Elective History (O-Level)

Chapter 1 : The Paris Peace Conference and the League of Nations in the 1920s

• Overview of World War I [Non-examinable]

• Aims and terms of the Paris Peace Conference and its immediate impact on Europe in the 1920s
  Treaty of Versailles and its immediate impact on Germany
  ⇒War Guilt Clause, reparations, demilitarisation, territorial reductions
  
  Re-drawing of national boundaries and the creation of new nation-states
  ⇒Breakdown of old empires
  ⇒Self-determination
  
  Attempts at collective security in the 1920s
  ⇒Successes and failures of the League of Nations at peacekeeping in the 1920s

Chapter 2 : Case Study of Nazi Germany (Source-Based Case Study)

• Overview of the attempts at establishing viable political systems after World War I [Non examinable]
  
• Circumstances leading to the rise and establishment of authoritarian rule in Germany
  
  Weaknesses of the Weimar government:
  ⇒Problems of the Weimar constitution, unpopularity of the Weimar government
  
  Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi Party
  ⇒Role of Hitler
  ⇒Methods of Nazi Party (use of propaganda and force, participation in elections)
  
  Economic challenges
  ⇒Inflation, unemployment and Great Depression
• Consolidation of Nazi rule in Germany
  
  Establishment of Hitler’s dictatorship and one-party rule
  Economic policies
  ⇒Re-employment and improvement of working conditions and move towards war economy
  
  Social policies
  ⇒German nationalism and persecution of ethnic and minority groups
  ⇒Control of and responses by German society

Chapter 3 : Case Study of Militarist Japan, 1920s–1930s 

• Circumstances leading to the rise and establishment of authoritarian regime in Japan
  
  Weaknesses of the democratic government in Japan
  
  Economic challenges
  ⇒Inflation, unemployment, landlord-tenant disputes, Great Depression
  
  Appeal of ultranationalist faction
  ⇒Military successes and political assassinations

• Increased influence of the militarists in Japan from the 1930s
  
  Consolidation of military power in the government
  
  Economic policies
  ⇒Increased government control over industry and campaign for economic revitalisation
  
  Social policies
  ⇒Militarisation of education
  ⇒Control of labour unions

Chapter 4 : The Outbreak of World War II in Europe

• Key developments leading to the outbreak of World War II in Europe* (Source-Based Case Study) 
  
  Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations in the 1930s
  ⇒Failure of at disarmament in the 1930s
  ⇒Abyssinian Crisis (1935) and its implications
  
  Germany’s aggressive foreign policy
  ⇒Plebiscite in the Saar region, 1935
  ⇒Remilitarisation of the Rhineland, 1936
  ⇒Anschluss with Austria, 1938
  ⇒The Munich Agreement and the invasion of Czechoslovakia,1938–1939
  ⇒ Nazi–Soviet Non-Aggression Pact and the invasion of Poland, 1939
  

Policy of Appeasement

Chapter 5: The Outbreak of World War II in Asia-Pacific

• Key developments leading to the outbreak of World War II in the Asia-Pacific

 Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations in the 1930s

 Worsening of US–Japan relations

            Japan’s expansionist foreign policy
            ⇒ Aggression towards China from 1937
            ⇒ Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
            ⇒ Bombing of Pearl Harbour, 1941

Chapter 6 : The End of World War II in Europe and the Asia-Pacific

• Reasons for end of World War II

Strengths of the Allies
⇒ American entry into the war (economic resources and manpower)
⇒ Allied strategies (D-Day, island hopping, dropping of the atomic bomb)
⇒ Role of the Soviet Union

 Military weaknesses of Germany 
  ⇒ Ineffective command structure
  ⇒ War on two fronts

 Military weakness of Japan
⇒ Overextension of empire
⇒ Inability to access raw materials from empire

Chapter 7: Origins and development of the Cold War in Europe (Source-Based Case Study) 

        End of World War II and its impact on Europe  
        ⇒Circumstances in post-war Europe
        ⇒Emergence of the USA and USSR as superpower

       Growing mistrust between USA and USSR
       ⇒Differences in ideology
       ⇒Breakdown of wartime alliances
       ⇒Division of Europe after World War II

