The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India, and aspirants from across the country vie for a chance to serve the nation as civil servants. Among the various optional subjects available, history has always held a special place for those intrigued by the past and its relevance to the present. In this blog series, we embark on a fascinating journey through the lens of UPSC’s History Optional Subject-Wise Previous Year Questions, focusing on the ‘Origins of Modern Politics’ from 2013 to 2023. This exploration will not only provide valuable insights for aspirants, but also shed light on the evolution of modern politics and its integral role in shaping our contemporary world.
The ‘Origins of Modern Politics’ is a vital section of the history optional, encompassing a vast spectrum of historical events, ideologies, and transformative figures that played pivotal roles in the making of the modern political landscape. In this series, we will delve into the thought-provoking questions posed by UPSC in the last decade, exploring the intricate tapestry of modern politics and gaining a deeper understanding of the ideas, movements, and revolutions that have indelibly shaped our world. Whether you’re a UPSC aspirant seeking guidance or simply a history enthusiast eager to revisit the past, join us on this enlightening journey through the ‘Origins of Modern Politics’ as we decipher the enigmatic threads of history and their relevance in today’s complex socio-political context.
Origins of Modern Politics History – Previous Year Questions (UPSC CSE Mains History Optional)
Origins of Modern Politics: European States System; American Revolution and the Constitution; French revolution and aftermath, 1789- 1815; American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery; British Democratic Politics, 1815-1850; Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists
1. “What mattered in 1789-and what made men revolutionary almost in spite of themselveswas the whole revolutionary situation’; and in producing that situation the work of the philosophers played no very important role.” Comment in about 200 words. (1985)
2. ‘Napoleon was the child of the Revolution, but in many ways he reversed the aims and principles of the movement from which he sprang…” Comment in about 200 words. (1986)
3. ‘If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it ; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.’ Comment in about 200 words. (1986)
4. Account for the emergence of the national monarchies in Europe in the sixteenth century. Did the monarchs build the national states less by design than by chance? (1987)
5. “At the news of the Declaration of Independence crowds gathered to cheer, fire guns and cannon and ring church bells in Philadelphia. Boston and other places, but there were many people in America who did not rejoice.” Comment in about 200 words. (1988)
6. Examine the view that the thirty years war (1618-1648) was essentially a contest between the Bourbon and Hapsburg houses for mastery of the Continent of Europe. How far did it settle the issue? (1988)
7. Louis XIV ‘was the first French sovereign to make of monarchy a serious profession.’ Comment in about 200 words. (1989)
8. The French Revolution (1789) really achieved far less than what it intended to effect. Do you agree? (1989)
9. ‘The American war of Independence transformed Europeans as well as America.’ Comment in about 200 words. (1990)
10. What issues involved in the conflict between the King and Parliament in England in the seventeenth century? Discuss. (1990)
11. ‘French political writers of the eighteenth century were influenced by Locke and also by the curious contrasts which they perceived between the government of his country and their own.’ Comment. (1991)
12. Discuss the view that Louis XIV of France was a great king-‘the grand monarch.’ (1991)
13. Examine the issues involved in the American Civil War. Was it a contest between two separate nations? (1991)
14. ‘The sponsors of the overseas expansion of Europe were national monarchies.’ Comment. (1992)
15. ‘Napoleon was the child of the Revolution, but in many ways he reversed the aims and principles of the movement from which he sprang.’ Comment. (1992)
16. From the Thirty Years War finally emerged the modern state system of Europe. Do you agree? (1992)
17. ‘The scale, splendour and organized power of the monarchy of Louis XIV was something new in Europe.’ Comment. (1993)
18. The American Revolution “was a natural and even expected event in the history of colonial people who had come of age.” Comment. (1995)
19. The French Revolution (1789) sought to remove both “the religious and secular props of the existing social order.” Elucidate. (1996)
20. “If monarchical misrule ignited the French revolution, lofty ideas both inspired and sustained it.” Comment. (1997)
21. “The Bill of Rights (1688) set the seal on Parliamentary supremacy in England.” Comment. (1997)
22. The American War of Independence “deprived Great Britain of one empire, but it strengthened the foundations of another.” (1998)
23. To some extent, the American War of Independence inspired the French Revolution. Comment. (1999)
24. How did Napolean Bonaparte heal the wounds of France inflicted by the Revolution and corrected the errors perpetrated by its leaders? (2000)
25. ‘The Napoleonic Empire was doomed because of its inherent and self-defeating contradictions.’ Elucidate. (2001)
26. ‘If monarchical misrule ignited the French Revolution, lofty ideas both inspired and sustained it.’ Comment. (2002)
27. ‘The French Revolution attacked privileges and not property.’ Comment. (2003)
28. ‘Napoleon was the child of the Revolution, but in many ways he reversed the aims and principles of the movement from which he sprang…” Comment. (2004)
29. Review the background of the Chartist Movement. Despite its failure how had their demands been met in the succeeding years? (2004)
30. ‘Though reform was inevitable, the Act (1832) by which it was accomplished was open to grave criticism.’ Comment. (2005)
31. ‘The writings of the philosophers had a tremendous influence on the minds of the people and created a revolutionary awakening in their minds and formed the intellectual creed of the French Revolution.’ Comment. (2005)
32. ‘What were the factors that worked in the drafting of the American Constitution? Do you agree with Beard’s view of the constitution being an Economic Document? (2005)
33. “No taxation without representation.” Comment. (2006)
34. “A clever conqueror will always impose his demands on the conquered by installments.” Comment. (2006)
