure of African
soldiers to new ideas, contributing to the rise of nationalist movements. The
concurrent Spanish flu pandemic had devastating effects on African populations.
Overall, World War I set the stage for independence struggles and reshaped colonial
dynamics in Africa.

33. What was decided and ratified by the “Statute of Westminster” in 1931? (4 pts)

The independence of South Africa. It set the basis for the relationship between Brit & SA.
They still kept close relations afterwards.

34. What was the political situation in South Africa in 1939? (max 10 pts)

The prime minister at the time was Barry Hertzog. He was anti-British and wanted South
Africa to stay neutral in the second world war. But the United Party (whites, apartheid)
refused to accept neutrality and deposed Hertzog. They appointed Jan Smuts instead, who
officially declared war on Germany.

35. Who was Jan Smuts? (max 5 pts)

Jan Smuts was second PM of South Africa and the united party candidate. He was formerly a
military leader. His family was Dutch Afrikaner. In 1902, he played a key role in negotiating
the Treaty of Vereeniging, which ended the war and resulted in the annexation of the South
African Republic and Orange Free State into the British Empire. In 1919, Smuts replaced
Botha as prime minister, holding the office until the South African Party's defeat at the 1924
general election by J. B. M. Hertzog's National Party. Smuts returned as prime minister in
1939, leading South Africa into the Second World War. His second term in office ended with
the victory of his political opponents with the new government beginning the
implementation of apartheid.

36. Which of the African colonies was the last to obtain its independence, when and who was
its first leader? (max 5 pts)

Zimbabwe: Formerly known as South Rhodesia, this country became a self-governing British
colony as early as 1923. Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980, making it the last
country to free itself from British rule. Canaan Banana was first president.
37. Which political parties were the main players during the dismantling of Apartheid in South
Africa? (max 10 pts)

The apartheid system in South Africa was ended through a series of bilateral and multi-party
negotiations between 1990 and 1993. the three main political players – the ANC (African
National Congress), the IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party), and the NP (National Party).

38. When were the first elections held in South Africa, during which all adult inhabitants had a
right to vote? How many people actually voted and what was the result? (max 5 pts)

27 April 1994 General Elections. 19,726,579 votes were counted. The ANC won by a landslide
and Nelson Mandela became the first black president of Sout Africa.
The Strategic Areas

Hong Kong
1. Since when could tea be bought through the shops in England? How much did a
pound of tea sell for in those days? (2 pts)
As early as 1657. Three years later coffee houses were advertising tea at £6 and £10
per pound.
2. Why was the British government so keen on promoting the tea-trade in the 18 th
century? (2 pts)
Charles II did his bit to counter the growth of tea, with several acts forbidding its sale
in private houses. This measure was designed to counter sedition, but it was so
unpopular that it was impossible to enforce. A 1676 act taxed tea and required coffee
house operators to apply for a license.
This was just the start of government attempts to control, or at least, to profit from
the popularity of tea in Britain. By the mid-18th century the duty on tea had reached
an absurd 119%.

3. Explain the India/China/England trade triangle in the early 19 th century (3 pts)

China only wanted to trade with England, in Opium. The British got the Opium from
India.

4. Explain how and when and why Britain acquired Hong Kong (max 10 pts)
The government decided to stop the opium-trade and confiscated all the opium that
was present in the Canton province in 1839. Everything, to an amount of £2 million
was publicly burnt and further imports were forbidden. The British traders in China
were rounded up in their factories and cut off from their supplies.

The British government in London and the governor in India, reacted by sending in
the navy, which was far superior to anything the Chinese could muster. The British
blockaded the main Chinese ports and forced the Chinese to negotiate. The result
was that the British were given control of Hong Kong in January 1841. Hong Kong
provided an excellent harbour and a firm base from which the navy could invade
southern China by sailing up the Yangtze River. The campaign resulted in a peace
treaty (regarded by the Chinese as unfair and unequal) in 1842, with official
ratification in Hong Kong in 1843, formally allowing the British establishing a Crown
Colony in Hong Kong. The Treaty of Nanking also stipulated that the British were
compensated for their losses (21 million silver dollars), the opening of 5 Chinese
ports for foreign trade and a recognition that British officials were equal to Chinese
officials (!).This ended the first ‘Opium War’.

