Trick or Treaty Trivia Quiz

Answer: Abyssinia (Ethiopia)

The growing threat and fear of the spread of Italian fascism led by Benito Mussolini caused British and French foreign ministers, Samuel Hoare and Pierre Laval, to propose the Hoare-Laval Pact. The treaty would have essentially ceded control of most of Abyssinia to Italy without a fight.

When details of the treaty leaked, the public was outraged at Hoare and Laval for appearing to appease Hitler and his allies. Both men were sacked in humiliating fashion and the treaty was never even considered by either country's government.

Answer: Germany and the Soviet Union

Better known as the nonaggression pact, it was signed by Germany and the USSR on 23 August. Under the terms of the treaty both countries agreed to remain neutral and to refrain from acts of aggression against each other if either went to war. Secret clauses allowed for the partition of Poland - Adolf Hitler was to acquire western Poland, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin the eastern part. On 1 September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland and the Soviet Union followed on the 17th.

The pact ended when Hitler invaded Russia on 22 June 1941.

Answer: Mozambique followed through but South Africa did not

During tensions in the mid 1980s in southern Africa, South Africa pledged itself not to support the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO), while Mozambique was committed to not helping the then outlawed African National Congress (ANC). However, only Mozambique followed the Nkomati Accord when it expelled ANC members from its borders. South Africa, however, continued to support anti-communist forces in RENAMO.

In fact, South Africa actually increased its support for RENAMO. It wasn't until 1992 that the tensions cooled.

Answer: Spain and Portugal

The Treaty of Tordesillas set the line of demarcation halfway between the Portuguese claimed Cape Verde Islands of the coast of Africa and the recently "discovered" island of Hispaniola which Christopher Columbus claimed for Spain. Neither nation knew the full extent of their lands as the area had not been fully explored as yet by Europeans.

Other European nations ignored the treaty as they were not recipients of any lands under the agreement and refused to concede much of the New World to Spain and Portugal.

Answer: European Union

The Treaty on European Union, also called the Treaty of Maastricht, took effect on 1 November 1993, and began the process of transforming the European Community (EC) into the European Union (EU). Issues covered by the treaty included the EU's decision-making process and the establishment of closer links on foreign and military policy.

A European Charter of Social Rights was approved by all member states except the UK, until a Labour government came to power in 1997.

Answer: isolation

In 1854, Japan and the USA signed the treaty that opened Japanese ports to American ships. Since the mid 17th century, Japan was more or less isolated from the rest of the world. Foreigners were not allowed into Japan and the locals were not allowed out. Soon after the Kanagawa Treaty was signed, Japan signed similar treaties with several other nations, effectively ending sakoku or Japan's national isolationism.

Answer: Charles I

The Treaty of Ripon was signed in 1640 and ended the second Bishops' War between Charles I and the Scottish Covenanters. The war began when Charles I tried to extend his influence over the Church of Scotland. The treaty was a profound humiliation for Charles - the Scots were to retain Northumberland and Durham and he agreed to pay the Scots 850 pounds a day until the issues were resolved. Charles was obliged to summon the Long Parliament to ratify the treaty.

Answer: New Zealand

The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi was negotiated in New Zealand between the British government and Maori chiefs. The treaty guaranteed the Maori their own territory and gave them British citizenship. The British claimed sovereignty over the territory and the right to purchase and sell land.

There were two versions of the treaty, one in English and one in the Maori language; they were not direct translations of each other. As a result, discrepancies and disputes popped up almost immediately and led to the New Zealand Wars beginning in 1845.

Answer: Nicaragua

Britain and the USA began clashing over each nation's alleged sphere of influence over Central America. While Britain formally controlled the area, the USA began growing closer to the nations in the region diplomatically. The USA wanted to build a canal through Nicaragua but Britain opposed the idea.

A deal was reached where both nations would cooperate on the construction and be able to use it. However, the canal was never built as many American workers fell ill during the preparation; and the project was called off.

Answer: Payment of tolls

The 1901 Hay-Pauncefort Treaty replaced the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty and established the USA's right to build the Panama Canal. American ships were exempt from the toll (as long as the ship was traveling between U.S. ports) but the British claimed their ships and the ships of other nations should also be exempt.

The issue of tolls on the Panama Canal was a hot-button political issue in the USA and abroad. President Wilson eventually ended the controversy by ending the U.S. exemption to tolls; but the law he signed allowed the USA to reinstate the exemption in the future.

Answer: Prince of Wales

Under this treaty, Henry III recognized Llewellyn ap Gruffydd, king of Gwynedd as the "Prince of Wales". The treaty acknowledged his unique position in uniting the principality and marked the high point of his power until Edward finally overran Wales in 1282.

Answer: New Amsterdam

This treaty ended the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1664-67). By the terms of the treaty England gained New Amsterdam, which they renamed New York, and included parts of several states including New York, New Jersey and Delaware. The Netherlands held onto Suriname, which the British had also invaded and claimed for themselves.

Answer: The Second Opium War

It was an agreement between China and Western powers, signed at the end of the first phase Second Opium War. It was one of the unequal treaties China claimed was forced upon them after military defeat. As a result of the treaty, Chinese ports became accessible to many western powers, Russians and Japanese. It also opened China up to religious missionaries.

Answer: Hong Kong

Under this agreement between the UK and China, Hong Kong was ceded to Britain and five treaty ports, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Ningbo, were opened to foreign trade. It was the first of the so-called unequal treaties. Britain returned control of Hong Kong to China in 1997 as a condition of the 1898 Second Convention of Peking.

Answer: Spain and France

This treaty ended the War of the Spanish Succession. Philip V was recognized as the legitimate king of Spain and he renounced any claim he had to the French throne. The Netherlands, Milan, and Naples were ceded to Austria; and Britain gained Gibraltar.

The duchy of Savoy was granted to Sicily. The treaty maintained the balance of power in Europe by preventing strong kingdoms from merging into one and expanding their influence across the continent. It also sought to reaffirm and clarify claimants to the various thrones.