Cambridge IGCSE™

HISTORY 0470/12
Paper 1 October/November 2020

2 hours

You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.

* 3 5 5 1 8 9 8 6 2 5 *

You will need: Answer booklet (enclosed)

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer three questions in total:
Section A (Core Content): answer two questions.
Section B (Depth Studies): answer one question.
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper,
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 12 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

DC (CJ) 188996/1
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SECTION A: CORE CONTENT

Answer any two questions from this Section.

1 1848 was a year of great upheaval in Europe.

(a) Describe events in Sicily in January 1848. [4]

(b) Why did violence erupt in Paris in June 1848? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that the 1848 revolutions were a failure? Explain your answer. [10]

2 The path to Italian unification was not smooth.

(a) Describe the role of Pope Pius IX in the 1848–49 revolutions. [4]

(b) Why was Italy not unified by 1861? [6]

(c) ‘France played a more important role than Austria in events leading to the unification of Italy.’
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

3 Britain expanded its empire in the nineteenth century.

(a) Describe Lugard’s ideas about how Britain should govern its African colonies. [4]

(b) Why was Britain interested in China? [6]

(c) ‘Natural disasters were the main reason for the Boxer Rising.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

4 The years before 1914 were characterised by tension in Europe.

(a) Describe Germany’s war preparations by 1914. [4]

(b) Why did the Alliance System fail to prevent war? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that Morocco was the most important cause of tension before 1914?
Explain your answer. [10]

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5 The Versailles settlement had different consequences for different countries.

(a) What was the purpose of the ‘war guilt’ clause? [4]

(b) Why were plebiscites included in the peace settlement? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that Clemenceau achieved his aims at Versailles? Explain your answer.
[10]

6 Hitler’s foreign policy involved Germany in developments in Europe.

(a) Describe Germany’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War. [4]

(b) Why was taking control of Czechoslovakia important to Hitler? [6]

(c) How surprising was it that Britain and France pursued a policy of appeasement? Explain your
answer. [10]

7 The USA and USSR contributed to increased tensions in Europe after 1945.

(a) Describe the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948. [4]

(b) Why was the Berlin Blockade lifted in May 1949? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that Truman was to blame for the Cold War? Explain your answer. [10]

8 Iraq’s involvement in war had many consequences.

(a) What was the impact of the Iran-Iraq war on Iraqi civilians? [4]

(b) Why did Saddam Hussein’s regime survive the First Gulf War? [6]

(c) ‘Oil was the most important cause of the dispute between Iraq and Kuwait.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

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SECTION B: DEPTH STUDIES

Answer any one question from this Section.

DEPTH STUDY A: THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914–18

9 The stalemate on the Western Front was hard to break.

(a) Describe events on the Western Front on 1 July 1916. [4]

(b) Why were conditions in the trenches unhealthy for soldiers? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that new technology was used effectively in the First World War?
Explain your answer. [10]

10 Germany’s fortunes changed in 1918.

(a) Describe the situation facing German forces at the start of 1918. [4]

(b) Why were the mutinies at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven important? [6]

(c) ‘The British naval blockade was the main reason for the defeat of Germany.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

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DEPTH STUDY B: GERMANY, 1918–45

11 Many factors contributed to Hitler’s rise to power.

(a) What was the 25 Point Programme? [4]

(b) Why was Goebbels important to Hitler? [6]

(c) ‘Electoral success was the most important factor in Hitler becoming Chancellor.’ How far do
you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

12 The Nazi regime aimed to change society and the economy.

(a) What were the Nazis’ views on the role of women in society? [4]

(b) Why did the Nazis aim to achieve autarky? [6]

(c) ‘The policy of Total War had a greater impact on German civilians than any other aspect of
the Second World War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

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DEPTH STUDY C: RUSSIA, 1905–41

13 The Tsar ruled by autocratic means.

(a) What was life like for Russian peasants by 1905? [4]

(b) Why was the October Manifesto introduced? [6]

(c) How far would you agree that the Tsar was firmly in control of Russia at the start of 1914?
Explain your answer. [10]

14 Stalin was determined to gain and keep control over the USSR.

(a) What did Lenin say about Stalin and Trotsky in his Political Testament? [4]

(b) Why was Lenin’s funeral important in the power struggle? [6]

(c) ‘Stalin’s personality cult was his most effective means of control.’ How far do you agree with
this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

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DEPTH STUDY D: THE UNITED STATES, 1919–41

15 The 1920s brought changes in American society.

(a) What was a ‘flapper’? [4]

(b) Why did the 1920s become known as the Jazz Age? [6]

(c) ‘Prohibition failed because it encouraged violence.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer. [10]

16 The Wall Street Crash had political and social consequences.

(a) What was the Bonus March? [4]

(b) Why did ‘buying on the margin’ contribute to the Wall Street Crash? [6]

(c) How surprised are you that Hoover was known as the ‘do nothing’ President? Explain your
answer. [10]

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DEPTH STUDY E: CHINA, c.1930–c.1990

17 Mao changed the economy and society in China.

(a) Describe Communist treatment of the landlords. [4]

(b) Why did Mao embark on the Great Leap Forward? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that Mao’s attempts at social reform were a success? Explain your
answer. [10]

18 China’s relationships with other countries have fluctuated over the years.

(a) What did China gain from its relationship with the USSR in the 1950s? [4]

(b) Why was there tension between China and India in the 1960s? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that trade was the main reason for China’s improved foreign relations
in the 1980s? Explain your answer. [10]

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DEPTH STUDY F: SOUTH AFRICA, c.1940–c.1994

19 In the 1950s and 1960s the apartheid system was strengthened.

(a) In what ways did Afrikaners benefit from apartheid? [4]

(b) Why was the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) formed? [6]

(c) ‘The Bantu Education Act (1953) did more to reinforce apartheid than any other legislation.’
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

20 The 1990s brought the end of apartheid in South Africa.

(a) Describe Mandela’s aims for South Africa on becoming President. [4]

(b) Why did Botha’s constitutional reforms fail to improve relations between non-whites and the
government? [6]

(c) How far did de Klerk’s policies to end apartheid have the backing of white South Africans?
Explain your answer. [10]

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DEPTH STUDY G: ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS SINCE 1945

21 External involvement in the Middle East has had important consequences.

(a) Describe Moshe Dayan’s role in the Six-Day War. [4]

(b) Why did the Soviet Union become involved in the Middle East? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that Egypt gained the most from the Suez crisis of 1956? Explain your
answer. [10]

22 The United Nations (UN) faced many challenges in its role in the Middle East.

(a) Describe the role of the UN in Lebanon. [4]

(b) Why did some groups working for Palestinian liberation become more militant from the
1980s? [6]

(c) How far do you agree that the UN achieved little in its involvement in the Middle East? Explain
your answer. [10]

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