5. When was the second Opium war, how did it end and what were the results? (max
7pts)
The second Anglo-Chinese war started in 1856, when the Arrow, a Hong-Kong-
registered British ship, was searched by the Chinese, for no reason at all. The British
reacted again by sending in the Navy. By the time even Beijing came under threat in
1858, the Qing Dynasty signed the Treaty of Tianjin. The war ended in 1860 when the
treaty (definitely an unfair and unequal treaty) was ratified at the Convention of
 Beijing, which resulted in a British embassy in Beijing and the addition of the Kowloon
Peninsula to Hong Kong. As from the Convention of Beijing, foreigners (including
missionaries) were permitted to travel throughout the country.

6. When were the New Territories added to Hong Kong, what were the conditions and
why did the British want them in the first place? (max 7 pts)
In 1895 China was forced to sign yet another humiliating (unfair and unequal) treaty
with Japan. China recognized the independence of Korea and ceded Taiwan, the
Pescadores and the Liao tang Peninsula to Japan. Russia interfered however, on
behalf of China, fearing the Japanese expansion and the Liao tang Peninsula was
returned to China. All in all this resulted in more and more countries gaining
influence and power in the area and the British felt an increasing need to improve
the defense of the precious Hong Kong harbour. To enable them to do this, they
needed to be in control of the land around it. As a result of a convention in Peking,
the British signed a 99-year lease of the so-called New Territories. These comprised
the area north of Kowloon up to the Shenzhen River and 235 islands. The lease was
signed on June 9, 1898.

7. What happened to Hong Kong during the Second World War? (max 3 pts)
During the second World War, Hong Kong was occupied by Japanese forces for 3 years and 8
months (until the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki). 7,000 British soldiers and civilians were
put in POW-camps. Because of food shortages, the Japanese forced the Chinese to return to
the mainland, reducing the population from 1.6 million in 1942, to 600,000 in 1945. When
the war finished the British reclaimed possession of the colony. The economy bounced back
and by the end of 1945 all restrictions were lifted and the free market economy was re-
established.

8. What changed with regards to the Chinese in Hong Kong after WW II? (2 pts)
By 1946 1 million people lived in Hong Kong, after the return of many Chinese. Some
things changed as a result of the war: the Chinese were no longer restricted from
certain beaches and now could also own assets on Victoria Peak.

9. What was the biggest problem that Hong Kong had to face after communism in
China? Explain (max 5 pts)
Hong Kong became the gateway for Chinese refugees, which created enormous
problems. Hong Kong grew beyond its borders and a lot of Chinese refugees were
trying to get in illegal.
10. What was agreed and ratified by the Sino-British-Joint-Declaration of 1984/1985?
(max 5 pts)
The Sino-British Joint Declaration, signed in 1984 and ratified in 1985, outlined the
terms for the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from British rule to Chinese
rule. Promised: One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong's Basic Law, Legislative and
Executive Authorities and an Transition Period.

11. When was the Tiananmen Protest and what effect did it have on the population of
Hong Kong? (max 5 pts)
In 1989, the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing had a profound impact on Hong
Kong, then under British rule. The violent crackdown by the Chinese government
 stirred emotions and political consciousness among Hong Kong residents. The events
fueled concerns about the future of political freedoms in Hong Kong, influencing the
region's political landscape leading up to the 1997 handover to China. The legacy of
Tiananmen continues to be invoked in debates over democracy and human rights in
Hong Kong.

12. Who was the last governor of Hong Kong? (1 pt)

Chris Patten

Gibraltar
13. During which conflict did the British take possession of Gibraltar? When was the
British flag raised on the beach of Gibraltar for the first time and why? (max 5 pts)
During the War of the Spanish Succession. From the eighteenth century, Spanish
sources reported that immediately after the takeover of the city, Sir George Rooke,
the British admiral, on his own initiative caused the British flag to be hoisted, and
took possession of the Rock in name of Queen Anne, whose government ratified the
occupation. However, as this flag-raising for the British Queen would have caused
serious problems among the allied forces, it is now believed that the flag was only
raised to signal the British presence to the ships, to avoid being fired upon by their
own side.

