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IGCSE History - Exam Structure and Topics For Revision

The document provides an overview of the required content for the IGCSE History exam, including: 1. Three exam papers assessing International Relations since 1919, the peace treaties of 1919-1923, and the depth studies of Russia 1905-1941 and the USA 1919-1941. 2. Key topics and focus points for International Relations and the depth studies, including the Cold War, Soviet control of Eastern Europe, and Stalin's economic policies. 3. Specified content and events that candidates should revise for each time period and depth study.

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Mrs. Nordstrom
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8K views

IGCSE History - Exam Structure and Topics For Revision

The document provides an overview of the required content for the IGCSE History exam, including: 1. Three exam papers assessing International Relations since 1919, the peace treaties of 1919-1923, and the depth studies of Russia 1905-1941 and the USA 1919-1941. 2. Key topics and focus points for International Relations and the depth studies, including the Cold War, Soviet control of Eastern Europe, and Stalin's economic policies. 3. Specified content and events that candidates should revise for each time period and depth study.

Uploaded by

Mrs. Nordstrom
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IGCSE History 2013

Paper 1
Section A Candidate answer two questions on the Core Content selected from the 19th century and 20th century core topics. TOPIC: 20th Century: International Relations since 1919 Section B Candidates answer one question on a Depth Study (selected from questions on all eight Depth Studies). TOPIC: Russia, 1905-41 OR The USA, 1919-41

Paper 2
Candidates answer a series of questions on one Prescribed Topic. TOPIC: Were the peace treaties of 1919-23 fair?

Paper 4
Candidates answer one question on a Depth Study. The questions will be source-based and structured into several parts. TOPIC: Russia, 1905-41 OR The USA, 1919-41

Required Content for Revision


20th Century: International Relations since 1919 (Paper 1, Section A) Were the peace treaties of 1919-23 fair? (Paper 2) Russia, 1905-41 OR The USA, 1919-41 (Paper 1, Section B and Paper 4)

20th Century: International Relations since 1919


(Paper 1, Section A and Paper 2) Focus Points Key Questions: 1 Were the peace treaties of 191923 fair? 2 To what extent was the League of Nations a success? 3 Why had international peace collapsed by 1939? 4 Who was to blame for the Cold War? 5 How effectively did the USA contain the spread of Communism? 6 How secure was the USSRs control over Eastern Europe, 1948c.1989? 7 How effective has the United Nations Organisation been? 1 Were the peace treaties of 191923 fair? Focus Points What were the motives and aims of the Big Three at Versailles? Why did all the victors not get everything they wanted? What was the impact of the peace treaty on Germany up to 1923? Could the treaties be justified at the time? Specified Content The peace treaties of 191923: o the roles of individuals such as Wilson, Clemenceau and Lloyd George in the peacemaking process o the impact of the treaties on the defeated countries o contemporary opinions about the treaties. 2 To what extent was the League of Nations a success? Focus Points How successful was the League in the 1920s? How far did weaknesses in the Leagues organisation make failure inevitable? How far did the Depression make the work of the League more difficult? How successful was the League in the 1930s? Specified Content The League of Nations: o strengths and weaknesses in its structure and organization o successes and failures in peacekeeping during the 1920s o the impact of the World Depression on the work of the League after 1929 o the failures of the League in the 1930s, including Manchuria and Abyssinia. 3 Why had international peace collapsed by 1939? Focus Points What were the long-term consequences of the peace treaties of 191923? What were the consequences of the failures of the League in the 1930s? How far was Hitlers foreign policy to blame for the outbreak of war in 1939? Was the policy of appeasement justified? How important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact? Why did Britain and France declare war on Germany in September 1939? Specified Content The collapse of international order in the 1930s

The increasing militarism of Germany, Italy and Japan Hitlers foreign policy to 1939: o the Saar o remilitarisation of the Rhineland o involvement in the Spanish Civil War o Anschluss with Austria o Appeasement o crises over Czechoslovakia and Poland o the outbreak of war. 4 Who was to blame for the Cold War? Focus Points Why did the USA-USSR alliance begin to break down in 1945? How had the USSR gained control of Eastern Europe by 1948? How did the USA react to Soviet expansionism? What were the consequences of the Berlin Blockade? Who was the more to blame for starting the Cold War: the USA or the USSR? Specified Content The origins of the Cold War: o the 1945 summit conferences and the breakdown of the USA-USSR alliance in 19456 o Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe to 1948, and American reactions to it o the occupation of Germany and the Berlin Blockade. 5 How effectively did the USA contain the spread of Communism? Focus Points This Key Question will be explored through case studies of the following: America and events in Cuba, 195962 American involvement in Vietnam. Specified Content Events of the Cold War: o case studies of: o American reactions to the Cuban revolution, including the missile crisis and its aftermath o American involvement in the Vietnam War. 6 How secure was the USSRs control over Eastern Europe, 1948c.1989? Focus Points Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968, and how did the USSR react to this opposition? How similar were events in Hungary in 1956 and in Czechoslovakia in 1968? Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961? What was the significance of Solidarity in Poland for the decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe? How far was Gorbachev personally responsible for the collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe? Specified Content Soviet power in Eastern Europe: resistance to Soviet power in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968) o the Berlin Wall o Solidarity in Poland o Gorbachev and the collapse of the Soviet Empire. 7 How effective has the United Nations Organisation been? Focus Points What are the functions of the UNO? How far has the organisation of the UNO hindered its effectiveness? Case studies of the UNO in action: the Korean War and the Congo. Specified Content The aims of the UNO, the organisation of the UNO, its agencies and their work

The implications of the growth of membership: admission of developing nations and China Case studies of the work of the UNO in Korea (19503) and in the Congo (19603).

