Conflict and Tension Sample Questions
Conflict and Tension Sample Questions
GCSE AQA 1
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Developed analysis of source based on content and/or provenance. E.g. The impression of the
language and tone is that Germany was entirely to blame – for waging war on ‘innocent people’ and for making
the world no longer safe for democracy. The date would suggest that the US is ready to declare war because
1917 was the year Germany provoked the US to declare war because U boats had been sinking US ships and
taking American lives. The speech represents Wilson’s purpose to justify and gain support for the US joining
the war.
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Source A
Source A
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Complex evaluation of both sources with sustained judgement based on content and
provenance. E.g. this may relate to the way that, taken together, the sources are useful because
they reflect similar attitudes towards the need to show heroism in the army, but they also have
limitations. Source B is propaganda and its purpose is to show heroism in action. Given the disaster
of the first day of the Somme and news about the losses at home, the Illustrated London News
would wish to show Tommies taking the fight to the enemy.
Source C is from an Inquiry into a military failure and you might expect it to deliberately cover up
the truth, but it doesn’t. In assessing utility students may observe that Source C has particular value
because the evidence from the officers is supported by other battlefield reports of the failure of 7
days of shelling against barbed wire, the 20000 death toll on the first day, and the fact that German
machine gunners survived to train their machine guns on gaps in impenetrable wire.
Source B
Source C
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How useful are Sources B and C for helping an historian understand the experience of
British soldiers during the Battle of Passchendaele? (12 marks)
Useful Limited
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Useful Limited
SOURCE B
(An extract from Sir Douglas Haig’s Final Despatch, published in March 1919. Haig was
commander-in-chief of the British forces in France for most of the war. Here he is reflecting on
the Battle of the Somme in 1916.)
The three main objectives with which we had commenced our offensive in July had been achieved. Verdun
had been relieved; the main German forces had been held on the Western Front and the enemy’s strength
had been very considerably worn down. Any one of these results is in itself sufficient to justify the Somme
battle.
SOURCE C
(From an interview with Corporal W. H. Shaw in which he is recalling the first day of the
Somme in 1916. The interview took place in the 1960s.)
We didn’t get anywhere, we never moved from the line, hardly. The German machine-guns were trained on
us and they were mowing the top of our trenches. You daren’t put your finger up. Our men were just falling
back in the trenches. Whatever was gained it wasn’t worth the price the men had to pay to gain that
advantage. It was no advantage to anyone. It was just sheer bloody murder. That’sthe only words you can
use for it.
How useful are Sources B and C for helping an historian understand the levels of
achievement of the British during the Battle of the Somme? (12 marks)
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Result 1
Result 2
Result 3
Result 1
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Result 2
Result 3
Result 1
Result 2
Result 3
Result 1
Result 2
Result 3
Write an account of reasons for Allied success in the Hundred Days Offensive, 1918. (8
marks)
Result 1
Result 2
Result 3
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Write an account of events in Morocco became an international crisis in 1905 and 1906.
(8 marks)
Result 1
Result 2
Result 3
Write an account of events in Morocco became an international crisis in 1911 and 1912.
(8 marks)
Result 1
Result 2
Result 3
Write an account of events in Bosnia became an international crisis between 1908 and
1914. (8 marks)
Result 1
Result 2
Result 3
10
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‘The
actions
of
Germany proved the main reason for the outbreak of the First World War.’ How far do
you agree? (16 marks)
Complex explanation of stated factor and other factor(s) leading to a sustained judgement. E.g. The
actions of Austria-Hungary were very significant in causing the outbreak of WWI as they were
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determined to crush Serbian nationalism. With the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand the
issued an ultimatum to Serbia that they had no intention of letting the Serbs meet. Despite the Serbs
agreeing to all but one of the ultimatums the Austro-Hungarians declared war on them. Austria-
Hungary s=were aware that this would probably drag Russia into the war as they were allied with the
Serbs. So Austria-Hungary’s determination to control the Balkans and crush the Serbs was a major
reason for the outbreak, but Germany and Britain would also be responsible.
‘The incompetence of British commanders proved the main reason for Allied failure in Gallipoli in
1915.’ How far do you agree? (16 marks)
‘The main significance of the Battle of the Somme was in relieving the pressure on the French at
Verdun.’ How far do you agree? (16 marks)
Agree Disagree/Other factors
‘The contribution of Sir Douglas Haig was of greater significance than that made by Marshal Foch.’
How far do you agree? (16 marks)
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