14. When was the Treaty of Utrecht and what were the most important aspects for the
British? (max 10 pts)
In 1706, Gibraltar was proclaimed a Free Port by Queen Anne; the Treaty of Utrecht
assigned Gibraltar to Britain (although this is still contested by Spain). Treaty of
Utrecht:
 1713, a series of separate peace treaties, all signed in Utrecht. As far as Britain is concerned, these
were the most important aspects:
 Philip became king of Spain, but neither he nor his descendents had a right to the French throne (this
way there was a better balance of power in Europe).
 Britain got (from Spain) Gibraltar , Minorca and the Asiento, the Spanish monopoly on the slave-trade.
 From France Britain got the Hudson Bay Company’s territories, Newfoundland etc. and the French half
of the Island of St Kitts in the Caribbean. The British were also given sovereignty over the Iroquois in
America.
 Last but not least: The French agreed to no longer support the Catholic Stuarts’ claim to the British
throne; they recognized the Protestant succession.

15. When was the Great Siege of Gibraltar? What happened? (max 10 pts)
Between 1779 and 1783, Gibraltar suffered the 14th or Great Siege. In 1782, Gibraltar had a
population of 3,000 garrison, 1,426 garrison dependants and 1,733 civilians.
The combined Spanish and French fleets blockaded The Rock from the sea, while on the land
side an enormous army was engaged in constructing forts and batteries from which to attack.
General Elliot formed a corps of sharpshooters. For 3 years the British held out against all
odds. Only twice did the British Navy manage to send reinforcements and new supplies. It
became clear to the Spanish/French allies that they couldn’t starve the British out of
Gibraltar, so they prepared for a decisive assault. The night before the assault, the British
managed to attack the Spanish in their trenches and killed 200, seriously damaging the
 batteries and stores. By the time the Spanish realized what had happened, the British had
withdrawn within their fortifications. The Grand Assault was delayed….

16. In 1810 the British removed 2 forts on Spanish territory, why? (2 pts)
In 1810 British forces joined the Spanish forces against Napoleon. During that same
year 2 forts were removed by the British, which were on ‘neutral territory.

17. Explain the importance of Gibraltar, especially after 1869 (2 pts)

The Suez Canal was opened in 1869, the one who controlled Gibraltar controlled who
gets to got to the Suez Canal.
18. In 1954 Queen Elizabeth II visited Gibraltar, why? What happened as a result of her
visit? (max 5 pts)
250th anniversary of its capture. The queen visiting angered General Franco (Spanish
dictator), this led to the restriction on free movement between Spain and Gibraltar.

19. In 1967 a referendum was held among the inhabitants of Gibraltar, about what and
what was the outcome? (3 pts)
Over 99% voted in favour of British sovereignty with certain provisions for self-
government.

20. in 1969 Gibraltar got its own constitution. What was in the constitution and what
were the results with regard to the relations with Spain? (max 7 pts)

1969 30 May - A new constitution for Gibraltar was introduced by the United
Kingdom Parliament, under the initiative of the British Government (Gibraltar
Constitution Order 1969). Under it, Gibraltar attained full internal self-government,
with an elected House of Assembly. The preamble to the Constitution stated that:

"Her Majesty's Government will never enter into arrangements under which the
people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their
freely and democratically expressed wishes."
The Spanish responded with total isolation of Gibraltar, which would last until 1984,
when Spain applied to join the European Community. Gibraltar had been a member
since 1973, alongside Britain. In 1983 a law was passed giving all Gibraltarians British
citizenship.

