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.

[5]

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

[6]

Study Sources D and E.

How similar are the two sources? Explain your answer.

[6]

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.

[8]

(c)

(d)

(e)

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 B
An 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 D
The 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 E
An 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.

This 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

[12]

This question is on the Cold War in Europe.

a) What led to tensions between the USA and USSR in Europe escalating
between 1945-1947?
b) Explain how each of the following factors led to the Cold War in Europe:

[8]

(i) ideological differences

(ii) differing aims of the superpowers

[12]