Korean War Hougang Sec 2026 Sec4 G3 Humanities (History) MS

Page | 1 2026 SECONDARY 4 G3 HUMANITIES (HISTORY) PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION SUGGESTED MARK SCHEME SECTION A: SOURCE-BASED CASE STUDY (a) Study Source A. What was the cartoonist’s attitude towards US involvement in the Korean War? Explain your answer.? Explain your answer. [5] Levels Level Descriptors/ Examples Marks L1 ANSWERS BASED ON SOURCE DETAILS ONLY • Truman was holding the hand of the UN and running towards the Korean War so that it would not end up the same way of the League of Nations which died from lack of exercise in the face of wanton aggression. [1] L2 ANSWERS THAT INFER ABOUT US INVOLVEMENT WITHOUT EXPLANATION OR INFER CARTOONIST’S ATTITUDE WITHOUT EXPLANATION Example of answers inferring US involvement without explanation • The cartoonist’s attitude is that he thinks that US played an important role/ was a good guy/ was a hero/ was justified in getting involved . This is seen in how Truman was holding the hand of the UN and running towards the Korean War so that it would not end up the same way of the League of Nations which died from lack of exercise in the face of wanton aggression. Examples of answers inferring cartoonist’s attitude without explanation • The cartoonist’s attitude is positive . In the cartoon, UN and Truman were running to intervene in the Korean War. • The cartoonist’s attitude is approving/ supportive . In the cartoon, UN and Truman were running to intervene in the Korean War. [2] L3 ANSWERS THAT INFER ABOUT US INVOLVEMENT, EXPLAINED AND/OR INFER VAGUE ATTITUDE/FEELINGS, EXPLAINED Award 3 marks for inferring US involvement OR for inferring vague attitude/feeling, with explanation. Award 4 marks for inferring a vague attitude by explaining what cartoonist was implying about US involvement. [3-4]

2026 G3 Humanities (History) Preliminary Examination – Suggested Mark Scheme Page | 2 Levels Level Descriptors/ Examples Marks Example of answers inferring US involvement or inferring vague attitude/ feeling, with explanation [3 marks] • The cartoonist’s attitude is that he thinks that US played an important role/ was a good guy/ was a hero/ was justified in getting involved . This is seen in how Truman was holding the hand of the UN and running towards the Korean War so that it would not end up the same way of the League of Nations which died from lack of exercise in the face of wanton aggression. Since US role was necessary for the UN to ‘survive’ credibly, then the cartoonist thinks US played an important role/ was a good guy/ was a hero/ was justified in getting involved. • The cartoonist has a positive attitude of US involvement in the Korean War. This is seen in how Truman was holding the hand of the UN and running towards the Korean War so that it would not end up the same way of the League of Nations which died from lack of exercise in the face of wanton aggression . Since the cartoonist drew US as taking action to help UN, then the cartoonist must have a positive attitude/ thought well of US involvement. • The cartoonist is happy/ likes/ appreciates/ feels optimistic/ feels hopeful about US involvement. This is seen in how Truman was holding the hand of the UN and running towards the Korean War so that it would not end up the same way of the League of Nations which died from lack of exercise in the face of wanton aggression. Since the cartoonist drew US a s taking action to help UN, aggression might be stopped. So, the cartoonist is happy/ likes/ appreciates/ feels optimistic/ feels hopeful about US involvement. Example of answers inferring a vague attitude/ feeling by explaining what cartoonist was implying about US involvement [4 marks] • The cartoonist has a positive attitude/ thought well of US involvement in the Korean War. This is because the cartoonist portrayed US involvement positively as a hero/ as playing an important role in the Korean War . This is seen in how Truman was holding the hand of the UN and running towards the Korean War so that it would not end up the same way of the League of Nations which died from lack of exercise in the face of wanton aggression. Since US role was necessary for t he UN to ‘survive’ credibly, then the cartoonist must have a positive attitude/ thought well of US involvement. • The cartoonist is happy/ likes/ appreciates/ feels optimistic/ feels hopeful about US involvement . This is because the cartoonist portrayed US involvement positively as a hero/ as playing an important role in the Korean War. This is seen in how Truman was holding the hand of the UN and running towards the Korean War so that it would not end up the same way of the League of Nations which died from lack of exercise in the face of wanton aggression. Since US role was necessary for the UN to ‘survive’ credibly, then the cartoonist

2026 G3 Humanities (History) Preliminary Examination – Suggested Mark Scheme Page | 3 Levels Level Descriptors/ Examples Marks is happy/ likes/ appreciates/ feels optimistic/ feels hopeful about US involvement. L4 ANSWERS THAT INFERS A VALID ATTITUDE Award 4 marks for inferring a valid attitude but not well -explained e.g., did not infer nature of US involvement. Award 5 marks for inferring a valid attitude by explaining what cartoonist was implying about US involvement. Example of answers inferring a valid attitude but not well-explained e.g., did not infer nature of US involvement [4 marks] • The cartoonist was supportive/ approved of US involvement . The cartoon shows Truman with UN charging towards the League of Nations which is dead because of the lack of exercise when facing wanton aggression. This suggests US was involved by responding to aggression unlike the League. So, the cartoonist supported/ approved of US involvement . Example of answers inferring a valid attitude by explaining what cartoonist was implying about US involvement [5 marks] • The cartoonist was supportive/ approved of US involvement in the Korean War. [Message] This is because the cartoonist portrayed US involvement positively as a hero/ as playing an important role in the Korean War. This is seen in how Truman was holding the hand of the UN and running towards the Korean War so that it would not end up the same way of the League of Nations which died from lack of exercise in the face of wanton aggression. So, US got involved in Korean War to ensure that the UN did not fail its first test and end up being a failure like League of Nations. So, US being involved in Korean War was acting heroically/ playing an important rol e. Since US role was necessary for the UN to ‘survive’ credibly, then the cartoonist must have approved of/ was supportive of/ been praising US involvement. [4-5] (b) Study Sources B and C. Why are they different about who started the Korean War ? Explain your answer. [5] Levels Level Descriptors/ Examples Marks L1 ANSWERS THAT LIFTS FROM PROVENANCE OR SOURCE DETAILS • They are different as Source B is from the US, but Source C is from North Korea. [1]

2026 G3 Humanities (History) Preliminary Examination – Suggested Mark Scheme Page | 4 Levels Level Descriptors/ Examples Marks • They are different . A ccording to Source B, “Communist forces attacked the Republic of Korea” but according to Source C, “Syngman Rhee’s clique launched a surprise invasion against the northern half of Korea” L2 COMPARES DIFFERENCE IN CONTENT OR ANSWERS BASED ON UNDEVELOPED ACCEPTANCE OF PROVENANCE • Sources B and C differ in that Source B claimed that North Korea started the Korean War, but Source C claimed that South Korea started the Korean war . According to Source B, “Communist forces attacked the Republic of Korea” . So, North Korea started the war. However, according to Source C, “Syngman Rhee’s clique launched a surprise invasion against the northern half of Korea” .