21. In 2002 Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement about Gibraltar. What
did he say and how did the Gibraltarians feel about his proposal? (max 7 pts)
Jack Straw issued a formal statement in the House of Commons, saying that after twelve
months of negotiation the British Government and Spain were in broad agreement on many
of the principles that should underpin a lasting settlement of Spain's sovereignty claim, which
included the principle that Britain and Spain should share sovereignty over Gibraltar.
In November the Government of Gibraltar called Gibraltar’s second sovereignty referendum
on the proposal. It achieved a turnout of 88% of which 98.97% of the electorate did not
support the position taken by Mr Straw. (187 Voted YES, and 17,900 voted NO)
 22. How were the talks that started in 2004 about Gibraltar different from all
negotiations in the past? (2 pts)
Gibraltar celebrated 300 years of British rule. Spanish officials labelled this as the
celebration of 300 years of British occupation. 2004 28 October — The governments
of the United Kingdom and Spain agreed to allow the Government of Gibraltar equal
representation in a new open agenda discussion forum (so called Tripartite Talks).

The Middle East

23. What caused Turkey to declare a holy war on Britain in 1914? (5 pts)
In November 1914, the Ottoman Empire, under the rule of the Committee of Union
and Progress (CUP), entered World War I by launching an attack on Russian ports in
the Black Sea. The Ottoman leaders, including Enver Pasha, Talat Pasha, and Djemal
Pasha, sought to strengthen the empire's position by aligning with the Central
Powers.
While the Ottoman Empire's entry into World War I had strategic and geopolitical
motivations, the idea of a "holy war" or jihad was used as a propaganda tool by the
Ottoman government to rally support from the Muslim population within and outside
the empire. Mehmed V, the Ottoman Sultan, declared a jihad against the Allies,
framing the war as a holy struggle for Islam.
This declaration aimed to garner support from Muslims in British India, Egypt, and
other parts of the world to join the Ottoman cause. However, the effectiveness of
this call for jihad varied, and it did not lead to widespread support or uprisings as the
Ottoman leaders had hoped.

24. Where is ANZAC Cove? Where does the word Anzac come from? (3 pts)
The coastline where the attempt was made to establish coastal bridgeheads, became known
as Anzac Cove. The British had totally underestimated the military know-how, provided by
the Germans, and the morale, provided by the excuse of a ‘holy war’, of the Turkish army.
Everywhere it was tried, the frontal assault on Turkish power failed.

25. What was T.E. Lawrence’s mission? (max 7 pts)

26. The idea was to incite a revolt against Turkish rule by the desert-dwelling Arab tribes. Under
the leadership of the Sharif of Mecca, Husayn ibn Ali. The man who came to most closely
identified with this new strategy was an eccentric Oxford historian turned undercover agent
– an archaeologist, a linguist, a skilled cartographer and an intuitive guerrilla fighter. T.E.
Lawrence, the illegitimate son of an Irish baronet and his nanny: a flamboyant Orientalist
who delighted in wearing Arab dress.
Lawrence’s aim was to break the Ottoman Empire from within by stirring up Arab nationalism
into a new and potent force that he believed could trump the German-sponsored holy war.
For centuries Turkish rule over the sandy wastes of Arabia had been resented and
sporadically challenged by the nomadic tribes of the region. By adopting their language and
dress, Lawrence set out to turn their discontent to Britain’s advantage. As liaison officer to
Husayn’s son Faysal from July 1916, he argued strongly against deploying British troops in the
Hejaz. The Arabs had to feel they were fighting for their own freedom, Lawrence argued, not
for the privilege of being ruled by the British instead of the Turks.
With Lawrence’s support, the Arabs waged a highly effective guerrilla warfare against Turkish
communications along the Hejaz railway from Medina to Aqaba. By the autumn of 1917 they
 were probing Turkish defences in Syria as General Edmund Allenby’s army marched from Sinai
towards Jerusalem itself.

27. On 9 December 1917 General Allenby invited Lawrence to do what? (2 pts)

On 9 December Allenby invited Lawrence to join him as, with becoming humility, he
entered the Holy City on foot through the ancient Jaffa gate. It was a sublime
moment.

28. What happened to the former German territories as a result of the Treaty of
Versailles? Specify (max 10 pts)
When all had been drafted and signed, it turned out to be the victors dividing up the
conquered territories:
Despite Lawrence’s wartime promises to the Arabs, it was agreed to give Iraq, Transjordan
and Palestine the status of British ‘mandates’- the euphemism for colonies- while the French
got Syria and the Lebanon. The former German colonies of Togoland, Cameroon and East
Africa were added to the British possessions in Africa.

