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Whig history, as a historiographical approach, defines the past as a progression from an oppressive era to a superior present, frequently celebrating liberal democracy.
Answer: True
Explanation: This definition aligns with the core tenets of Whig historiography, which posits historical development as a linear progression from less enlightened or oppressive periods towards a more advanced and often liberal present.
Beyond its British origins, 'Whig history' is applied to any historical analysis that employs a teleological framework, signifying a movement towards a predetermined objective.
Answer: True
Explanation: The application of 'Whig history' beyond British history extends to any historical analysis characterized by teleology, wherein the historical process is understood as progressing towards a specific, often predetermined, end state or goal.
What is the primary characteristic of Whig history as an approach to historiography?
Answer: It portrays the past as a progression from oppression towards a superior present, often celebrating liberal democracy.
Explanation: The defining characteristic of Whig history is its teleological view of the past as a progressive journey from less desirable states to a more enlightened and often liberal present.
In the British context, what was the original focus of Whig historiography?
Answer: Documenting the development of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy.
Explanation: Originally, Whig historiography in Britain focused on celebrating the historical development of its parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, viewing these as triumphs of progress.
How is the term 'Whig history' applied outside of British history?
Answer: To any historical analysis that adopts a teleological view of the historical process, seeing history move towards a predetermined goal.
Explanation: Beyond British history, 'Whig history' broadly refers to any historical interpretation characterized by teleology, where events are seen as progressing towards a specific, often inevitable, outcome.
The term 'Whig history' was notably popularized by historian Herbert Butterfield in his seminal 1951 publication, *The Whig Interpretation of History*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Herbert Butterfield popularized the term 'Whig history' in his influential 1931 book, *The Whig Interpretation of History*, not 1951.
Thomas Babington Macaulay's *History of England* was unsuccessful and did not influence public historical narratives.
Answer: False
Explanation: Thomas Babington Macaulay's *History of England* was highly successful, replacing David Hume's work as the dominant historical narrative and establishing a new orthodoxy that emphasized progress.
William Stubbs' *Constitutional History of England* is cited as a crucial work in the survival and respectability of Whig history.
Answer: True
Explanation: William Stubbs' *Constitutional History of England* is recognized as a pivotal work that contributed significantly to the endurance and academic standing of Whig history in Britain.
Which historian is credited with popularizing the term 'Whig history' and in which key work?
Answer: Herbert Butterfield in *The Whig Interpretation of History*.
Explanation: The term 'Whig history' was significantly popularized by Herbert Butterfield in his influential 1931 book, *The Whig Interpretation of History*.
Thomas Babington Macaulay's *History of England* significantly influenced English historiography by:
Answer: Replacing David Hume's work and establishing a new orthodoxy emphasizing progress.
Explanation: Thomas Babington Macaulay's *History of England* profoundly influenced English historiography by supplanting David Hume's work and establishing a new orthodoxy that championed the narrative of historical progress.
Which of the following historians is identified as a crucial figure in the survival and respectability of Whig history through his work on constitutional development?
Answer: William Stubbs
Explanation: William Stubbs, through his seminal work *Constitutional History of England*, is recognized as a pivotal historian who contributed to the sustained relevance and respectability of Whig history.
In the historiography of science, a Whiggish approach typically emphasizes the development of scientific theories by focusing exclusively on successful hypotheses and experiments.
Answer: False
Explanation: A Whiggish approach in the history of science tends to focus on the successful chains of hypotheses and experiments leading to current theories, often downplaying or ignoring rejected hypotheses and scientific dead ends.
Whig history is considered foundational to modernization theory, influencing post-World War II development aid strategies.
Answer: True
Explanation: Whig history laid the groundwork for modernization theory, particularly influencing the deployment of development aid after World War II by framing progress as a key developmental driver.
The First World War reinforced the core assumptions of Whig history by demonstrating inevitable historical advancement.
Answer: False
Explanation: The First World War significantly undermined the Whig assumption of inevitable historical progress and improvement, leading to increased skepticism about such linear advancement.
In the history of science, Whig historiography is characterized by portraying scientific development as a series of victories over ignorance and bias.
Answer: True
Explanation: Whiggish historiography in science often frames scientific development as a triumphant march against ignorance and bias, creating a celebratory narrative of progress.
