2024 MSHS S4 Prelim Answer Key

1 2024 ELECTIVE HISTORY PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION ANSWER SCHEME Section A (1a) Study Source A. What can you learn from this cartoon? Explain your answer. [5] Level Band Descriptor and Rubrics Marks L1 Source description or misreading of source 1m L2 Sub-message, unsupported (Only shows one-side of the cartoon) Sub-message, supported and explained I can learn that the Soviet Union was unhappy with the Allies in Berlin. 2-3m L3 MESSAGE (Shows both sides of the cartoon: Soviet being aggressive and unreasonable, Allies being accommodating) 4-5m Award 4 marks for weakly explained responses Award 5 marks for strong explanations I can learn from this cartoon that the Soviets were being unreasonable and aggressive over their claim over Berlin. This can be seen in the source which shows the bear's statement, "how dare you sit on my chair," signifies the Soviet Union's aggressive sta nce and claim over Berlin. This portrays the Soviet actions as unreasonable and domineering contradicting what was agreed in Potsdam that the Allies together with the Soviets shared control of Berlin as seen in the Allies response in the cartoon ‘But there ’s room for four’. This shows the Allies as reasonable and cooperative, willing to accommodate the Soviet Union’s control of Berlin. (1b) Study Source B. Why was this article published? Explain your answer. [5] Level Band Descriptor and Rubrics Marks L1 Source description or misreading of source 1m L2 MESSAGE OR IMPACT ONLY 2-3m Award 2 marks for weakly explained responses Award 3 marks for strong explanations It was published to convince Italian readers of the Soviet Union's goal to drive the Western Allies out of Berlin and expand its influence in Germany.

2 OR It was published to encourage Italian readers to urge their government to be supportive of Western efforts in Berlin during the Cold War by standing firm against Soviet expansionist policy in Europe. L3 Message and Impact Award 5 marks for strong explanations 4-5m This article was published to convince Italian readers of the Soviet Union's goal to drive the Western Allies out of Berlin and expand its influence in Germany. This can be seen in Source B which states “the Soviets aims to drive the Western Allies out” and “the Germans faith in the Allies depends on their resolve.” Hence, this shows the urgency of the need to ensure that the Soviets do not succeed in taking over Berlin. By doing so, it wants Italian readers to urge their government who was an ally of the USA, to be supportive of Wes tern efforts in Berlin during the Cold War by standing firm against Soviet expansionist policy in Europe. (1c) Study Sources C and D. How far does Source D prove that Source C is wrong? Explain your answer.[6] Level Band Descriptor and Rubrics Marks L1 Answers based on undeveloped provenance Source D does not prove Source C wrong as they are both on the side of the US. 1 m L2 Compare content of C and D and show that claims in Source D is true/untrue- Choose either approach Award 2 mark for answers that have weak explanation Award 3 marks for answers that have strong explanation No, Source D does not prove Source C wrong as they have similar views in who was responsible for the Berlin Blockade. Source D pins the blame on Stalin being primarily responsible for the Berlin Blockade, as he is depicted in a central and active position on the chessboard. The portrayal implies that Stalin's actions have created the current situation, while Truman is depicted as waiting to respond to Stalin’s moves. Similarly, Source C blames the Soviet government for the violations of agreements on free access to Berlin which the US believe to have the same rights as the Soviet Union. 2-3m

3 L3 L2+ with cross referencing to decide which is wrong By cross-referencing to Source F, Source D cannot prove Source C wrong as Source D is contradicted by Source F making Source D unreliable. Based on Source F, it states that both the Soviet Union and the USA were to be blame for causing the Berlin Blockade. This can be seen in the source which states that “blockade appears more as one step in a long political struggle between two power blocs for influence than the pre-planned act of a master criminal”. This shows that the Soviet Union alone was not to be blamed for the tensions. Instead, the Berlin blockade was part of a larger, ongoing struggle between the two superpowers—the Soviet Union and the Western Allies during the Cold War. Hence, since Source F contradicts Source D, this makes Source C unreliable, and thus does not prove Source C wrong. 4-5m L4 L2+ Assess the reliability of Source D to decide whether it proves Source C right or wrong By analysing its provenance, Source D cannot prove that Source C is wrong based on its context and purpose. Given that Source D is an American cartoon published in an American newspaper during the Berlin Blockade, this means that the cartoonist wanted to appeal to the American citizens the perceived advantage that the Soviets had in Berlin, following the blockade and hence, the cartoonist wanted the American citizens to support decisive actions of the US government in response to counter Soviet moves. Hence, given its purpose, this makes Source D unreliable and thus cannot prove Source C wrong. 5-6m

1d) Study Sources E and F. Does Source E make you feel surprised by what is shown in Source F? Explain your answer. [6] Level Band Descriptor and Rubrics Marks L1 Surprise/Not surprise based on provenance 1m L2 Surprised or Not Surprised based on content 2-3m Award higher marks for more developed answers Possible content responses: Source E does not make me surprised by what is shown in Source F as: Both sources acknowledge the Blockade happened within the context of the Cold War. Source E focuses on justifying the Soviet actions as a response to Western economic policies in Berlin. Source F places the Blockade within the bigger picture of the Cold War power struggle, but doesn't necessarily contradict the Soviet justifications mentioned in Source E. OR Source E does makes me surprised by what is shown in Source F as both sources differ in terms of who was responsible for the Berlin Blockade. Source E shows that the US is primarily responsible for the Berlin Blockade, as Source E portrays the Soviets as r eactive, responding to Western actions. This can be seen in Source E which mentions that the economic actions taken by the Soviets “were protective responses to US, UK and France breaking agreements about how to manage Germany and Berlin”. However, Source F asserts that the Blockade was depicted as a calculated move within the Cold War by both the USA and the USSR. This can be seen in the source which states that “blockade appears more as one step in a long political struggle between two power blocs for influence than the pre- planned act of a master criminal”. This shows that the USA alone was not to be blamed for the tensions. Instead, the Berlin blockade was part of a larger, ongoing struggle between the two superpowers —the Soviet Union and the Western All ies during the Cold War. Hence, due to the way both sources differ in who was responsible for the Berlin Blockade, Source E does make me surprised by what is shown in Source F. L3 Surprised or Not Surprised based on cross -referencing to other sources or contextual knowledge Award higher marks for more developed answers 4-5m

5 By cross-referencing to Source C, Source E does make me surprised by what is shown in Source F as Source E is contradicted by Source C. Source C blames the Soviet government for the violations of agreements on free access to Berlin which the US believe to have the same rights as the Soviet Union. This surpri