29. How were the British involved in Persia at around 1920? Explain (5 pts)
In the early 20th century, particularly around 1920, the British were involved in Persia
(modern-day Iran) for various reasons, largely driven by strategic and economic
interests.
 Anglo-Persian Agreement of 1919: In 1919, the Anglo-Persian Agreement was signed
between the United Kingdom and Persia. The agreement aimed to establish a
stronger British presence in Persia, providing economic and military assistance in
exchange for certain privileges for British interests.
 Economic Interests: The primary motivation for British involvement was the desire to
secure access to Persian oil resources. The Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later British
Petroleum, BP) played a crucial role in this context. The British sought to ensure
control over Persian oil fields, which were becoming increasingly important for the
British Royal Navy and the broader British economy.
 Influence and Control: The British were also interested in maintaining influence and
control in the region to counter Russian and German influence. The aftermath of
World War I and the Russian Revolution had created a complex geopolitical situation
in which various powers sought to assert their interests in the Middle East.
 Political Instability: Persia experienced political instability during this period, with
internal conflicts and power struggles. The British took advantage of this situation to
advance their interests and influence the Persian government.
 Reactions and Opposition: The Anglo-Persian Agreement faced significant opposition
from various quarters in Persia. The perceived infringement on Persian sovereignty
and the terms favoring British interests led to protests and discontent among the
Persian population.
Overall, the British involvement in Persia during this time was a reflection of the
geopolitical complexities of the era, driven by a combination of economic, strategic,
and political factors.

30. How did the British get more power over the Suez Canal? ( 1875) (max 5 pts)
 When the Egyptians needed money, Prime Minister Disraeli bought their shares. ).
Every time it looked as if the integrity of the Canal could be compromised, the British
intervened, effectively controlling the area around the Canal, and the rest of Egypt,
until 1956.

31. Who established most settlements along the River Nile between 1870 and 1880? (2
pts)
Between 1870 and 1880 General Gordon (Gordon of Khartoum) established British
settlements along the river Nile.
32. What was agreed by the Trucial Sheikhdoms and the UK with the treaty of 1835
and what with the treaty of 1892? (max 7 pts)
In 1853, they signed a treaty with the United Kingdom, under which the sheikhs (the "Trucial
Sheikhdoms") agreed to a "perpetual maritime truce." It was enforced by the United
Kingdom, and disputes among sheikhs were referred to the British for settlement.
The United Kingdom and the Trucial Sheikhdoms established closer bonds in an 1892 treaty,
similar to treaties entered into by the UK with other Persian Gulf principalities. The sheikhs
agreed not to dispose of any territory except to the United Kingdom and not to enter into
relationships with any foreign government other than the United Kingdom without its
consent. In return, the British promised to protect the Trucial Coast from all aggression by sea
and to help in case of land attack.

33. How and on which occasions did the British interfere in Oman? (max 7 pts)
When the ruler died in 1856, without leaving an apparent heir, the ruling clan (al Said),
invited the British to mediate and the country was divided into 2 parts: the Interior Sultanate
(later Imamate) of Oman and the coastal region, the Sultanate of Muscat. When oil was
discovered in the region, the British favoured the Sultanate of Muscat over the Imamate of
Oman and as from 1957 the country became one nation again. However, the Sultan ruled the
country badly and in 1970 Britain assisted the son of the Sultan when he ousted his father.

34. After the First World War: what happened to Palestine and how did the USA react
to this? (5 pts max)
British troops in 1917–1918, Palestine was governed by the Occupied Enemy Territory
Administration. In July 1920, the military administration was replaced by a civilian
administration headed by a High Commissioner. The first High Commissioner, Herbert
Samuel, arrived in Palestine on 20 June, 1920, and complied with a demand from the head of
the military administration, General Sir Louis Bols, that he sign a receipt for ‘one Palestine,
complete’: Samuel famously added the common commercial escape clause, ‘E&OE’ (errors
and omissions excepted.
In October 1923, Britain provided the League with two reports on the administration of
Palestine and Iraq for the period 1920–1922. The Secretary General's statement accepting
the reports says: "The mandate for Palestine only came into force on 29 September 1923. The
two reports cover periods previous to the application of the mandates."

