Secondary 4 History Preliminary Examination Paper 2

Answer Key & Marking Scheme - History Secondary 4 Prelim (V2)

Section A: Structured Response

Question 1(a): German view of Treaty of Versailles as "Diktat"

• Marking Guide: 8 marks. L1 (1-3): Basic listing of terms. L2 (4-6): Explanation of why terms caused resentment. L3 (7-8): Comprehensive explanation linking terms to the feeling of humiliation.
• Expected Points:
  • War Guilt Clause (Art 231): Forced Germany to accept total blame; seen as unfair as other nations were involved.
  • Reparations: Massive financial burden (£6.6 billion) seen as an attempt to destroy the German economy.
  • Territorial Loss: Loss of Alsace-Lorraine and the Polish Corridor; seen as a violation of national sovereignty.
  • Military Restrictions: Army limited to 100k, no air force; left Germany vulnerable and humiliated.

Question 1(b): Disagreement between Lloyd George and Clemenceau

• Marking Guide: 8 marks. Requires contrast between the two leaders' national interests.
• Expected Points:
  • Clemenceau (France): Wanted a harsh peace to permanently weaken Germany to ensure French security (bordering Germany). Aimed for reparations and territorial buffers.
  • Lloyd George (Britain): Wanted a more moderate peace to ensure European economic stability (trade) and prevent Germany from turning to Communism or seeking revenge.
  • Synthesis: The disagreement stemmed from France's need for security vs. Britain's need for a balance of power.

Question 2(a): Great Depression and Nazi Rise

• Marking Guide: 8 marks. Must link economic crisis $\rightarrow$ political instability $\rightarrow$ Nazi appeal.
• Expected Points:
  • Economic Misery: Mass unemployment and hyperinflation made people desperate.
  • Failure of Weimar Republic: Democratic government couldn't solve the crisis, leading to a loss of faith in democracy.
  • Hitler's Appeal: Promised "Work and Bread"; used propaganda to blame "November Criminals" and Jews.
  • Causal Link: Desperation led voters to seek "strong" leadership, increasing Nazi electoral support.

Question 2(b): Japan's Aggressive Foreign Policy

• Marking Guide: 8 marks. Must explain both economic and ideological drivers.
• Expected Points:
  • Resource Scarcity: Lack of oil, rubber, and iron (especially after US embargoes) drove the need for "autarky" (self-sufficiency).
  • Regional Dominance: The "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" ideology; desire to replace Western influence in Asia.
  • Militarism: Influence of the military over the government; belief in racial superiority.
  • Causal Link: Economic pressure + ideological ambition $\rightarrow$ invasion of Manchuria/China.

Question 3(a): US Containment Policy

• Marking Guide: 8 marks. Link Soviet actions to US reaction.
• Expected Points:
  • Soviet Expansion: Establishment of "satellite states" in Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary).
  • Ideological Threat: Fear of the "Domino Theory"—that if one nation fell to communism, others would follow.
  • Truman Doctrine: Explicit policy to support "free peoples" resisting subjugation.
  • Causal Link: Soviet aggression in Europe convinced the US that a proactive "containment" strategy was necessary to stop the spread of communism.

Question 3(b): Indonesian Resistance to Dutch

• Marking Guide: 8 marks. Multi-factor explanation.
• Expected Points:
  • Nationalist Leadership: Sukarno and Hatta provided political unity and a clear goal of independence.
  • Military Organization: General Sudirman's guerrilla warfare tactics made Dutch conventional control impossible.
  • International Pressure: UN and US pressure on the Dutch (threat of withdrawing Marshall Plan aid).
  • Post-War Weakness: The Dutch were economically exhausted after WWII.

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Section B: Essay Questions

Question 4: Stalin's Rule (Beneficial vs. Cost)

• Framework:
  • Agree (Beneficial to State): Rapid industrialization (Five Year Plans), transformation from agrarian to industrial power, military strength that helped defeat Nazis.
  • Disagree (Cost to People): Forced collectivization $\rightarrow$ famine (Holodomor), Great Purges (terror/paranoia), Gulags, loss of individual liberties.
  • Conclusion: Balanced judgment. While the state became a superpower, the society was devastated.

Question 5: Japan's Defeat (Atomic Bomb vs. Others)

• Framework:
  • Agree (Atomic Bomb): Provided the "shock" needed for the Emperor to intervene; avoided a costly land invasion (Operation Downfall); immediate psychological collapse.
  • Disagree (Other Factors): US "Island Hopping" strategy; naval superiority (Battle of Midway); Soviet entry into the war (invasion of Manchuria); depletion of Japanese resources/starvation.
  • Conclusion: Atomic bombs were the catalyst for surrender, but the foundation of defeat was laid by naval losses and resource depletion.