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

June 2024

Q1: Source A supports the fall of Saigon. 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 poster supports the fall of Saigon because it marks the exact date that Saigon fell on 30 April 1975. The man waving is Ho Chi Minh, the North Vietnamese leader. Saigon was renamed after him and became Ho Chi Minh City. The poster celebrates the unification of North and South Vietnam shown by the two women arm in arm. For example, the poster supports the fall of Saigon because it shows that all the people are happy and smiling and waving flowers. It is biased because it is from Vietnam. It’s only a poster.

Q2: How useful are Sources B and C to an historian studying President Nixon and the

Vietnam War? 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 dates of the sources are useful because they show an historian how long it took for Nixon to achieve an end to the war and withdraw America from Vietnam. The cartoon of 1969 shows that there was opposition to further attacks on Vietnam or neighbouring countries as soon as Nixon took over as President and Source C references the invasion by North Vietnam three years later. Nixon’s faced the dilemma of not being able to defeat the Vietcong outright using conventional weapons but neither could he abandon Vietnam to a communist take-over. For example, Source B is useful to an historian because it is an example of the criticism Nixon faced within America. The cartoon is being sarcastic because bombings raids destroyed civilian buildings as well as military bases. There was growing opposition and protest against US involvement in Vietnam. Nixon had promised to end the fighting, but his policies actually increased America’s involvement. Source C explains that Vietnamisation was the plan to allow South Vietnam to be able to defend itself. For example, Source C is useful to an historian because it shows how the government tried to defend its policies and sound positive even though the reality was different. Vietnamisation was the plan to build up the South Vietnamese army so it could fight the Vietcong without the help of US troops. This would allow the USA to withdraw. However, the ARVN was not successful against the North Vietnamese troops and the South was invaded in 1972. Source B shows a critical opinion of the increased bombing that was part of Nixon’s campaign. The caption is being sarcastic. Nixon sent 150,000 more US troops to Vietnam and widened the war to Laos and Cambodia. For example, Source B shows a critical opinion of the increased bombing which was part of Nixon’s campaign. The caption is being sarcastic. Nixon sent 150,000 more US troops to Vietnam and widened the war to Laos and For example, Source C explains that Vietnamisation was the plan to allow South Vietnam to be able to defend itself. to the enquiry point. For example, Source B shows that Nixon ordered bombing raids. It says that pilots were told not to hit civilian targets Source C says that Vietnamisation has worked. It says that the Americans wanted South Vietnam to defend itself.

Q3: Write an account of how the invasion of South Korea led to international conflict in

Korea, 1950–1953.

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, the invasion of South Korea led to international tension because as the involvement of other powers escalated it created the possibility of nuclear weapons being used. MacArthur was the commander of the UN forces, and he advised President Truman to use nuclear weapons once China was 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, international tension was created when China joined the war on the side of the Communists. The UN forces had crossed the border and entered North Korea. As they approached the Chinese border, China sent troops to help the North Koreans fight back. This enlarged the conflict, and the UN faced a larger enemy. For example, the government of North Korea was communist and wanted to take control of the whole country. The North had the support of the USSR. Stalin provided tanks and aircraft and the Communists successfully captured a lot of South Korea. South Korea was invaded by North Korea. North Korea crossed the border/38th The UN sent forces to help support South Korea. The USSR helped North should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘The tactics of the Vietcong were the main reason for the success of North Vietnam in

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 Copyright Team.

Answer:

sharply focused coherence and logical structure that is fully substantiated, with explanation of the relationship between causes supported by detailed factual For example, the physical environment of the Vietnam War contributed as much to the failure of the Americans as the tactics of the Vietcong. The dense jungle was the key to the success of guerrilla warfare, and it was also the reason why the technology and might of the American army was ineffective. The bombing campaigns against North Vietnam and the use of chemical warfare did little to destroy the underground tunnel system. For example, the guerrilla tactics used by the Vietcong prevented the American forces from securing a victory. Rather than launching full scale attacks the Vietcong used surprise tactics such as booby traps and ambushes. The idea was to wear the enemy down rather than engage in an all-out battle. American forces could not identify the enemy during ‘Search and Destroy’ raids because the Vietcong did not wear a uniform and so they blended in with ordinary For example, the main reason the Americans failed in Vietnam was because the Vietcong had the support of a wide range of Vietnamese people. Middle class professionals were willing to support the fight to have their country reunited. Many peasants believed the Vietcong would help them get their land back. The peasants would feed and hide the Vietcong fighters which allowed them to travel light though the jungle and launch ambushes. For example, American tactics and equipment did not work in the jungle. The heat and damp caused soldiers’ uniforms to rot and weapons to jam. Even when the Americans tried to use their superior bombing power to damage the Ho Chi Minh trail, the Vietcong could find a different route through the jungle. Vietcong’s use of guerrilla tactics meant they couldn’t be found or defeated Vietcong gained more support because they helped Vietnamese peasants. • The learner’s achievement in SPaG does not reach the threshold