HIST 410N FINAL EXAM – QUESTION AND ANSWERS }VERSION 2

HIST 410N FINAL EXAM 2 – QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Question:

1. (TCO 1) Historical research involves four main tasks. Discover refers to the task of:
(Points: 4)

 locating primary sources to learn the facts
 asking questions like "Who created the source and why?"
 analyzing all the available primary sources and judging which is the most accurate
 distributing the new findings to the world

Explanation

Historical research refers to the process of understanding, studying, and explaining past events.
Its aim is to arrive at particular conclusions concerning past occurrences that may help to
anticipate or explain present or future events. Historians analyze and interpret information
gathered from their sources to draw conclusions about a topic's significance in history.

2. (TCO 6) The United States entered World War I because it: (Points: 4)

 had to honor alliance commitments
 desired to acquire territory, especially colonies
 was hostile to German submarine warfare and German militarism
 was interested in building up its military establishment

Explanation

In 1915, Germany had enacted a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare against any ships that
entered the British war zone. President Woodrow Wilson maintained neutrality until Germany
ignored an agreement to ensure passenger safety before destroying enemy ships. Despite a
pledge to stay out of the war, the U.S. government was a major trading partner of Britain, placing
American ships in Germany's line of fire. On April 6, 1917, the United States officially declared
war against Germany after the country repeatedly attacked armed and unarmed vessels traveling
to Britain, resulting in American casualties.

3. (TCO 5) Nicholas II of Russia abdicated the throne following: (Points: 4)

 the Bolshevik takeover
 the return of Lenin to Russia
 both of the above
 the failure of his troops to put down demonstrations in Petrograd

Explanation

, Czar Nicholas II, was ruler of Russia from May 26, 1984, up to the time when he abdicated
around March 1917. Under his tenure, discontent in Russia grew as food became scarce, soldiers
became war-weary, and devastating defeats on the eastern front demonstrated the czar’s
ineffectual leadership. In March 1917, the army garrison at Petrograd joined striking workers in
demanding socialist reforms and also Cossack soldiers refused the Tsar's orders to fire on
demonstrators. Nicholas’ loss of support and weakening leadership led to his abdication.

4. (TCO 5) What event marked the beginning of World War II? (Points: 4)

 the Nazi-Soviet Pact
 the German invasion of Poland
 the Anschluss
 Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland

Explanation

Despite having brewed for decades, September 1, 1939 served as the official starting year for
World War 2 - marked by the German assault on Poland. Five German armies with 1.5 million
men, 2,000 tanks, and 1,900 modern aircraft faced fewer than a million Polish troops with less
than 500 aircraft and a small number of armored vehicles. In addition, German planning and
technical support -- and German understanding of the importance of modern tactical airpower --
gave the aggressor great advantages.

5. (TCO 9) The Cold War got hot, or flared up into actual fighting, in: (Points: 4)

 Korea
 Hungary
 China
 Italy

Explanation

In June 1950, the first military action of the Cold War began when the Soviet-backed North
Korean People’s Army invaded its pro-Western neighbor to the south. Many American officials
feared this was the first step in a communist campaign to take over the world and deemed that
nonintervention was not an option. Truman sent the American military into Korea, but the war
dragged to a stalemate and ended in 1953.

6. (TCO 9) During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. and the Soviet Union were led by:
(Points: 4)

 Reagan and Gorbachev
 Reagan and Khrushchev
 Kennedy and Castro
 Kennedy and Khrushchev