JVSS 2025 ELECTIVE HISTORY 4E5N PRELIMS

This document consists of 6 printed pages. JVSS PE 2025 4EXP Humanities/History 2261/02 [Turn Over JURONGVILLE SECONDARY SCHOOL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2025 Secondary 4 Express / 5 Normal (Academic) STUDENT NAME CLASS INDEX NUMBER HUMANITIES 2261/02 Paper 2 History The Making of the 20 th Century Modern World, 1910s – 1991 18 August 2025 1 hour 50 minutes Additional Materials: Writing Paper READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your name, class and index number in the spaces on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen. Do not use staples, paper clips, or correction fluid. Answer each question on a new side of the writing paper. Tie Section A answers together. Tie Section B answers together. Section A Answer all parts of Question 1. Section B Answer two questions. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. For Examiner’s Use 50

2 [Turn over Section A: Source-Based Case Study Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates. Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions , in addition to those sources you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. 1 (a) Study Source A. What does this source tell you about the Chinese view of the Ko rean War? Explain your answer, using details from the source and your con textual knowled ge. [4] ( b ) Study Source B. Wh y was this source published? Explain your answer. [6] ( c ) Study Sources C and D. How far does Source C agree with Source D? Explain your answer. [6] ( d ) Study Source E. Do you believe what this source tells you about Stalin’s role in the Korean War? Explain your answer. [6] ( e ) Study all the sources. ‘The USSR was responsible for the Korean War.’ How far do these sources support this statement? Use the sources and your knowledge to e xplain your answer. [8]

3 [Turn over The Korean War BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions. In June 1950, North Korean soldiers crossed the 38 th parallel and invaded South Korea, eventually starting what we now know as the Korean War. These soldiers wer e mostly trained and equipped by the Soviet Union. Different countries and organisations like the United Nations involved themselves in this conflict to varying degrees. The conflict la sted around three years, with North and South Korea signing an armi stice in 1953 ending all hostili ties. However, North and South Korea are still separate now as a result. Who was responsible for the Korean War? Source A: A poster by Chinese forces published in South Korea in 1951. Blood is dripping from the dead Korean soldier (top of the picture) into the bag at the bottom of the picture. Uncle Sam (representing America)

4 [Turn over Source B: A speech by U.S president Truman given in America on 19th July 1950. On June 25th, Communist forces attacked the Republic of Korea. This attack has made it clear that the international Communist movement is willing to use armed invasion to conquer independent nations. An unprovoked invasion such as this creates a real danger to the security of all free nations. It was an act without a shadow of justification. The U.S. has asked the Soviet Government to use its influence to get North Korea to withdraw its forces, but the Soviet Government refused. The Soviet Governmen t has said many times that it wants peace in the world, but its attitude toward this action a gainst South Korea directly contradicts its statements. Source C: Adapted from an American historian’s article published in 2002. When Kim Il Sung headed a delegation that visited Moscow to secure economic assistance, Stalin made it clear that he would not approve North Korea provoking a war in Korea. In their meeting on 5th March, Stalin agreed to provide North Korea with Soviet military trainers and between 40- 50 million in credit to buy imports. But he then issued a blunt warning to Kim Il Sung: ‘The 38 th parallel must be peaceful. It is v ery important.’ Nevertheless Kim pressed for an invasion as he needed Soviet support for this action, telling Stalin that mili tary means would be necessary to liberate all of Korea because ‘t he forces of the South will nev er agree to peaceful reunification.’ Stalin firmly rejected Kim Il S ung’s request, explaining that t he United Nations would intervene, thereby igniting a major war. Source D: Adapted from US General Dwight Eisenhower’s speech in 1952 during the USA presidential election campaign of that year. Eisenhower was a candidate in the election seeking to replace President Truman. The biggest fact about the Korean War is that it could have bee n avoided. We are fighting this war because the US government failed to stop and turn back Comm unist ambition before it savagely attacked us. This failure dates back to 1947 when it w as reported to President Truman that the withdrawal of American forces from Korea would result in the occupation of South Korea by Soviet troops or Korean troops (who were highly dependent on the Soviets). This warning was ignored by the US government.

5 [Turn over Source E: Adapted from a history journal from Beijing University, China’s top university, published in 2011. In a telegram to Stalin on 21 October 1949, just after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Mao Zedong stated his opposition to a North Kor ean invasion of the South. At his first meeting with Stalin in Moscow, Mao stressed the necessity for three to five years of peace in order to return Chinas economy to pre-war levels, again stat ing his opposition to a Northern attack. At this time, Stalin expressed agreement with Mao. After World War II, Stalin had worked to avoid a military clash with the capitalist camp, believing t he USSR did not have the national power necessary to beat America. Stalin, therefore, like Mao, avoid direct military conflict with the capitalist camp until the Soviet Union had cau ght up with America’s economic and military might. Source F: Adapted from a South Kor ean article about the Kor ean war, published in 2023. In 1949, a small South Korean naval group attacked the North Korean West Coast fleet anchored in its home port in North Korea. This started when the crew of the personal motorboat of the commander of the U.S. military adv isory group to South Korea de cided to escape with the motorboat and join North Korea. T his incident was a huge embarr assment to Syngman Rhee, who instructed his naval commander to bring back the motorboat or sink it. The goal of the raid was to “save face” for Rhee’s government. In all, some 18 North Korean 35-ton-class patrol vessels were sunk or captured in the raid. U.S. Ambassador John Muccio strongly criticized the raid, calling it a gross “violation of the thirty- eighth parallel”. The story of the 1949 raid was suppressed since it called into question the official American and South Korea line about the Korean War being an unprovoked communist attack.

6 [Turn over Section B: Essays Answer two questions. 2 ‘The main reason for Hitler’s control over Nazi Germany in the 1930s was his use o f propaganda.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10] 3 ‘The main reason for the loss of WWII by Nazi Germany was Hitler’s poor deci