The USA refused to ratify the Covenant of the League of Nations regarding the Mandates
taken by Britain and France, declaring them illegal occupations.
35. The British had promised the Jews a place to live in the Palestine: how many
immigrated during the British Mandate, between 1923 and 1936? (2 pts)
According to official records, 367,845 Jews and 33,304 non-Jews immigrated legally
between 1920 and 1945
36. What were the recommendations by the Peel Commision? (1937) (3 pts)
37. What was in the “White Paper”, issued by British Parliament in 1939 concerning the
Palestinian problem and how did Winston Churchill react to it? What about Labour
MP Rhothschild? (max 10 pts)
The attacks on the Jewish population by Arabs had three lasting effects: First, they led to the
formation and development of Jewish underground militias, primarily the Haganah, which
were to prove decisive in 1948. Secondly, it became clear that the two communities could not
be reconciled, and the idea of partition was born. Thirdly, the British responded to Arab
opposition with the White Paper of 1939, which severely restricted Jewish land purchase and
immigration. However, with the advent of World War II, even this reduced immigration quota
was not reached.
The White Paper was published on 9 November 1938 and approved by Parliament in May
1939

38. After the Second World War the British stuck to their pre-war “White Paper” with
regards to Palestine. How? What was the result? (max 7 pts)
From October 1946, the British Government, under the 'severest pressure' from the USA,
relented and allowed 1,500 Jewish migrants a month into Palestine. Half of those admitted
came from the prison camps for illegal immigrants in Cyprus due to fears that a growing
Jewish presence in Cyprus would lead to an uprising there.

39. In 1947 the UN Special Committee on Palestine came up with a solution for the
Palestinian Problem: What was their suggestion? Who were in favour, who wanted
something else (what?) and who were against all proposals? (max 10 pts)
In 1947, the UN Special Committee on Palestine proposed a plan known as the UN
Partition Plan. The suggestion was to divide Palestine into two separate states, one
for Jews and one for Arabs, with Jerusalem as an international city.
In favor of the plan were countries like the United States and the Soviet Union, while
Arab nations and the Arab Higher Committee opposed it. The Jewish leadership,
represented by the Jewish Agency, accepted the partition plan.
Ultimately, the UN General Assembly voted on the proposal in November 1947, and
it was approved with 33 votes in favor, 13 against, and 10 abstentions. The partition
plan played a significant role in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

40. After Israel’s independence in 1949, it was immediately invaded by various

countries: which ones? What was the situation regarding the Gaza strip and the
West Bank of the river Jordan in 1950? (max 8 pts)
It was immediately invaded by several Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria,
Iraq, and Lebanon. These neighboring Arab states sought to prevent the
establishment of the newly declared state of Israel.
 As a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, armistice agreements were reached
between Israel and its neighboring countries in 1949. The armistice lines were
established, shaping the borders of Israel with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Regarding the Gaza Strip and the West Bank of the Jordan River in 1950, Egypt
administered the Gaza Strip, and Jordan annexed the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem. This situation persisted until the Six-Day War in 1967 when Israel captured
these territories. The status and administration of these areas have been contentious
issues in the Israeli-Arab conflict for decades.

41. When was the Six-Day War and what were the results? (max 10 pts)
The Six-Day War took place from June 5 to June 10, 1967. The conflict involved Israel
and its neighboring Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.
The results of the Six-Day War were significant and had lasting implications for the
region:
 Territorial Changes: Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West
Bank (including East Jerusalem) from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria.
 Jerusalem: Israel unified Jerusalem, taking control of East Jerusalem, which had been
under Jordanian administration since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
 Gaza Strip and West Bank: Israel gained control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,
territories that had been under Egyptian and Jordanian administration, respectively.
 Strategic Importance: The war enhanced Israel's strategic position in the region and
increased its territory.
 Palestinian Issue: The war also contributed to the Palestinian refugee problem, as
more Palestinians fled or were displaced during the conflict.
The Six-Day War had a profound impact on the geopolitics of the Middle East and set
the stage for further conflicts and diplomatic efforts in the following years.