35. “No event as encompassing as the French Revolution occurs in an intellectual vacuum.” Comment. (2007)
36. How did Napoleon Bonaparte fuse the old France with the new? (2009)
37. How far is it correct to say that every feature of American Constitution was ultimately of English origin? (2010)
38. To what extend did Napoleon’s economic war with England become his undoing? (2010)
39. “The roots of Chartism and partly political and partly economic.” Elaborate. (2011)
40. “The American Revolution was essentially an economic conflict between American capitalism and British mercantilism.” Critically examine. (2012)
41. “The connection between the philosophers’ ideas and the outbreak of the French Revolution (1789) is somewhat remote and indirect.” Critically examine. (2012)
42. How did Napoleon fuse the France of the ancient regime with the France of the postrevolutionary era? (2012)
43. “Six hundred thousand men had died. The Union was preserved, the slaves freed. A nation ‘conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal’ had survived its most terrible ordeal.” Critically examine in 150 words. (2013)
44. “Change in Britain came comparatively peacefully through democratic process in the first half of the nineteenth century and a model of a functioning democracy through ballot box was successfully put in place.” Elaborate. (2013)
45.”American Revolution seems to have come with remarkable suddenness. A roster of talented leaders emerged during 1763 to 1775 to make it happen.” Elucidate. (2014)
46.”… the passing of the ‘Reform Act’ marked the real beginning of modern party organisation in England … In a real sense, the present political system of England dates from 1832.”Critically examine in 150 words. (2014)
47. “The Declaration of Rights was the death warrant of the system of privilege, and so of the ancient regime … Yet in the history of ideas it belonged rather to the past than to the future.” Examine. (2014)
48. Critically examine: “The multiple contradictions that quickly undermined the new edifice, had been expressed even before the meeting of the Estates General in France. The internal conflict among Estates had manifested itself.” (2015)
49. Critically examine: “The Continental Blockade was a misconceived idea of economically defeating Great Britain.” (2015)
50.Explain the main features of the US federal Constitution. (2016)
51. “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently, half slave and half free.” Explain Abr4ham Lincoln’s perspective. (2016)
52. Critically examine the statement that the French Revolution was not caused by the French philosophers but by the condition of national life and by the mistakes of the government. (2016)
53. Critically examine in 150 words: “The spirit behind the great reforms of Napoleon’s Consulate at home was the transference of the methods of Bonaparte the general to task of Bonaparte the statesman.” (2017)
54. Critically examine in 150 words: “The roots of the Chartist movement in Great Britain were partly political and partly economic.” (2017)
55. Critically examine: “The American War of Independence transformed Europe as well as America.” (2018)
56. Critically examine: “The arguments of the free traders were a curious mixture of economic hard-headedness, social benevolence, cosmopolitan idealism and class prejudice” (2019)
57. How far did the Napoleonic preferential stance to help out the French economy result in embroiling France in continental conflicts? (2019)
58. “The causes of the French Revolution of 1789 included both long term and structural factors, as well as more immediate events.” (2020)
59. “Napoleon was not a revolutionary but he solidified many of the revolutionary changes of 1789 – 1791 and he himself supported most of the ideas and proposals of Enlightenment philosophers.” Substantiate. (2020)
60. “Lincoln’s main thesis was that the Slavery issue had to be decided one way or the other and could no longer be evaded by compromise.” Comment in the light of his role in the American Civil War. (2020)
61. Critically examine the following statement in about 150 words: Napoleon’s continental system may be reckoned as the greatest blunder and may be described as a “monument of misdirected energy”. (2021)
62. Critically examine the following statement in about 150 words: The Chartist Movement failed to achieve its stated objectives, but succeeded in seeding the idea that a representative democracy should include all citizens. (2021)
63. In the American civil war, the victory of the North had many consequences. Some of them were direct and obvious. However, its indirect effects on American development were perhaps even more important. Comment. (2021)
FAQs on Origins of Modern Politics
1. What does the term “Origins of Modern Politics” refer to in a historical context?
The term “Origins of Modern Politics” pertains to the period in history when significant political changes and developments occurred, leading to the emergence of the modern political systems and ideologies we recognize today. It typically covers events and ideas from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries.
2. What were some key events that contributed to the origins of modern politics?
Key events include the American Revolution (1775-1783), French Revolution (1789-1799), Industrial Revolution, the rise of nationalism, and the spread of liberal and socialist ideologies. These events reshaped political structures, power dynamics, and the role of the individual in society.
3. Who were some influential figures in the origins of modern politics?
Prominent figures include Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Locke, Karl Marx, Thomas Paine, and leaders of the American and French Revolutions like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Maximilien Robespierre.
4. What is the significance of the origins of modern politics in today’s world?
Understanding the origins of modern politics is crucial as it provides insight into the foundations of contemporary political structures, ideologies, and global events. It helps us comprehend the development of democracy, nationalism, human rights, and social movements that shape our present.
5. How can I prepare for an exam or study this topic effectively?
To prepare for exams or study this topic, start with comprehensive historical texts and primary sources from the relevant time periods. Additionally, consider using academic articles, online courses, and engaging with contemporary political discourse to connect historical concepts to current events. Finally, practice writing essays and analysis to strengthen your understanding of this multifaceted topic.
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