
The New Forest Small School _______Home / About Us / News / Academic / Philosophy / Children & Parents / Contact & Other Info
HISTORY YEAR 6 EXAM
Duration – 1 hour and 30 minutes
Each correct answer is worth 1 mark out of a total of 100, unless stated otherwise.
1. Three of the main leaders of WW1, King George V, Tsar Nicholas II and Kaiser Wilhelm were all cousins.
What game did they use to play together as children? Tick the correct answer.
a. Football Golf
b. Trench Warfare
c. Monopoly
d. Cowboys and Indians
2. Why did Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany suffer from an inferiority complex, a lack of confidence, and why is this now seen as one of the causes of the First World War? (2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. As Germany started to build up their navy and army, an arms race developed in Europe.
What is an arms race? (2 marks)
4. What was the name of the Serbian nationalists who assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire?
Tick the correct answer.
a. The Black Fingers
b. The Black Bands
c. The White Toes
d. The Black Hands
5. Who was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne and why did the Serbian nationalists want to kill him? (2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6. What was the name of the French Socialist Leader who tried to stop the war?
What was his plan?
Why was he unable to implement this plan? (2 marks)
a. Name ______________________________________________________
b. Plan _______________________________________________________
c. Why the plan never happened ___________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7. Place the following countries and empires in the correct boxes – (3 marks)
Britain France Germany Russia Austro-Hungarian Empire
Serbia Bulgaria Italy Ottoman Empire USA

8. What brought Britain into the war? (2 marks)
9. The British newspapers did everything they could to make Germany seem as evil as possible.
What is the name for this type of exaggerated news? Tick the correct answer.
a. Proper slander
b. Proopy Panda
c. Propane
d. Propaganda
10. Describe what life was like in the trenches during the First World War. (3 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
11. Which of the following battles took place during the First World War.
Tick the correct answers.
12. Almost every single battle of the First World War followed the same pattern.
Describe a typical WW1 battle. (3 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
13. Why do you think so many WW1 battles were fought in this way?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
14. Which general refused to follow this pattern and said he would to do it “my way!”
Tick the correct answer.
a. General Frank Sinatra
b. General Elvis Presley
c. General Douglas Haig
d. General John Pershing
e. General Paul Von Hindenburg
15. By 1917 many people throughout Europe had grown weary of the war. This led to a number of protests, mutinies and even a revolution.
In Britain two poets summed up people’s growing feelings about the war. What were there names?


______________________________
16. One of these poets, nicknamed ‘Mad Jack’, wrote a famous letter in which he wrote –
‘I can no longer be a party to prolong these sufferings for ends which I believe to be evil and unjust.’
a. To whom did he send this letter? ________________________________________
b. What was the reaction of the Government? ________________________________
17. Briefly describe what caused the French mutiny of 1917 and how it was resolved. (2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
18. Why was the Tsarina Alexandra of Russia obsessed with a Russian monk called Rasputin?
Tick the correct answer.
a. Because he said he could cure her sick son
b. Because he said he could cure her sick sun flower
c. Because he said he could win the war through magical powers
d. Because he had hypnotic eyes
19. After the Tsar and his family were arrested, the Provisional Government took power in Russia. The Provisional Government immediately made a number of important changes, including allowing free speech for the first time in Russia. However despite all the positive changes what did they decide to carry on?
20. How and why did the Bolshevik leader, Lenin, return to Russia from exile?
(2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
21. Lenin and the Bolsheviks made a simple promise of 3 things to the Russian people.
What were they? (2 marks)
___________________
___________________
___________________
22. When the Bolsheviks seized power in the October Revolution they decided to withdraw from the war.
a. What was the response of the Germans?
b. In the eventual Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, what did Russia have to give up? (2 marks)
23. By 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm had completely lost touch with the realities of life In Germany.
Who were the two ‘real’ leaders of Germany at this point?
________________________________________________________________
24. How was the United States of America profiting from the war?
_____________________________________________________________________
25. How did the Americans initially view the First World War?
Tick the correct answer.
a. As a jolly exciting adventure
b. As Europe’s Communist Revolution
c. As the end of Europe’s empires
d. As Europe’s civil war
26. What made the Americans finally decide to join the war and help the Allies? (2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
27. What two events caused the Germans to surrender?
________________________________________________________
28. What was the exact time and date of the ceasefire at the end of the War?
_____________________________________________________________________
29. On the 28th June 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, marking the end of the war.
Name four of the terms stated in this treaty.
1.___________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________
4.___________________________________________________________________
30. Why was the Treaty of Versailles signed in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
31. Although the terms of the Treaty were very harsh to the Germans, some people felt that they needed to be even harsher.
What did the French general, Ferdinand Foch accurately predict the Treaty would become?
Tick the correct answer.
a. A 20-year revolution
b. A 20-year armistice
c. A 25-year armistice
d. A 25-year revolution
32. Name four major empires that collapsed at the end of the First World War. (2 marks)
1.___________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________
4.___________________________________________________________________
33. Which of the following countries were created after the First World War.

