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Section A (Source-based Case Study)Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates

Study all the sources carefully and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge and understanding of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

1(a)Study Source A. What is the message of this source? Explain your answer.[5]

(b)Study Source B. Why do you think the report was published? Explain your answer using details from the source and your own knowledge.

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(c)Study Source C.How useful is the source in explaining why the USA intervened in Korea? Explain your answer.

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(d)Study Sources D and E.How similar are the two sources? Explain your answer.[6]

(e)Study all sources.The USA was forced to intervene in Korea. How far do these sources support this view? Use the sources and your knowledge to support your answer.

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Was USA forced to intervene in Korea?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions.

After World War Two, the alliance between the United States of America (USA) and the Soviet Union broke down and the Cold War began. The ideological difference and distrust between the two superpowers led both sides to settle their differences on the lands of other countries. Both superpowers were originally not interested in Korea due to its lack of strategic importance. However, the Korean War started when North Korea invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950. The USA decided to intervene in the war and led the United Nations (UN) forces in assisting South Korea, and China and Soviet Union were helping North Korea to fight against South Korea.

Source A The view of an American historian on US intervention in the Korean War, published in 1993.On the surface it seems odd that the attack on South Korea should have caused the United States to respond. After all, it was not the Soviet army that moved across the 38th parallel, but the North Korean Army. They were attempting to reunify their country, not engage in aggression against a neighbouring state. It had also been obvious for at least a year that a war would break out in Korea. The bitterly opposing governments of the North and South were both determined to reunify the country under their own control.

Source BAn American report on the Korean War on 28 June 1950.Most government officials in the non-communist world viewed the North Korean attack as a direct Soviet challenge to the USA. The attack was widely interpreted as an obvious attack by world communism at a soft spot in the non-Communist world. If successful, this would undoubtedly be followed by further action against other soft spots in the world.

Source C A leaflet produced by South Korea that was air-dropped into North Korea in 1952. The Korean words state: Kim Il Sung is dancing for USSRs future.

Source DThe view of an American historian on the reason for US intervention in Korea, 1998.The Truman administration grasped its opportunity with both hands. It was taken for granted that Stalin had ordered Kim south and thus his invasion was the first real test of American resolve when confronted by Soviet aggression. The domino theory was favoured; if Stalin were not stopped in Korea, he would advance and states would fall in succession to communism. Furthermore, if Stalin went unchecked, American promises to resist communism in Europe and Asia would turn out to be hollow; American credibility was at stake.

Source EAn extract of Dean Achesons memoirs written in 1969. Dean Acheson was an American politician heavily involved in the Korean War.Clearly the invasion of South Korea was an open, undisguised challenge to Americas internationally accepted position as the protector of South Korea. Korea is an area of great importance to the security of American-occupied Japan. To back away from this challenge, in view of the power of USA, would be highly destructive of our strength and reputation.

Section B (Structured-Essay Questions)Answer ONE question.

2This question is on the war in Europe.

a)What were the reasons for the Policy of Appeasement?[8]

b)Explain how each of the following factors led to Germanys defeat in World War II: (i)German weakness and miscalculations (ii) US entry into the war

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3This question is on the Cold War in Europe.

a)What led to tensions between the USA and USSR in Europe escalating between 1945-1947?[8]

b) Explain how each of the following factors led to the Cold War in Europe: (i)ideological differences (ii) differing aims of the superpowers

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