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 go