World Map 1914
Circle the correct countries. (2 marks)
Yugoslavia France Switzerland Turkey Finland Sweden
Mexico Czechoslovakia Belgium Scotland Peru New Zealand
34. Immediately after the War a terrible disease struck the whole world killing millions more people than the war itself.
What was the name given to this disease?
Tick the correct answer.
a. Swedish Flu
b. French Foot and Mouth
c. Italian Itch
d. Spanish Flu
35. The table below shows the estimated dates that the different types of early humans existed.
Complete the table. The first one has been done for you. (2 marks)
Estimated Dates |
Early Human Ape Species |
4 – 5 million years ago |
Australopithecus |
2 – 4 million years ago |
|
200,000 – 2 million years ago |
|
120,000 – 40,000 years ago |
|
200,000 – present day |
|
36. Other than the development of the brain, the development of the thumb is regarded as one of the most important factors in the extraordinary evolution of humans.
Why was the development of the thumb so important to human evolution? (2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
37. What was the name of the first species of human ape to enter Europe?
Why was this species able to travel out of Africa?
Name ___________________________________
Reason ______________________________________________________________
38. What was the name of the first species of human ape to wear clothes and make ornaments?
Name ____________________________________
39. The first human civilisation in history occurred in Mesopotamia, in the area that is now called Iraq. With people living in a city, rather than small villages, there was a sudden outburst of very important, new inventions.
Why do you think living in cities created excellent conditions for new inventions? Give at least two separate reasons. (2 marks)
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
40. Which of the following inventions were made in Mesopotamia?
Circle the correct answers. (2 marks)
The Wheel The Steam Engine The Skateboard Crop Rotation Farming
The Combine Harvester The Computer Sign Language The Written Word
41. The Mesopotamians were also famous for their amazing temples.
Below is a picture of one of these temples.
What were these buildings called? ________________________________________

42. The first great civilisation to develop in Europe was the Celts, from about 750 BC. Made up of lots of tribes across the continent they did not have an overall leader, but instead had chieftains who ruled over each tribe. Each tribe had a distinct hierarchy with the King and Queen at the top and slaves at the very bottom.
Using the table below fill in the missing groups. (3 marks)
Kings and Queens

43. Although the Celts were famous as fearless warriors and great fighters, they were eventually defeated by a highly organised and well-equipped army. This army belonged to an ever growing and powerful new Empire.
44. The ancient Greeks of Athens were the first civilisation to introduce democracy in human history. From 600 BC to 400 BC Athens was run as an oligarchy, a democracy, an oligarchy again, a democracy again and finally back to an oligarchy.
What is an oligarchy?
What is a democracy?

