CIE IGCSE History - USA and Containment Past Paper Questions

previous 6- and 10-marker questions with brief paragraph suggestions

Why was the Tet Offensive important for the USA? (6)

• military - insecurity of Saigon

• political - public support for war

Which was more important for the USA, its involvement in Korea or the Cuban Missile Crisis? Explain your answer. [10]

• Involvement in Korea - precedent for military containment

• Involvement in Korea - precedent for UN coalition

• Cuban Missile Crisis - nuclear war with USSR

• Cuban Missile Crisis - precedent for peaceful crisis resolution

Why did Nixon find it difficult to withdraw from Vietnam?

• military - wanted to avoid withdrawal enabling Communist victory

• political - wanted to avoid impression of defeat

‘In Vietnam, Kennedy was more successful than Johnson.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

• agree - JFK - avoided use of US ground troops

• agree - JFK - provided aid to strengthen SV

• disagree - JFK not - set precedent for US military intervention

• disagree - JFK not - left worsening situation for LBJ

Why was Chinese support for North Korea important? [6]

• Chinese soldiers pro-communist strongly

• Chinese soldiers had modern military equipment

How far was the outcome of the Korean War a success for the USA? Explain your answer. [10]

• success - South Korea defended as anti-Communist state - UN (more about democracy)

• success - containment stopped spread of Communism - Truman Doctrine

• limitations - North Korea still Communist dictatorship

• limitations - significant costs and loss of life

Why were developments in Vietnam in the 1950s important to the USA? [6]

• nationalism/power- end of French rule

• communism

Who won the Korean War? Explain your answer. [10]

• USA - South Korea defended as democratic, capitalist state

• USA - containment prevented spread of Communism

• North Korea - as still communist dictatorship

• China - forced US military retreat

Why did the USA want to overthrow Castro?

• political reasons - to stop spread of Communism - containment

• economic reasons - capitalism

How successful was the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis for Khrushchev? Explain your answer. [10]

• successful- Khrushchev seemed willing to compromise

• successful - Khrushchev secured removal of US missiles in Türkiye

• Limitations - Khrushchev had to withdraw Soviet missiles from Cuba

• Limitations - Khrushchev unable to use Türkiye gain for propaganda

Why were the Vietcong able to withstand attacks by US forces? [6]

• Guerrilla warfare

• Morale

‘The main reason why the US public turned against the Vietnam War was television coverage.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10']

• Agree - US public shocked by violence and destruction of war

• Agree - US public shocked by lack of progress

• Disagree - Anti-war movement, as highlighted problems

• Disagree - My Lai Massacre

Why did Kennedy decide to impose a blockade of Cuba? [6]

• Events in Cuba - soviet missiles threat to USA

• international context - containment, USSR intervening in USA’s sphere of influence

‘Neither side emerged from the Cuban Missile Crisis the winner.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

• agree - both sides removed missiles

• agree - both leaders gained credit for peace

• disagree - only Soviet missile withdrawals public knowledge

• disagree - Cuba still communist dictatorship

Why did the USA become involved in resisting the invasion of South Korea?

• situation in South Korea - anti communist

• International context - spread of Communism in Asia

‘How effectively did the American policy of containment limit the spread of Communism between 1950 and 1973? Explain your answer. [10]

• effective - USA and UN reversed NK invasion of South

• effective - USA reversed deployment of missiles in Cuba

• limitations - North Korea still invaded South

• limitations - USA unable to prevent NV victory over SV - withdrew

Why was the USA concerned about North Korea’s invasion of South Korea?

• situation in South Korea - anti communist

• International context - spread of Communism in Asia

How far was the US policy of containment between 1950 and 1975 a failure? Explain your answer. [10]

• failure - North Korea felt able to invade South Korea

• failure - USA unable to prevent NV victory over SV

• limitations - USA and UN reversed NK invasion of SK

• limitations - USA reversed deployment of missiles on Cuba

Why was the USA unhappy with the changes Castro introduced immediately following the Cuban Revolution?

• economic threat

• political threat

‘The American policy of containment between 1950 and 1973 was successful.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10’

• successful - USA and UN reversed NK invasion of South

• successful - USA reversed deployment of missiles in Cuba

• limitations - North Korea still invaded South

• limitations - USA unable to prevent NV victory over SV - withdrew