Paper 1 Section B/C: Conflict and tension between East and West,

June 2020

Q1: Source A supports talks to reduce tension between the USSR and the USA.

How do you know? Explain your answer using Source A and your contextual knowledge. Study Sources B and C in the Sources Booklet.

Answer:

features of the source. For example, the image suggests the urgent need for the USA and USSR to meet for strategic arms limitation talks; this would benefit the tax payers. The talks reduced tension during the Détente period when the Superpowers made agreements to reduce the number of nuclear weapons they had. Both sides needed to reduce their spending on the arms race. For example, the cartoon shows tax payers being squashed by the weight of weapons. The USA and USSR had meetings during the period of Détente.

Q2: How useful are Sources B and C to an historian studying the U2 Crisis?

Explain your answer using Sources B and C and your contextual knowledge.

Answer:

In analysing and evaluating sources, students will draw on their contextual example, the context of the time in which source was created, place, author’s evaluate the relationship between the sources based on analysis of For example, the sources are useful because they show that the U2 crisis had a significant effect on the balance of power and blame in the Cold War. The USA was criticised by its closest ally, Great Britain, and could no longer claim that the USSR was wholly responsible for the tension of the Cold War. For example, the provenance of Source B is useful for studying the impact of the U2 crisis in the wider context of the Cold War. The cartoon shows British criticism of the use of the U2 plane because it has damaged the possibility of a summit meeting and a thaw in the relationship with the USSR. Source C refers to the capture of the U2 pilot Gary Powers and the false claim by the USA that the U2 was studying weather conditions. When the USA refused to admit to spying and apologise, Khrushchev stormed out of the Paris For example, Source B shows that the superpowers were coming together to have a meeting but the use of a U2 plane by America meant that the meeting did not go ahead. Source C is useful to show how the USSR used the incident to embarrass the USA and demand an apology for spying. to the enquiry point, for example, Source B shows that a U2 plane crashed. In Source C the USSR says it wants peaceful co existence but the USA does not.

Q3: Write an account of how events in Cuba affected Cold War tensions.

Answer:

with complex sequencing and reasoning supported by a range of accurate and example, to an analysis of how/why tension increased at different stages and /or showing understanding about how much each part of the sequence increased tension and led to a crisis. For example, analysis of different consequences over time. In the long term the events in Cuba eased the tension of the Cold War. To improve communication between the Superpowers a special phone line was established so that the leaders could speak directly to each other. developed sequencing and reasoning supported by a range of accurate factual analysis of how/why tension increased at one stage in the process. For example, tension increased when Kennedy place a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent any more missiles arriving from the USSR. He threatened to take military action against any attempt to breach the quarantine. For example, the USSR put nuclear missiles on the island of Cuba and this was close enough to place the USA in danger of a direct attack. Cuban Missile Crisis could have led to nuclear war. should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘The main cause of tension between the USA and the USSR in the years 1945 to

1949 was the atom bomb.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [SPaG 4 marks] 206G8145/1b/c

Answer:

explanation of the relationship between causes supported by detailed factual For example, tension existed between the USA and the USSR even before the atom bomb was used because of their opposing ideologies of communism and democracy. However, the atom bomb created a new and more dangerous level of tension as the ensuing arms race saw both sides rivalling to create superior For example, The USA was the first country to use an atom bomb and it showed they were the most powerful country in the world. Over 100,000 people were killed in Japan by the atom bombs. Stalin was angry that Truman had kept this weapon secret and in retaliation, the USSR had developed their own nuclear weapon by 1949. For example, the Truman Doctrine was also a reason for tension between the Superpowers 1945-49 because it was a declaration of support by the USA to any country that was threatened by communism. The Marshall Plan offered funds to rebuild countries and make communism less attractive. Stalin felt this was an attack on his influence and accused the USA of having a policy of For example, the main reason for tension was because of Soviet Expansion after the Second World War. Stalin had used force to spread Communism into Eastern European countries, such as Poland. The USA believed in democracy and free elections; they wanted to stop Communism spreading any further. the Atom Bomb by the USA started an Arms Race with the USSR. was tension between the Superpowers over control of Berlin. • The learner’s achievement in SPaG does not reach the threshold