Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumCalls for Reform and Responses after 1900

“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people...

Now, therefore, the General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights...”

—Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations, 1948

The passage above is best understood as a global response to which of the following historical developments?

  1. A
    The outbreak of direct military conflicts between superpowers during the Cold War
  2. The mass atrocities and systemic violence committed during the world warsAnswer
  3. C
    The rapid spread of free-market capitalism and the homogenization of global culture
  4. D
    The rise of environmental degradation caused by the mid-century agricultural Green Revolution

Answer

The mass atrocities and systemic violence committed during the world wars
The correct answer is correct because the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted in 1948, directly following World War II, as a response to the genocide, mass killings, and atrocities committed during the global conflicts of the early twentieth century.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source and the historical context of the document (1948).
The document is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in the immediate aftermath of World War II.
Understanding the temporal context helps identify the catalyst for the reform initiative.
2
Identify the specific problem the document is reacting to.
The preamble cites 'barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind' as the primary reason for declaring these rights.
Linking 'barbarous acts' to the mid-20th century conflicts points directly to the atrocities of World War II and the Holocaust.
3
Evaluate the options to find the development that fits this context.
The option mentioning mass atrocities and systemic violence committed during the world wars is correct, while other options describe unrelated Cold War proxy conditions, globalization cultural changes, or agricultural changes.
This confirms the correct option based on historical causality.

Key Concept

Calls for Reform and Responses after 1900
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Calls for Reform and Responses after 1900

More questions from this topic