       Intensification of Superpower rivalry
       ⇒American containment policy: Political, economic and military actions
       ⇒ Soviet responses: Political, economic and military actions

Chapter 8: Case Study of the Korean War, 1950-1953 (Source-Based Case Study)

• Extension of the Cold War outside Europe: Case study of Korean War, 1950–53*
  Post World War II developments in Korea
  ⇒Post-war occupation, partition of Korea, border clashes
  
  Emergence of communist China
  ⇒Expansion of a communist bloc, Sino–Soviet Alliance
  
  Outbreak of the Korean War
  ⇒Role of key players in the conflict: North Korea, South Korea, USA, UN, China and the USSR
  
  The Korean Armistice Agreement and the immediate aftermath
  ⇒Demilitarised zone, impact on US policy in Asia, escalation of tension between NATO and Warsaw Pact

Chapter 9: Case Study of the Vietnam War, 1954-1975

• Extension of the Cold War outside Europe: Case study of Vietnam War, 1954–75
  
  Key developments in North and South Vietnam in the 1950s
  ⇒Partition of Vietnam in 1954, consolidation of communist control in North Vietnam and instability in South Vietnam
       Discontentment over the Geneva Accords
       Failure to carry out national elections in 1956
       Unpopularity of Ngo Dinh Diem’s actions and the support from the North for the insurgency in the South
  
  Escalation of tensions between North and South Vietnam from 1954
  ⇒Role of key players in the conflict: North Vietnam, South Vietnam, USA, USSR and China
  
  The end of the Vietnam War and the immediate aftermath
  ⇒Reunification of Vietnam, beginning of détente

Chapter 10: The End of the Cold War 

• Overview of different phases of thawing and rising tensions between the USA and the USSR in the 1960s and 1970s [Non-examinable]
  
  Decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War
  
  Ineffectiveness of Soviet command economy
  ⇒Structural weaknesses and their effect on Soviet standards of living
  
  External economic burdens of the USSR
  ⇒Increased military spending
  ⇒Increased resistance within the communist bloc
  ⇒Commitment to Warsaw Pact
  
  Escalation of USA–USSR tensions in the 1980s
  ⇒USA economic might and the re-intensification of arms race
  
  Impact of Gorbachev’s economic and political reforms on the USSR and its fall
  ⇒Failure to revive the Soviet economy
  ⇒ Loss of confidence in the Soviet government
  ⇒Collapse of the Eastern European bloc
  ⇒ Disintegration of the USSR

Inference Skill

Purpose skill

• Infer the main message
• Identify audience and audience outcome/reaction

Comparison skill

• Compare content/attitude
• Tone of the author
• Purpose of the source  

Reliability

Establish reliability based on

• Source Content
• Cross-reference to other sources
• Provenance

Usefulness

Establish usefulness based on

• Source Content
•  Cross-reference to other sources
• Provenance

Surprise

Establish surprise based on

• Source Content
• Cross-Reference to other sources
• Provenance

Evaluation

Analyse the source content, select relevant evidence and evaluate beyond the evidence.

Section A (Compulsory)
Questions (1a-e)

Source-Based Case Study (SBCS) : 30 marks

Source-Based Case Study can be set on any of the three issues :

Chapter 2: Case Study of Nazi Germany 

Chapter 4: The Outbreak of World War II in Europe

Chapter 7: Origin and Development of the Cold War in Europe, 1945-1955

Chapter 8: Case Study of the Korean War, 1950-1953

Maximum 6 Sources (Cartoons, Pictures, Text, Graphs, Data Tables, Posters etc.)
Maximum word length for text sources will not exceed 150 words.

Skills Tested: Inference, Purpose, Comparison, Reliability/Hybrid Reliability, Utility/Hybrid Utility, Surprise, Evaluation (Study All Sources)

Requirements: Students are required to 
Infer, Compare, detect Reliability, analyse and evaluate evidence in the sources in response to an inquiry of a historical event or issue. In addition, students will require contextual knowledge to demonstrate analysis, explanations and judgement skills. 

Section B 
Answer 2 out of 3 questions from 2024 onwards 

Structured-Essay Questions (20 Marks)

Students are required to identify, describe, analyse, evaluate and make judgement on historical events and/or issues.

Each question is worth 10 marks.  Below are the sample questions taken from the specimen paper. 

