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The principal objective motivating the Belgian general strike of April 1893 was the attainment of universal male suffrage.
Answer: True
Explanation: The primary objective of the Belgian general strike in April 1893 was indeed to advocate for and achieve universal male suffrage, a key demand of the Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP).
The strike was precipitated by an agreement among politicians from the Catholic and Liberal parties to endorse the proposed expansion of suffrage.
Answer: False
Explanation: The strike was triggered not by agreement, but by the blocking of a proposed suffrage expansion by politicians from the Catholic and Liberal parties on April 11, 1893.
Historian Henri Pirenne asserted that the strike's initiation stemmed from pressure exerted by miners within the Borinage region.
Answer: False
Explanation: Henri Pirenne stated that the general strike was only initiated due to pressure from the miners of the Borinage region, and its subsequent spread surprised the POB-BWP leadership.
The Borinage region held particular significance as the miners from this area initiated the crucial pressure that precipitated the 1893 strike.
Answer: True
Explanation: According to Henri Pirenne, the miners of the Borinage region were instrumental in initiating the pressure that led to the calling of the 1893 general strike.
What was the principal objective driving the Belgian general strike in April 1893?
Answer: To pressure the government to implement universal male suffrage.
What immediate political event prompted the call for the 1893 general strike?
Answer: The blocking of a proposed voting franchise expansion by major parties.
According to Henri Pirenne's account, what was the initial catalyst for the 1893 strike?
Answer: Pressure exerted by miners from the Borinage region.
Why is the Borinage region specifically mentioned in relation to the 1893 strike?
Answer: Miners from this region exerted crucial pressure that led to the strike being called.
The organization of the 1893 Belgian general strike was attributed to the Catholic Party.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 1893 Belgian general strike was organized by the Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP), not the Catholic Party.
Emile Vandervelde held the leadership position of the Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP) during the 1893 strike.
Answer: True
Explanation: Emile Vandervelde served as the leader of the Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP) throughout the period of the 1893 general strike.
The Charter of Quaregnon, adopted in 1894, was a manifesto issued by the Liberal Party.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Charter of Quaregnon was adopted by the Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP) in 1894, not by the Liberal Party.
Which political entity was responsible for organizing the 1893 Belgian general strike?
Answer: The Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP)
Who served as the leader of the Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP) during the significant 1893 strike?
Answer: Emile Vandervelde
The 1893 Belgian general strike occurred during the month of May.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 1893 Belgian general strike took place in April, specifically from April 12 to April 18, 1893.
An estimated 500,000 workers participated in the 1893 general strike.
Answer: False
Explanation: The actual participation in the 1893 general strike was approximately 200,000 workers, not 500,000.
The photograph documenting troops near Mons on April 17, 1893, illustrates the Garde Civique engaging strikers with gunfire.
Answer: True
Explanation: Historical records and the photograph itself confirm that the Garde Civique fired upon strikers near Mons on April 17, 1893, during the general strike.
The Garde Civique contributed to maintaining order by actively protecting striking workers.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to protecting strikers, the Garde Civique was involved in confronting and firing upon striking workers during the 1893 general strike.
The number of strikers killed during the 1893 general strike ranged between 13 and 20 individuals.
Answer: True
Explanation: Reports indicate that between 13 and 20 strikers lost their lives during the course of the 1893 general strike.
When did the 1893 Belgian general strike occur?
Answer: From April 12 to April 18, 1893
How did the Belgian government, under Prime Minister Auguste Beernaert, primarily react to the 1893 strike?
Answer: By deploying the military to confront striking workers amidst fears of revolution.
What was the approximate scale of worker participation in the 1893 general strike?
Answer: Roughly 200,000 workers
What violent event is documented in the photograph showing troops near Mons on April 17, 1893?
Answer: The Garde Civique firing upon strikers.
What role did the Garde Civique play during the 1893 strike, as evidenced by historical records?
Answer: Confronting and firing upon strikers.
The immediate consequence of the 1893 strike was the implementation of reforms that substantially expanded the voting franchise.
Answer: True
Explanation: Following the 1893 strike, the Belgian Parliament enacted reforms that significantly increased the voting franchise, effectively expanding suffrage tenfold.
What was the direct consequence of the 1893 Belgian general strike on the country's electoral system?
Answer: The introduction of reforms that increased the voting franchise tenfold.
The Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP) experienced substantial electoral growth in the elections held directly after the 1893 strike reforms.
Answer: False
Explanation: Despite the expanded franchise following the 1893 strike reforms, the Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP) did not achieve the substantial growth they had anticipated in the subsequent 1894 elections.
The emergence of Social Catholicism, influenced by the Rerum novarum encyclical, played a role in moderating the pace of socialist growth subsequent to 1893.
Answer: True
Explanation: The rise of Social Catholicism, partly inspired by the 1891 Papal encyclical Rerum novarum, provided an alternative ideological current that contributed to a slower rate of socialist expansion after the 1893 strike.
