Multiple Choice Questions
1. What was the primary cause of the Silesian weavers’ uprising in 1845?
A) High taxes imposed by the government
B) Drastic reduction in payments by contractors
C) Political reforms in the region
D) Introduction of new agricultural techniques
2. Where did the Silesian weavers’ uprising take place?
A) France
B) Silesia
C) Prussia
D) Hungary
3. What was the immediate reaction of the contractor to the weavers’ demands?
A) He agreed to increase their wages
B) He treated them with scorn and threats
C) He organized a peaceful negotiation
D) He fled to another country
4. How did the weavers express their anger during the uprising?
A) They organized peaceful protests
B) They wrote petitions to the government
C) They smashed the contractor’s property and plundered supplies
D) They went on a hunger strike
5. What was the response of the neighboring village when the contractor sought shelter?
A) They welcomed him and his family
B) They ignored his request
C) They refused to shelter him
D) They provided military support
6. What action did the contractor take after being refused shelter?
A) He returned with gifts for the weavers
B) He fled to another country
C) He requisitioned the army
D) He lowered the wages even further
7. What was the outcome of the confrontation between the army and the weavers?
A) The weavers successfully negotiated higher wages
B) The army peacefully dispersed the crowd
C) Eleven weavers were shot dead
D) The weavers formed a new government
8. What does the Silesian weavers’ uprising reflect about the conditions of workers in 1848 Europe?
A) Prosperity and growth
B) Harsh economic exploitation and repression
C) Strong political representation
D) Equal rights and freedom
9. Which journalist described the events of the Silesian weavers’ uprising?
A) Karl Marx
B) Wilhelm Wolff
C) Friedrich Engels
D) Giuseppe Mazzini
10. What broader movement was the Silesian weavers’ uprising a part of?
A) The French Revolution
B) The Industrial Revolution
C) The 1848 Revolutions in Europe
D) The Russian Revolution
—
Answers with Explanations
1. B) Drastic reduction in payments by contractors
Explanation: The immediate cause of the uprising was the sharp reduction in payments made to weavers by contractors, despite the workers’ desperate economic conditions.
2. B) Silesia
Explanation: The uprising occurred in the region of Silesia, which was known for its large population of weavers.
3. B) He treated them with scorn and threats
Explanation: The contractor responded to the weavers’ demands with scorn and threats, further aggravating the situation.
4. C) They smashed the contractor’s property and plundered supplies
Explanation: The weavers reacted violently, destroying property and plundering supplies in protest against their exploitation.
5. C) They refused to shelter him
Explanation: The contractor and his family were denied shelter by a neighboring village, reflecting the widespread support for the weavers’ cause.
6. C) He requisitioned the army
Explanation: After being refused shelter, the contractor returned with the army to suppress the uprising.
7. C) Eleven weavers were shot dead
Explanation: The army brutally suppressed the uprising, resulting in the death of eleven weavers.
8. B) Harsh economic exploitation and repression
Explanation: The uprising highlighted the severe economic hardships and oppressive conditions faced by workers in 1848 Europe.
9. B) Wilhelm Wolff
Explanation: The journalist Wilhelm Wolff documented the events of the Silesian weavers’ uprising.
10. C) The 1848 Revolutions in Europe
Explanation: The uprising was part of the broader wave of revolutions across Europe in 1848, driven by demands for economic and political reforms.