Depth Study B: Russia, 1905-41 (one of 2 options)


1 Why did the Tsarist regime collapse in 1917? Focus Points How well did the Tsarist regime deal with the difficulties of ruling Russia up to 1914? How did the Tsar survive the 1905 revolution? How far was the Tsar weakened by the First World War? Why was the revolution of March 1917 successful? 2 How did the Bolsheviks gain power, and how did they consolidate their rule? Focus Points How effectively did the Provisional Government rule Russia in 1917? Why were the Bolsheviks able to seize power in November 1917? Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War? How far was the New Economic Policy a success? 3 How did Stalin gain and hold on to power? Focus Points Why did Stalin, and not Trotsky, emerge as Lenins successor? Why did Stalin launch the Purges? What methods did Stalin use to control the Soviet Union? How complete was Stalins control over the Soviet Union by 1941? 4 What was the impact of Stalins economic policies? Focus Points Why did Stalin introduce the Five-Year Plans? Why did Stalin introduce collectivisation? How successful were Stalins economic changes? How were the Soviet people affected by these changes? Specified Content The main features of Tsarist rule and Russian society before the First World War: o the 1905 revolution and its aftermath o attempts at reform The First World War and its impact on the Russian people The March revolution of 1917. The Provisional Government and the Soviets, the growing power of revolutionary groups Reasons for the failure of the Provisional Government The Bolshevik seizure of power, the role of Lenin The main features of Bolshevik rule, the Civil War and War Communism, and reasons for the Bolshevik victory The Kronstadt Rising and the establishment of the New Economic Policy Lenins death and the struggle for power Reasons for Stalins emergence as leader by 1928 Stalins dictatorship: o use of terror o the Purges o propaganda and official culture Stalins economic policies and their impact: o the modernisation of Soviet industry o the Five-Year Plans o collectivisation in agriculture Life in the Soviet Union: o the differing experiences of social groups

ethnic minorities and women.

Depth Study C: The USA, 1919-41 (one of 2 options)


1 How far did the US economy boom in the 1920s? Focus Points On what factors was the economic boom based? Why did some industries prosper while others did not? Why did agriculture not share in the prosperity? Did all Americans benefit from the boom? 2 How far did US society change in the 1920s? Focus Points What were the Roaring Twenties? How widespread was intolerance in US society? Why was Prohibition introduced, and then later repealed? How far did the roles of women change during the 1920s? 3 What were the causes and consequences of the Wall Street Crash? Focus Points How far was speculation responsible for the Wall Street Crash? What impact did the Crash have on the economy? What were the social consequences of the Crash? Why did Roosevelt win the election of 1932? 4 How successful was the New Deal? Focus Points What was the New Deal as introduced in 1933? How far did the character of the New Deal change after 1933? Why did the New Deal encounter opposition? Why did unemployment persist despite the New Deal? Did the fact that the New Deal did not solve unemployment mean that it was a failure? Specified Content The expansion of the US economy during the 1920s: o mass production in the car and consumer durables industries o the fortunes of older industries o the development of credit and hire purchase o the decline of agriculture Weaknesses in the economy by the late 1920s Society in the 1920s: o the Roaring Twenties o film and other media o Prohibition and gangsterism o race relations o discrimination against black Americans o the Ku Klux Klan o the changing roles of women. The Wall Street Crash and its financial, economic and social effects The reaction of President Hoover to the Crash The Presidential election of 1932; Hoovers and Roosevelts programmes Roosevelts inauguration and the Hundred Days The New Deal legislation, the alphabetic agencies and their work, and the economic and social changes they caused Opposition to the New Deal: o the Republicans

o the rich o business interests o the Supreme Court o radical critics like Huey Long. The strengths and weaknesses of the New Deal programme in dealing with unemployment and the Depression.

Structure of the Exams


You will take three exams: Paper 1: 2 hours Section A: 20th Century International Relations since 1919 answer two questions Section B: Russia, 1905-41 or USA, 1919-41 answer one question (3 questions in total each question has 3 parts)

Paper 2: 2 hours Were the peace treaties of 1919-23 fair? answer all questions (6 questions in total)

Paper 4 1 hour Russia, 1905-41 or USA, 1919-41 answer one question (the question will be source-based and structured into 7 parts)

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