Paper 1 Section A/A: America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation

June 2020

Q1: How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about the lives of

freed slaves after the American Civil War? Explain your answer based on what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, Interpretation A says that nothing had changed for the freed slaves and they were still treated badly. By contrast in Interpretation B, Washington says that their lives have improved greatly and that they are accepted by white society. For example, according to Wells (Interpretation A) freed slaves were murdered whereas Washington (Interpretation B) says that they were admired and

Q2: Why might the authors of Interpretations A and B have a different interpretation

about the lives of freed slaves after the American Civil War? Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.

Answer:

For example, students might argue that the beliefs, circumstances and motives of Wells and Washington were different. In Wells autobiography written in 1928, she is looking back over her life, much of which was spent as the title implies, crusading for justice for ex-slaves. Working for these organisations Wells would have come across many accounts of their continued suffering and this has dominated her life so this is the story that she tells. Washington’s introduction, based on his own life experience and written much earlier, is designed to inspire and motivate, to show what is possible for African-Americans. Wells is looking back, whereas Washington is looking For example, Interpretation A was by Wells who had seen the way in which many ex slaves were treated and had reported on it, whereas Interpretation B was by someone who had been successful himself so had not experienced

Q3: Which interpretation gives the more convincing opinion about the lives of freed slaves

after the American Civil War? Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, makes the judgement that the two interpretations aren’t mutually exclusive. Interpretation B is more convincing on how many ex-slaves were treated by white society in the South where racial intermarriage was banned and they couldn’t serve on juries or testify in court against whites. They were intimidated by whippings, lynchings, and being burnt alive by groups like the Ku Klux Klan. However, Interpretation B is correct in showing how, alongside this discrimination and injustice, progress was made by African-Americans often through their own efforts. Freed slaves organised thousands of mutual-aid clubs and societies while their churches paid for schools and teachers. Many African–Americans went west to escape the problems described in Interpretation A and became farmers, ranchers and cowboys. For example, supporting Interpretation B by reference to the fact that by 1877 there were over 600,000 black pupils in state schools set up by the Republicans which gave them the education needed to set up businesses and enter the professions. The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments made them citizens and gave them the right to vote, making them part of the political process and able to influence affairs. For example, Interpretation A is convincing because although slavery was abolished in 1865, ex-slaves were not fully free. They couldn’t serve on juries or testify in court against whites. Their right to vote was often restricted by property or literacy tests and they were persecuted by organisations such as the White League. For example, answers stating that Interpretation A is convincing as we know that blacks were murdered by groups like the Ku Klux Klan and/or that Interpretation B is convincing because African–Americans got into state

Q4: Describe two problems faced by miners in the American West.

Answer:

These might include: One problem was that mining towns grew up rapidly from the original mining camps with no organised system of government or law and order. They attracted gamblers, prostitutes and criminals out to make a quick fortune. As a result, these towns became lawless places where violence was common. Another problem was that racial tension was high between the various groups including Americans, Mexicans, the Californian Indians and thousands of Chinese who came as labourers. There were also ex-convicts from Australia and slaves brought by ex-plantation owners from the American South. For example, lawless mining towns, claim jumping, racial tension, lack of gold

Q5: In what ways were the lives of Homesteaders affected by new farming methods and

technology? Explain your answer.

Answer:

For example, students may recognise that even though new farming methods and technology helped homesteaders survive and prosper they could not by themselves prevent their lives being badly affected by natural hazards such as prairie fires, plagues of grasshoppers, or extreme weather conditions such as tornados or severe droughts. For example, there were long dry periods on the Plains so crops would shrivel and die but homesteaders began to use a new method called dry farming where they ploughed the land when there had been heavy rain or snow. This trapped and kept the moisture in the soil and meant that better crops could be For example, there was no wood on the Plains for fencing so there was nothing to protect growing crops from buffalo or straying cattle. Joseph Glidden invented barbed wire in 1874 which was cheap and allowed homesteaders to mark their land and keep stray cattle and buffalo off. For example, it had been difficult to plough the Plains but in 1830 John Deere invented a steel plough called the sod-buster which made it possible to cut through the soil and plant crops more successfully. For example, wind pumps meant that they could bring water up to the surface.

Q6: Which of the following was the more important reason why there was conflict between

white settlers and the Plains Indians: • differences in ways of life • the actions of the US Government? Explain your answer with reference to both bullet points.

Answer:

For example, students will explain the part played by both broken treaties and different ways of life and beliefs in causing conflict on the Plains. Students may then conclude, for example, that the ways of life and beliefs of the two groups were so incompatible particularly when it came to the ownership and use of land and that this meant that any treaty was bound to be difficult to maintain. For example, students may explain how the different ways of life and beliefs (eg attitude to the land, government, religion, warfare, family life etc) of the Plains Indians and white settlers led to a lack of mutual understanding which developed into conflict. Also how the various treaties (eg Permanent Indian Frontier, Fort Laramie Treaties 1851 and 1868 etc) were broken by both sides with Indian lands being invaded by white settlers but some Indians not staying in their designated areas. For example, the Indians were always on the move following and hunting the buffalo but the white settlers were farmers who needed to stay in one place to look after their crops. This meant that their farms would be in the way of the Indians and buffalo herds which would cause conflict. For example, white settlers kept breaking treaties like the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 where each Indian tribe was given a hunting area away from the white trails but this did not work as miners, settlers and ranchers invaded these lands so the Indians reacted violently. For example, although the Indians were given guaranteed areas of land by various treaties, white settlers always took over this land so the Indians fought