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

June 2020

Q1: Source A is critical of President Nixon’s policies in Vietnam. 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, in 1972, Nixon ordered heavy bombing of North Vietnam. The cartoon is an example of the anti-war protest movement that criticised Nixon for the failure of Vietnamisation to enable the ARVN to defeat the Vietcong. For example, the image suggests that Nixon is gambling with American money with his policy of Vietnamisation; he does not have control over what will

Q2: How useful are Sources B and C to an historian studying the development of the

Korean 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 sources show how and why the Korean War developed over time. When Truman made his statement in 1950 he did not anticipate that the war would involve China and the USSR by 1951. It transpired that the UN were unable to achieve a decisive victory once the communist forces had the support of the USSR. The war became a stalemate until its end in 1953. For example, Source B is an example of Truman’s policy of containment and the fulfilment of his promise in the Truman Doctrine to help countries defend their independence against communist invasion. He is using the authority of the UN to justify America’s involvement in Korea. Source C is an example of Chinese propaganda produced to celebrate the effect of having joined the war on North Korea’s side. China became involved because the UN forces advanced beyond the 38th parallel towards the Yalu River and the Chinese border. Chinese troops were equipped with military supplies from the USSR and this enabled them to successfully stop the For example, Source B is useful to explain that the US became involved in the Korean War to stop the spread of communism from the North to the South. Source C is useful because it shows how the support of Communist China helped North Korea to push the UN back towards the 38th parallel. to the enquiry point, for example, Source B says that the USA will send troops to help South Korea. Source C shows that China’s soldiers fought on North

Q3: Write an account of how events in Vietnam increased opposition in America to the

war.

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, opposition increased because events in Vietnam did not bring victory any closer. Despite the continued drafting of soldiers and military spending the USA seemed unable to win. When the war widened into Laos and Cambodia protest movements which were begun by pacifists spread to include more groups in society such as university students and Vietnam veterans. 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, events such as the Tet Offensive shocked the American public because they saw that the Vietcong were strong enough to attack South Vietnam and seize control of the US embassy in Saigon. Even though US forces regained control, many Americans were disillusioned about the prospect of every winning the war and called for an end to the fighting. For example, thousands of young American soldiers were killed or injured in Vietnam and more were sent every month from 1964. Thousands of Vietnamese civilians were killed. The war cost billions of dollars and America did not appear to be winning. began a large scale bombing campaign against North Vietnam. should demonstrate their ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.

Q4: ‘The main reason American forces stayed in Vietnam for so long was because of the

Domino Theory.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [SPaG 4 marks] 206G8145/1b/d

Answer:

explanation of the relationship between causes supported by detailed factual For example, the Domino Theory was the main short-term reason for America’s initial involvement in Vietnam and it also became the long-term reason why forces stayed for so long. The theory had become so well accepted at home in America that the government could not afford to admit defeat and withdraw from Vietnam. However, in the absence of a decisive victory, it took several years for the American government to find a politically acceptable exit strategy. For example, Domino Theory kept American forces in Vietnam for so long because they feared that if they left Laos, Cambodia and Thailand would all become communist. American policy was initially to support the South Vietnamese Government via the Strategic Hamlets programme but it developed into stationing US soldiers in Vietnam to engage directly with the Vietcong. They spent several years trying to hold back the communist advance in South East Asia. For example, the guerrilla tactics used by Vietcong prevented the American forces from securing a quick victory. Rather than launching full scale attacks the Vietcong used tactics such as booby traps, ambushes and ‘Hanging on the belts’ to undermine the American forces’ military strength and morale. For example, American forces were not equipped to fight in the jungles of Vietnam; their machines guns and uniforms did not perform well in the humidity of the jungles. American forces could not identify the enemy because the Vietcong did not wear a uniform. Domino Theory was the belief that if communism spread across Vietnam, it would also spread to other neighbouring countries. forces could not compete with the guerrilla tactics of the Vietcong. • The learner’s achievement in SPaG does not reach the threshold