Paper 1 Section B/D: Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975

June 2023

Q1: Source A opposes American involvement in the Korean War. 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 leaflet is opposed to American involvement in the Korean War because it is telling the American soldiers to go home. It was produced by North Korea who were being attacked by American troops. It is trying to lower the morale of the American troops. For example, the leaflet says the Americans are killing Korean women and children. North Korea was fighting against America.

Q2: How useful are Sources B and C to an historian studying the Tet Offensive?

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 a longer-term effect of the attack by the Vietcong. The fact that the Embassy building in Saigon could be attacked was seen as a form of defeat for America. The setback was such a blow to public support for the war that President Johnson announced he would not seek re-election. Even though the sources are from different sides of the conflict, they both show that the Tet offensive was hugely damaging to the American war effort. For example, Source B is useful to show that the Tet Offensive was a new tactic. The Vietcong mainly used guerrilla tactics in the jungles but the large- scale attack in 1968 during the Tet holiday was well planned. It was a simultaneous attack in hundreds of towns and US military bases in South Vietnam. The North Vietnamese and Vietcong lost many soldiers. They failed to drive the Americans out permanently. Source C is useful to show that the Tet Offensive did cause damage but the US army were able to gain back control. The grounds of the US Embassy building were only occupied for a few For example, Source C shows that the American newspapers were critical of the way the army kept releasing the message that the war was going well. Even though the building is damaged, the officer is saying that everything is fine. It is useful as an example of the growing opposition which began after the Tet Offensive. People questioned why America was involved in a war that they did not seem to be able to win. Source B is useful to explain why the Tet Offensive was seen as a victory by the North Vietnamese. It was a turning point in the war because the American public were shocked that the Vietcong could be so successful. For example, Source B is useful to explain why the Tet Offensive was seen as a victory by the North Vietnamese. It was a turning point in the war because the American public were shocked that the Vietcong could be so successful. Source C is useful to show that the Tet Offensive did cause damage but the US army were able to gain back control. The grounds of the US Embassy building were only occupied for a few hours. to the enquiry point, for example, Source B says the Tet Offensive was a victory for the North Vietnamese. Source C shows that the American Headquarters was damaged in the Tet

Q3: Write an account of how the Geneva Agreement, 1954 led to further conflict in

Vietnam.

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, conflict arose because of national political opposition to Diem’s corrupt government in the South but it escalated into a large-scale international war because of America’s belief in Domino Theory. America followed an anti- communist foreign policy of containment and was prepared to go to war to stop South Vietnam being taken over by Ho Chi Minh. 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, the agreement led to conflict because neither side was happy with the arrangement and a Civil War broke out as both sides wanted to get control of the whole country. Ho Chi Minh supplied weapons for the political opposition (NLF) to Diem that emerged in the South. America provided financial support for Diem and the South Vietnamese army (ARVN). For example, North Vietnam was to be ruled by Ho Chi Minh who was communist and South Vietnam by Diem who was anti-Communist. It was agreed that a general election would be held in 1956 for the whole country to choose its future government. Geneva Agreement divided Vietnam into two halves to be ruled separately. should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘The events at Kent State University were the main reason why American public

opinion turned against the Vietnam War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [SPaG 4 marks] and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the CopyrightTeam.

Answer:

explanation of the relationship between causes supported by detailed factual For example, the level of uncensored media coverage that existed during the entire Vietnam War was a greater reason for the turning of public opinion than any individual event. As TV ownership increased during the 1960s this became the dominant form of media. As real-time reporting became possible, the American population were more fully informed than in any other previous war. For example, the events at Kent State University caused public opinion to turn against the war because it brought the anti-war protest movement to a wider audience for the wrong reasons. A student led protest on a university campus became violent and National Guardsmen opened fire on the unarmed protesters. This led to the death of four students and hardened public opinion against the government. Another reason for public opinion turning against the war was when the truth about the My Lai Massacre became public in 1969. The investigation revealed that 500 innocent people were killed in My Lai by US troops but the incident had been covered up. The American public were shocked by the details of the actions of ‘Charlie Company’ during a search and destroy mission. For example, public opinion changed because the war cost so much and America did not seem to be winning. New strategies such as Vietnamisation did not work as planned. The war widened into Cambodia and Laos. anti-war demonstration at Kent State University got out of hand and four students were shot dead. opinion was opposed to the war because there was colour TV coverage that showed the horrors of war to every home in America. • The learner’s achievement in SPaG does not reach the threshold