The very term 'history of science' is sometimes considered Whiggish due to its tendency to impose present-day categories onto historical scientific thought, potentially distorting understanding.
Answer: True
Explanation: The term 'history of science' can be seen as Whiggish because it often involves imposing modern definitions and categories onto past scientific practices, potentially distorting their original meaning and context.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's philosophy of history is frequently cited as an exemplar of Whig history due to its inherently teleological structure.
Answer: True
Explanation: Hegel's philosophy of history, with its emphasis on history progressing towards a specific end state (the realization of Geist or Spirit), aligns with the teleological and progressive framework characteristic of Whig historiography.
Marxist historiography is often described as Whiggish because it derives moral and political points from an anticipated end state, such as the advent of communism.
Answer: True
Explanation: Marxist history's concept of an anticipated terminus (communism) from which its moral and political arguments are derived aligns it with the teleological and progressive framework of Whig historiography.
The 'Whig interpretation' of the Great Game frames it as a conflict between British liberal progress and Russian autocratic expansionism.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Whiggish perspective on the Great Game characterizes it as a contest between the forces of British imperial progress and Russian autocratic expansionism, emphasizing an ideological struggle.
The 'war guilt question' in the Treaty of Versailles, assigning blame for WWI, is sometimes analyzed through a Whiggish lens focusing on sole responsibility.
Answer: True
Explanation: Interpretations of the 'war guilt question' (Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles), which assigned primary responsibility for World War I to Germany, align with a Whiggish perspective that emphasizes culpability and a just outcome.
In the context of the Holocaust's origins, the 'functionalism-intentionalism debate' posits that functionalism argues for a pre-existing plan for genocide.
Answer: False
Explanation: The functionalism-intentionalism debate distinguishes between two primary interpretations of the Holocaust's origins: functionalism posits a gradual, circumstantial evolution of extermination policies, whereas intentionalism argues for a deliberate, pre-existing plan orchestrated by Nazi leadership.
What impact did World War I have on the core assumptions of Whig history?
Answer: It led to increased skepticism about inevitable historical advancement and progress.
Explanation: The immense destruction and societal upheaval of the First World War significantly challenged the Whig assumption of inevitable historical progress, fostering greater skepticism regarding linear advancement.
In the history of science, what is the criticism of the Whiggish tendency?
Answer: It creates a celebratory and didactic narrative that can distort the actual historical development of scientific ideas.
Explanation: The criticism leveled against the Whiggish tendency in the history of science is that it often produces a celebratory and didactic narrative, potentially distorting the complex and non-linear historical development of scientific ideas.
Why is the very term 'history of science' sometimes described as Whiggish?
Answer: Because it imposes present-day categories onto the past, potentially distorting the meaning of 'science' before the 17th century.
Explanation: The term 'history of science' can be considered Whiggish because it often involves imposing modern definitions and categories onto past scientific practices, potentially distorting their original meaning and context, particularly for periods before the 17th century.
Which philosophical concept is often cited as a prime example of Whig history due to its teleological nature?
Answer: Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's philosophy of history
Explanation: Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's philosophy of history is frequently cited as a prime example of Whig history due to its teleological structure, which posits history as progressing towards a specific, predetermined end.
How has Marxist historiography been described in relation to Whig history?
Answer: As characteristically Whiggish due to its concept of an anticipated terminus (communism) from which moral points are derived.
Explanation: Marxist history is often described as characteristically Whiggish because its concept of an anticipated terminus (communism) from which its moral and political arguments are derived aligns with the teleological and progressive framework of Whig historiography.
The 'Whig interpretation' of the Great Game frames it as a conflict between:
Answer: British imperial progress and Russian autocratic expansionism.
Explanation: The 'Whig interpretation' of the Great Game portrays it as a contest between the forces of British imperial progress and Russian autocratic expansionism, emphasizing an ideological struggle.
The 'war guilt question,' particularly Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, is related to Whig history when interpretations:
Answer: Assign primary responsibility for World War I solely to Germany, framing it as a moral failing.
Explanation: Interpretations of the 'war guilt question' that assign primary responsibility for World War I solely to Germany, framing it as a moral failing, align with a Whiggish perspective that emphasizes culpability and a just outcome.
