Paper 1 Section A/D: America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality

June 2024

Q1: How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about the feminist

movements in the 1960s and early 1970s? Explain your answer based on what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, Interpretation A says that their campaigns were needed to make life fairer for women and create more equality in the workplace. Whereas Interpretation B says that the ERA would have taken away a woman’s right to stay with her child because if women were to be treated exactly the same as men, they could be conscripted into the army as men were. For example, Interpretation A says that the feminist movements wanted to make life better for women whereas Interpretation B says that they could have taken away women’s rights.

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

about the feminist movements in the 1960s and early 1970s? Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.

Answer:

For example, Interpretation A is an extract from Friedan’s autobiography so it would be expected that she would present her career in a positive way and justify the need for her campaigns. Furthermore, it was her book that began the feminist movement, so she is proud of its work. The date of publication and the title of Schlafly’s article shows that she has always been opposed to the work of the feminist movements. For example, Interpretation A was written by a leader in the feminist movement, so it has a positive opinion about its aims and achievements. Whereas the author of Interpretation B campaigned against the ERA so she will be critical of them.

Q3: Which interpretation gives the more convincing opinion about the feminist movements

in the 1960s and early 1970s? Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretations A and B.

Answer:

For example, Interpretation A is the most convincing about the women’s movement because it reflects the broad ranging appeal of the campaigns to different groups of women. It is true that it was a mass movement that included representatives from African American and Native American Indian women. Although the STOP ERA campaign referred to in Interpretation B is an example of opposition to the women’s movement, Interpretation A is a better example of how the majority of women felt in the 1960s and 1970s. For example, Interpretation A is convincing because the feminist movement was supported by women of every age group. Middle aged women were in a group called NOW who campaigned peacefully by writing to politicians and taking employers to court if they did not pay women the same as men. Younger women formed a group known as ‘Women’s Lib’ and they took more direct action such as disrupting beauty contests. Interpretation B is convincing because it shows how the campaign for total equality in the law between men and women was opposed and ultimately failed. Schlafly said the ERA it would make life worse for women because it would to unisex bathrooms. For example, Interpretation B is convincing because Schlafly led a campaign called ‘Stop ERA’ which was successful as not enough states voted for it to change to the constitution. For example, Interpretation A is convincing because the feminist movement campaigned for legal abortions and won a ruling by the Supreme Court in the case of Roe v Wade.

Q4: Describe two problems faced by immigrants in America during the 1920s.

Answer:

For example, one problem was that America was afraid that immigrants from Eastern Europe would bring communist ideas with them. During the Red Scare and ‘Palmer Raids’ thousands of people were arrested and deported for being Another problem was the restrictions placed on the numbers of people allowed to enter America during the 1920s. Immigration Acts made it much more difficult to get into America from Southern and Eastern Europe and increased prejudice towards those who were already there. For example, one problem was that they were resented because they did not speak English very well. They were poorly paid and had to live in bad

Q5: In what ways were the lives of Americans affected by developments in entertainment

during the 1920s? Explain your answer.

Answer:

For example, the developments in entertainment were not welcomed by every section of American society. Some members of the older generation reacted a code of conduct to censor the film industry. For example, the lives of people were affected by developments in entertainment during the 1920s because jazz music emerged as a new form of music. The fast tempos and rhythms appealed to young people, and it came to dominate nightclubs in big cities in the North. The new music led to new dance styles such as the Charleston. For example, the lives of cinema fans were affected by the star system which developed in the 1920s. Movie actors were promoted using all forms of available media such as radio and magazines which led fans to copy the hairstyles and dress sense of their favourite actors. For example, audiences were able to follow sports games on the radio. Sports people became celebrities because they were known to mass audiences. For example, there were new forms of entertainment. Silent films developed

Q6: Which of the following had more impact on America:

• the New Deal • the Second World War? Explain your answer with reference to both bullet points. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team.

Answer:

For example, the Second World War had a greater impact on America because it led to long term change in society. The American economy continued to prosper after the war because it supplied Europe with consumer goods. This prosperity was one of the factors that led to the birth of the ‘teenager’. The creation of the Fair Employment Practice Committee during the war brought attention to the issue of racial discrimination. This contributed to the growth of the Civil Rights movement in the decades that followed. For example, the New Deal had an impact on America because the government changed from the policy of ‘laissez- faire’ and started to use taxpayers money to try and get the economy out of depression. Alphabet Agencies were established to provide jobs and income to different groups in society such as farmers, homeowners and young people. This policy was criticised for interfering too much in how businesses were run. When FDR reduced his New Deal spending, unemployment figures rose again so the impact was not effective in the long term. For example, the Second World War had a social and economic impact on America because new opportunities emerged to meet the demands of war contracts. The government ended America’s policy of isolationism with the Cash and Carry Plan and after the attack at Pearl Harbour the War Production Board converted peacetime industries to war work. This created jobs for men and women in weapons factories. There was also a social impact because women took on traditional male roles and African Americans filled a wider range of roles in the armed forces. For example, the New Deal created work for millions of people building schools, airports and roads. Once people were earning wages, they could support other businesses by buying goods. But some people criticised the New Deal for wasting money and allowing people to be lazy rather than help For example, the New Deal was a plan by the government to create Alphabet Agencies which would end the depression in America. The Second World War created jobs for American people; factories were used to make weapons.