In the aftermath of the 1894 elections, the Liberal party reinforced its standing as one of Belgium's two preeminent political forces.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 1894 elections marked a period of decline for the Liberal party, diminishing its position as one of Belgium's dominant political forces, rather than strengthening it.
Neal Ascherson contended that following the 1894 elections, the primary political preoccupation in Belgium centered on preventing the further expansion of socialist representation.
Answer: False
Explanation: Neal Ascherson argued that after the 1894 elections, the principal focus of the established Catholic and Liberal parties was to prevent the Socialists from gaining further political power, not to expand socialist representation.
The 1893 strike resulted in an immediate enhancement of the Liberal party's political influence.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 1893 strike and the subsequent 1894 elections marked a period of decline for the Liberal party, rather than an immediate strengthening of its influence.
How did the Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP) fare in the October 1894 elections, held subsequent to the suffrage reforms?
Answer: Their anticipated substantial growth did not materialize.
What political shift occurred for the Liberal party following the 1894 elections?
Answer: A gradual decline from its previously dominant position.
According to Neal Ascherson, what became a central preoccupation in Belgian politics after 1894?
Answer: Preventing the Socialists from gaining further political power.
Historian Carl J. Strikwerda posited that the 1893 Belgian general strike represented the inaugural instance of a general strike within European history.
Answer: True
Explanation: According to historian Carl J. Strikwerda, the 1893 Belgian general strike is considered the first true general strike in European history.
The Charter of Quaregnon, adopted in 1894, functioned as the foundational doctrine for the POB–BWP until the year 1979.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Charter of Quaregnon, adopted by the Belgian Labour Party (POB–BWP) in 1894, served as its guiding doctrine for an extended period, remaining its official platform until 1979.
The question of electoral reform persisted as a significant political issue in Belgium up to the commencement of World War II.
Answer: False
Explanation: Electoral reform remained a significant political issue in Belgium until the outbreak of World War I, not World War II.
Subsequent to the 1893 event, further general strikes pertaining to franchise reform took place in Belgium during the years 1902 and 1913.
Answer: True
Explanation: Indeed, following the pivotal 1893 general strike, Belgium experienced further large-scale strikes focused on franchise reform in 1902 and 1913.
The 1913 general strike resulted in the immediate abolition of Belgium's plural voting system.
Answer: False
Explanation: While the 1913 general strike brought promises of reform regarding the plural voting system, its abolition was not immediate and was ultimately delayed by the onset of World War I.
Belgium introduced universal suffrage, encompassing voting rights for women, in the year 1919.
Answer: False
Explanation: Universal suffrage, including the right to vote for women, was not introduced in Belgium in 1919. Plural voting was abolished in 1919, but women's suffrage was only implemented in 1948.
What historical significance is attributed to the 1893 Belgian general strike by historian Carl J. Strikwerda?
Answer: It was the first general strike ever called in Belgium and potentially Europe.
What was the significance of the Charter of Quaregnon adopted by the POB–BWP in 1894?
Answer: It served as the party's guiding doctrine for many years, lasting until 1979.
Until when did the issue of electoral reform remain a significant point of contention in Belgian politics?
Answer: Until the outbreak of World War I.
Which of the following years saw further general strikes in Belgium related to franchise reform, subsequent to the 1893 strike?
Answer: 1902 and 1913
What was the fate of the promised electoral reform concerning the plural voting system following the 1913 general strike?
Answer: It was halted by the outbreak of World War I and the subsequent German occupation.
When did Belgium introduce universal suffrage, extending the right to vote to all women?
Answer: 1948
The painting titled 'Un soir de grève' is understood to depict the aftermath of the 1893 strike.
Answer: False
Explanation: The painting 'Un soir de grève' by Eugène Laermans visually represents the atmosphere or events associated with a strike during 1893, rather than specifically the aftermath.
The term 'grève générale' denotes the Dutch equivalent of a general strike.
Answer: False
Explanation: 'Grève générale' is the French term for a general strike. The Dutch term is 'algemene staking'.
The Belgian strike of 1886 is cited as a historical precedent to the 1893 general strike.
Answer: True
Explanation: The 1886 Belgian strike is identified as the closest historical precedent to the significant general strike that occurred in 1893.
The encyclical Rerum novarum is a document that actively supported the primary goals of the socialist movement.
Answer: False
Explanation: Rerum novarum, issued in 1891, influenced the rise of Social Catholicism, which offered an alternative to socialism and did not directly support the socialist movement's goals.
What does the painting 'Un soir de grève' by Eugène Laermans visually represent?
Answer: The atmosphere or events associated with a strike during 1893.
What does the term 'algemene staking' refer to in the context of Belgian history?
Answer: A general strike, the Dutch equivalent of 'grève générale'.
What was the closest historical precedent to the 1893 Belgian general strike mentioned in the source?
Answer: The 1886 Belgian strike