2. ‘Germans hated the Treaty of Versailles because it blamed them for starting World War I.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

3.  ‘US policy towards Japan in the 1930s was responsible for the outbreak of World War II in the Asia-Pacific.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

4.  ‘Gorbachev was responsible for the collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe.’ How far you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2024

Section A : Source-Based Case Study (SBQ) : The Rise of the Nazis 
1. Has Hitler’s personal appeal finally convinced the German people to support the Nazis?

Section B: Structured Essay Questions (Answer 2 questions)

2. ‘The impact of the Great Depression was the reason why Japan’s government became authoritarian in the 1930s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. 

3. ‘The policy of appeasement was the main reason for the outbreak of World War II in Europe.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. 

4. ‘Stalin set up a blockade of Berlin in 1948 because the Allies introduced a new currency in their zones.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. 

2023

Section A : Source-Based Case Study (SBQ) : The Cuban Missile Crisis 
1. Why did the Soviet Union Install missiles in Cuba?

Section B: Structured Essay Questions 

2. This Question is on the 1919 Peace Settlement and the League of Nations.
(a) Explain why the Treaty of Versailles was unpopular in Germany.
(b) ‘The League of Nations was unsuccessful in the 1930s because not all countries were members.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

3. This question is on World War II in Europe.
(a) Explain why Hitler’s aggressive foreign policy led to the outbreak of World War II in Europe.
(b)’Germany was defeated in World War II because its armies were fighting on too many fronts’.How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

 2022

Section A : Source-Based Case Study (SBQ) : Nazi Germany (Hitler)
1. Unemployment  in Nazi Germany

Section B: Structured Essay Questions 

2. This Question is on the Outbreak of World War in Europe.
(a) Explain why Germany took over Austria in 1930. 
(b) ‘War broke out in Europe in 1939 because the policy of appeasement failed.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

3. This Question is on the Cold War.
(a) Explain why the USA became involved in the Korean War. 
(b) ‘The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred because the Soviet Union felt threatened.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

2021

Section A : Source-Based Case Study (SBQ) : Communist Russia (Stalin)
1. Stalin’s Industrialisation Policies 

Section B: Structured Essay Questions 

2. This Question is on Nazi Germany.
(a) Explain why the Nazis introduced the Nuremberg Laws in 1935.  
(b) ‘The German people supported Hitler because of the culture of fear he created’. How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

3. This Question is on the manifestation of the Cold War outside Europe.
(a) Explain why the USA organised the Bay of Pigs invasion.
(b) ‘The Korean War broke out because North Korea felt threatened.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

2020

Section A : Source-Based Case Study (SBQ) : Nazi Germany (Hitler)
1. The Jews in Nazi Germany 

Section B: Structured Essay Questions 

2. This Question is on the Soviet Union.
(a) Explain why the years of 1934-38 were known as ‘The Great Terror’. 
(b) ‘Stalin introduced collectivisation to destroy the kulaks.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

3. This Question is on the Cold War.
(a) Explain why the USSR’s blockade of Berlin in 1948-49 failed.
(b) ‘The Cold War came about because Stalin was afraid of the Western powers.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

2019

Section A : Source-Based Case Study (SBQ) : Communist Russia (Stalin)
1. The purges carried out by Stalin

Section B: Structured Essay Questions 

2. This Question is on World War II in the Asia-Pacific.
(a) Explain why Japan occupied Manchuria in 1932. 
(b) ‘The reason for Japan’s defeat in World War II was American military might.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

3. This Question is on the Cold War.
(a) Explain why the Grand Alliance between the Soviet Union, USA and Britain came to an end after World War II.
(b) ‘The Cold War came to an end because of the weakness of the Soviet’s economy.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

2018

Section A : Source-Based Case Study (SBQ) : Nazi Germany (Hitler)
1. The Reichstag Fire

Section B: Structured Essay Questions 

2. This Question is on Soviet Russia.
(a) Explain why Stalin started the purges in the 1930s’. 
(b) ‘Stalin’s economic policies in the Soviet Union were a failure.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

3. This Question is on the Korean War.
(a) Explain why Korea was divided after World War II.
(b) ‘The Soviet Union became involved in the Korean War to protect North Korea.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.