CCHM 2025 HIST PRELIM P2 MS

Section A: Source-Based Case Study Who was to blame for escalating tensions in the Korean War? Source A: A leaflet dropped by the United States in North Korea, 3 April 1953. It reads: ‘So-called Soviet advisers are Russian special agents to control China. Stay safe and keep fit for fighting against the Communist Soviet puppets!’ 1(a) Study Source A. What is the message of Source A? Explain your answer. [5] Target Skill: Inference L1 Description of source / Answer based on Provenance details 1 L2 SUB-Message, UN/SUPPORTED Award 2m. E.g. [Point] The message of Source A is that China was manipulated by the Soviet Union. [Evidence] In Source A, it says “So-called Soviet advisers are Russian special agents to control China”. It also shows China’s leaders such as Mao Zedong being controlled by strings like a puppet. [Explanation] This suggests that China is being controlled by the Soviet Union and that they do follow the instructions of the Soviet Union. 2 L3 MAIN Message, UNSUPPORTED Award 3m for unsupported answers. 3 L4 MAIN Message, SUPPORTED Award 4m for supported answers. Award 5m for answers that make use of contextual knowledge as well as note the tone of the source as being critical of China. E.g. [Point] The message of Source A is that China was manipulated into joining the Korean War. [Evidence] In Source A, it says “So-called Soviet advisers are Russian special agents to control China”. It also shows China’s leaders such as Mao Zedong being controlled by strings like a puppet. [Explanation of the message within context and tone] This suggests that China did not join the Korean War out of their own national interest but did so after being manipulated by the Soviet Union. Therefore, China’s involvement in the Korean War was not sincere. By 1953, it was clear that China was acting under the influence of the Soviet Union as much of the equipment and training provided to them and the North Koreans came from the Soviet Union. Moreover, the Soviet Union is conspicuously absent in the conflict even though China has a treaty of friendship and mutual assistance with them and that they are all communist allies. Hence, this source seeks to criticise them as merely being controlled by the Soviet Union and not being able to make an independent decision on their own. 4-5 2025 Preliminary Examination/CCHMS/Secondary 4/History/2174/02

2 Source B: Truman speaking at a press conference on 29 June 1950. We are not at war. The Republic of Korea was set up with the United Nation’s help. It is a recognised government by the members of the United Nations. It was unlawfully attacked by a bunch of bandits from North Korea. The United Nations Security Council held a meeting and passed a resolution on the situation and asked the members to go to the relief of the Korean Republic. The members of the United Nations are going to the relief of the Korean Republic to suppress a bandit raid on the Republic of Korea. That is all it is. Source C: An extract taken from Truman’s memoirs published in 1965. In my generation, this was not the first time that the strong had attacked the weak. Communism was acting in Korea just as Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese had acted fifteen, twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations close to our own shores. If the Communists were permitted to force their way into the Republic of Korea without opposition from the free world, no small nation would have the courage to resist threats and aggression by stronger Communist neighbours. 1(b) Study Sources B and C. How far does Source C help you to decide if Truman was telling the truth in Source B? Explain your answer. [6] Target Skill: Detect values, bias, recognise reliability L1 Source C does/ does not help decide based on Provenance, undeveloped. E.g. Source C does not help me decide that Source B was telling the truth because they are from different dates. 1 L2 Source C does/ does not help decide if Source B was telling the truth based on ONE SOURCE, UN/SUPPORTED Award 2m. Underdeveloped Tools, UN/SUPPORTED Award 2m. 2 L3 Source C helps to decide that Source B was not telling the truth based on SOURCE CONTENT MATCH, SUPPORTED Award 3m. E.g. [Point: ATQ + Tool] Source C does help me decide that Truman was not telling the truth in Source B as Source C contradicts Source B about the reasons for America’s entry into the Korean War. In Source C, it suggests that America entered the Korean war to contain the spread of communism. However, in Source B, it suggests that America entered the Korean War to help South Korea regain her independence at the request of the United Nations. [Evidence and Explanation of Source C] In Source C, it says “I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations close to our own shores”. This suggests that President Truman needed to act in Korea to prevent a greater international catastrophe from happening like the second world war. Therefore, Truman seeks to portray his intentions in Korea as being principled and honourable. [Evidence and Explanation of Source B] This is in contrast with Source B which says, “The United Nations Security Council held a meeting and passed on the situation and asked the members to go to the relief of the Korean Republic”. This suggests that America only intervened in Korea at the request of the United Nations to help South Korea repel the North Korean invasion and to defend South Korea’s sovereignty. [ATQ] Therefore, as Source C contradicts Source B, Source C helps me to decide that Truman was not telling the truth in Source B. 3-4 2025 Preliminary Examination /CCHMS /Secondary 4/History / 2174/02

3 1(b) Study Sources B and C. How far does Source C help you to decide if Truman was telling the truth in Source B? Explain your answer. [6] Target Skill: Detect values, bias, recognise reliability Source C helps to decide Source B was telling the truth as it explains the same underlying goal based on SOURCE CONTENT MATCH, SUPPORTED Award 4m. E.g. [Point: ATQ + Tool] Source C helps me to decide that Source B is telling the truth as Source C supports Source B, as they both suggest the same fundamental goal for America was to ensure world peace. [Evidence and Explanation of Source C] In Source C, it says “I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations close to our own shores”. This suggests that President Truman needed to act in Korea to prevent a greater international catastrophe from happening like the second world war. Therefore, Truman seeks to portray his intentions in Korea as being principled and honourable. [Evide