45. The Ancient Greeks were also famous for their Gods and Goddesses, whom they believed lived up on Mount Olympus.
Each God or Goddess had their own particular power, skill and the Greek peoples would pray to whatever God they needed at the time.
For example if you needed good fortune in battle you would pray to the God Ares, as he was the God of War.
Fill in the missing parts of the table below. The first one has been done for you. (3 marks)
Gods / Goddesses |
Power / Skill / Domain |
Ares |
War |
Aphrodite |
|
|
Music |
Athena |
|
|
Marriage and Childbirth |
Poseidon |
|
46. After all the religious wars of the Middle Ages, by the 17th century, people throughout Europe began to dream of a different kind of world.
This marks a new period in European history, known as the Age of Enlightenment.
The Enlightenment thinkers wanted to replace the old ideas of the Middle Ages with new ideas, which they believed would improve the lives of everyone.
Below is a list of the new ideas of the Enlightenment against the old ideas of the Middle Ages.
Circle the words, which you think represent the ideals of the Enlightenment and cross through the words, which you think represent the ideals of the Middle Ages.
(4 marks)
Progress v. Tradition
Superstition v. Knowledge
Tyranny v. Democracy
Rights of All v. Absolute Rights of Monarchy
State controlled by Church v. State controlled by the People
Independent Nations v. Empires
Feudal System v. Capitalism
Equality v. Hierarchy
Scientific Discovery v. Religious Beliefs
47. One of the first great ‘battles’ between the old ideas of the Middle Ages and the new ideas of the Enlightenment took place in the first half of the 17th century. The great scientist and astronomer, Galileo, with his new, self-invented telescope, made an extraordinary discovery.

b. Why was this discovery controversial?
c. How did the Church react?
d. How was Galileo punished?
(4 marks)
a. _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
c. _______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
d. ______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
48. Despite this defeat, the ideas of the Enlightenment grew and grew in strength. By the end of the 18th century, some of the ideas of the Enlightenment were being applied to new governments.
Can you name two revolutions towards the end of the 18th century, whose ideas were directly inspired by the Enlightenment?
_______________________________
_______________________________
49. Both revolutions were successful, at least initially. Both passed laws protecting people’s rights.
What were the names of these two laws? Tick the two correct answers.


50. Enlightenment ideas not only inspired massive political change. The belief in Science and Capitalism became all-powerful, creating the most life changing revolution of them all – the Industrial Revolution (approximately 1750 – 1850).
The Industrial Revolution is a great age of invention. The inventions of Science, paid for by Capitalism, transformed the economy, our everyday lives and the environment.
Can you name four of the main inventions of the Industrial Revolution? (2 marks)
51. The Industrial Revolution and most of its inventions were essentially powered by one major power source.
Where did this source of power come from?
Tick the correct answer.

In the box below briefly describe what working conditions were like for most people.
(3 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
53. What was the name of the organisation whose job it was to protect the rights of workers and whom eventually, after many battles with the employers began to improve working conditions?

Tick the correct answer.
SECTION 7 – GENERAL HISTORY (13 marks)
54. At the beginning of the 13th century, England was ruled by King John. As King he had absolute power. He was generally a cruel and ineffectual king. In 1214 King John was demanding more money, through taxes, from the English barons.
Why did he want more money?
55. The barons refused to give King John any more money. After negotiations an agreement was reached and a famous historical document was signed.
What was the name of this document?
_______________________________
56. Although King John soon after declared the agreement invalid, the document he had signed has been since reinstated, securing the rights of ordinary people.
What rights did the document ensure for everyone?
Tick the correct two answers.
57. Between 1440 and 1880, 12 to 20 million Africans were taken as slaves, by European traders, to work on the new plantations in America. The journey across the Atlantic was extremely hazardous and led to millions of deaths.
In the box below, briefly describe the journey of a slave on board one of the slave ships. Describe what dangers they would have faced. (2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

58. In the French Revolution of 1789, the people of France overthrew the monarchy and set up a Republic.
What were the three revolutionary ideals of the new government?
_________________
_________________
_________________
59. Despite its good intentions, by 1793, the Revolution had descended into violence and chaos. Led by Robespierre and Danton, the new government began a ‘reign of terror’, resulting in the execution of the King and Queen and thousands of others.
What happened to Danton when he called for an end to the terror? _______________
What happened to Robespierre and all his followers 3 months later? ______________
60. In 1861 America went to war against itself in the American Civil War.
Which two sides fought each other and why? (2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
61. Which side won the war and what was abolished as a result?
_________________________ ___________________________________
62. Which group of people successfully protested for women’s right to vote, and in what year were women finally allowed to vote in this country?
______________________________
Year ____________
63. When did the Second World War begin and end?
64. Complete the following sentence.
The Cold War was a battle of ideas, fought mostly in poor, developing countries, between two superpowers, ______________________ and _____________________.
Home / About Us / News / Academic / Philosophy / Children & Parents / Contact & Other Info