AP European History 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which treaty ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648 and established the principle of state sovereignty?
- Peace of Westphalia (Correct answer)
- Treaty of Tordesillas
- Treaty of Utrecht
- Peace of Augsburg
Correct answer: Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War and established the modern concept of state sovereignty.
The Peace of Westphalia (1648) comprised two treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. It established the principle of cuius regio, eius religio at a state level and is considered the beginning of the modern international system of sovereign states.
Question 2: What was the primary cause of the English Civil War (1642-1651)?
- Conflict between Parliament and the Crown over governance (Correct answer)
- Religious persecution of Catholics
- Scottish invasion of England
- Economic collapse from plague
Correct answer: Conflict between Parliament and the Crown over governance
The English Civil War was primarily caused by the struggle between Parliament and King Charles I over the extent of royal authority.
The English Civil War arose from longstanding tensions between the monarchy and Parliament over issues of governance, taxation, and religious policy. Charles I's attempts to rule without Parliament, impose religious conformity, and levy taxes without parliamentary consent led to armed conflict. The war ultimately resulted in Charles's execution and the temporary establishment of a republic under Oliver Cromwell.
Question 3: Which Enlightenment philosopher argued for the separation of powers in government?
- Montesquieu (Correct answer)
- Voltaire
- Rousseau
- Locke
Correct answer: Montesquieu
Montesquieu advocated for the separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) articulated the theory of separation of powers in his landmark work 'The Spirit of the Laws' (1748). He argued that political liberty required dividing government into three branches — legislative, executive, and judicial — each serving as a check on the others. This concept profoundly influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution.
Question 4: What was the significance of the Diet of Worms (1521)?
- Martin Luther refused to recant his writings before Emperor Charles V (Correct answer)
- The Holy Roman Empire declared war on France
- Protestantism was officially recognized
- The Pope excommunicated all German princes
Correct answer: Martin Luther refused to recant his writings before Emperor Charles V
At the Diet of Worms, Martin Luther famously refused to retract his writings, leading to his condemnation as an outlaw.
The Diet of Worms was an imperial assembly where Martin Luther was summoned to appear before Emperor Charles V. Luther refused to recant his writings, reportedly declaring 'Here I stand, I can do no other.' The resulting Edict of Worms declared Luther a heretic and outlaw, but the Reformation he sparked continued to spread across Europe.
Question 5: Which event marked the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789?
- Storming of the Bastille (Correct answer)
- Execution of Louis XVI
- Tennis Court Oath
- Declaration of the Rights of Man
Correct answer: Storming of the Bastille
The Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, is considered the symbolic start of the French Revolution.
On July 14, 1789, a Parisian crowd stormed the Bastille, a royal fortress and prison that symbolized monarchical tyranny. Though the Tennis Court Oath occurred slightly earlier (June 20), the Storming of the Bastille is widely recognized as the catalytic event of the Revolution. It demonstrated popular willingness to use force against the old regime and became France's national day.
Question 6: What was the primary goal of the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)?
- Restore the European balance of power after Napoleon's defeat (Correct answer)
- Establish democratic governments across Europe
- Create a unified European state
- Punish France through territorial dismemberment
Correct answer: Restore the European balance of power after Napoleon's defeat
The Congress of Vienna aimed to restore stability and the balance of power in Europe following the Napoleonic Wars.
The Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) was convened by the major European powers — Austria, Britain, Prussia, and Russia — to reorganize Europe after Napoleon's defeat. Led by Austrian diplomat Metternich, the Congress sought to restore legitimate monarchies, establish a balance of power, and prevent future French aggression. Its conservative settlement maintained relative peace in Europe for nearly four decades.
AP European History 2
Which treaty ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648 and established the principle of state sovereignty?