TJC_2021_H2History_P1_Ans

1 Temasek Junior College 9752 H2 History JC2 2021 Preliminary Examination Paper 1 Suggested Pointers of Discussion Section A 1a Compare and contrast the evidence provided in Sources E and F on Soviet actions in Cuba. - Similarity: Immediate objective of Soviet actions to counter US influence o Why similar? Similar context of early 1960s in which US had begun to isolate Castro’s regime through economic sanctions, triggering Soviet involvement in Cuba in the form of economic aid and growing political cooperation - Difference: Nature of Soviet actions in Cuba differ. Source E reflects that Soviet actions are in support of Cuba while in Source F the intention is to aggressively undermine American influence. o Why different? Different perspectives of the sources, in which Source E records a conversation between Castro and the Soviet Ambassador to Cuba which would have the purpose of presenting Soviet-Cuban relations as cooperative. Source F instead presents a Western perspective which saw the Soviets as expanding influence into Cuba 1b How far do Sources A – F support the assertion that American interests in Cuba were mainly shaped by Cold War concerns? - Support set: Sources C, E, F and A argue that American interests in Cuba were shaped by concerns of communist expansion and the need for the US to demonstrate its ability to protect the free world in light of that. o Source C makes a valid claim in expressing US concerns of communist expansion in Latin America, but this is underpinned by the loss of US economic dominance in the region, and as a justification of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion o Source E does not provide for strong evidence to show that US interests in Cuba were mainly shaped by Cold War rivalry, given that Castro is attempting to foster stronger ties with the USSR in light of the increasing US aggression towards his regime  expresses US motivations in ideological terms o Source A is reliable in claiming that American actions after the discovery of missiles in Cuba centred around Cold War concerns and the tensions between mounting a decisive response against the Soviets in order to demonstrate their credibility to their allies and protect Berlin, while at the same time ensuring the security of the US o Source F makes a valid claim in reflecting US concerns of Soviet attempts to use Cuba as a base to expand into Latin America, though this is shaped by US presumption of economic influence in the region - Challenge set: Sources D, B and F argue that American presumption of influence in Cuba, expressed in their desire to protect their economic interests in the region were key in shaping American concerns in Cuba. o Source D makes a valid claim in that the Monroe Doctrine underpinned US concerns in Cuba, evident in the initial US reactions to the Cuban revolution but less useful in accounting for the significant influence of Cold War interests in shaping US interests after 1960 o Source