In the functionalism-intentionalism debate concerning the Holocaust, what does 'intentionalism' argue?
Answer: That Hitler and Nazi leadership had a pre-existing, deliberate plan for genocide from early on.
Explanation: Intentionalism, within the functionalism-intentionalism debate on the Holocaust's origins, posits that Hitler and Nazi leadership possessed a pre-existing, deliberate plan for genocide from an early stage.
Herbert Butterfield criticized Whig history for its tendency to modernize the past by obscuring differences between eras.
Answer: True
Explanation: Herbert Butterfield's critique specifically targeted the Whiggish tendency to modernize the past by obscuring the distinct characteristics of different historical eras, thereby simplifying complex historical developments.
David Cannadine characterized Butterfield's influential book, *The Whig Interpretation of History*, as a definitive and comprehensive analysis.
Answer: False
Explanation: David Cannadine described Butterfield's book as 'slight, confused, repetitive and superficial,' while still acknowledging the validity of its core critique against partisan and present-minded historiography.
The 'historian's fallacy' is closely associated with Whig history because it involves judging past actions based on present-day knowledge and values.
Answer: True
Explanation: The 'historian's fallacy' is intrinsically linked to Whig history as it involves the anachronistic practice of evaluating past actions and decisions through the lens of contemporary knowledge and values, rather than understanding them within their original historical context.
Presentism, the interpretation of the past through modern values, is a characteristic that contrasts with Whig history.
Answer: False
Explanation: Presentism, the practice of interpreting past events and people through the lens of modern values and concepts, is actually a core characteristic of Whig history, not a contrast to it.
Chronological snobbery is the attitude that older periods are inherently superior to the present.
Answer: False
Explanation: Chronological snobbery is defined as the assumption that the past is inherently inferior to the present simply because it is older, a mindset often associated with Whig history.
What was a key criticism Herbert Butterfield leveled against Whig history?
Answer: It modernized the past by obscuring differences between eras and studying the past solely with reference to the present.
Explanation: Butterfield criticized Whig history for its tendency to modernize the past by obscuring the distinct characteristics of different eras and for studying the past primarily with reference to the present.
How did David Cannadine describe Butterfield's book on Whig history?
Answer: As 'slight, confused, repetitive and superficial,' though agreeing with the core critique.
Explanation: David Cannadine described Butterfield's book as 'slight, confused, repetitive and superficial,' yet he concurred with Butterfield's fundamental critique of Whig history's partisan and present-minded nature.
The 'historian's fallacy' is closely associated with Whig history because it involves:
Answer: Judging past actions and decisions based on present-day knowledge and values.
Explanation: The 'historian's fallacy,' closely linked to Whig history, refers to the practice of judging past actions and decisions based on present-day knowledge and values, rather than understanding them within their original historical context.
What is the primary issue with the term 'Polish death camp'?
Answer: It implies that Poland operated extermination camps, obscuring Nazi Germany's role.
Explanation: The controversy surrounding the term 'Polish death camp' stems from its implication that Poland, rather than Nazi Germany, was responsible for operating extermination camps. This phrasing obscures the historical reality that these facilities were established and managed by Nazi Germany on occupied Polish territory.
Presentism, a core characteristic of Whig history, refers to the practice of:
Answer: Interpreting past events and people through the lens of modern values and concepts.
Explanation: Presentism, a core characteristic of Whig history, refers to the practice of interpreting past events and people through the lens of modern values and concepts, rather than understanding them within their original historical context.
What is 'chronological snobbery' in the context of Whig history?
Answer: The assumption that the past is inherently inferior to the present simply because it is older.
Explanation: Chronological snobbery, within the context of Whig history, refers to the assumption that the past is inherently inferior to the present solely due to its age.
What is the significance of Herbert Butterfield's critique of studying the past 'with reference to the present'?
Answer: It highlights the danger of present-mindedness, which can lead to imposing current values and distorting historical understanding.
Explanation: Herbert Butterfield's critique underscores the peril of 'present-mindedness,' a tendency to analyze the past through the prism of contemporary values and assumptions. This approach risks distorting historical understanding and failing to appreciate the unique contextual circumstances of past events.