IGCSE HISTORY 4/6/10 PAST PAPER QUESTIONS PAPER 1

CORE CONTENT
Were the peace treaties of 1919-23 fair?
The Versailles Treaty created disagreement and hostility.
(a) What did Wilson hope to achieve from the peace settlement of 1919–20? [4]
(b) Why did Clemenceau and Lloyd George disagree over how to treat Germany? [6]
(c) ‘The Treaty of Versailles was a fair settlement.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer. [10]

Different factors influenced decision-making at the Paris Peace Conference.

(a) What did the Treaty of Versailles state about Danzig and the Rhineland? [4]
(b) Why were the victors not free to make the peace they wanted? [6]
(c) ‘At the time, the Treaty of Versailles was justifiable.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

After the First World War, the victorious powers found it hard to reach agreement about the
peace settlements.
(a) In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles restrict German armed forces? [4]
(b) Why was Wilson unsuccessful in achieving his goal of self-determination for the peoples
of Europe? [6]
(c) ‘The Treaty of Versailles was too harsh.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer. [10]

The Treaty of Versailles was based on the demands of the leaders of different countries.
(a) How was the Paris Peace Conference organised? [4]
(b) Why did the Treaty of Versailles punish Germany harshly? [6]
(c) How successful was Wilson in achieving his aims at Versailles? Explain your answer. [10]
The Versailles Settlement resulted from discussions between the victorious countries.
(a) What was decided about the Saar in the Treaty of Versailles? [4]
(b) Why was the Treaty of Sèvres renegotiated? [6]
(c) ‘The Germans had genuine grounds for complaint about the Treaty of Versailles.’ How far
do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

The victorious countries decided the terms of the Versailles Settlement.

(a) What were the effects of the Treaty of Trianon on Hungary? [4]
(b) Why did Wilson believe his ‘Fourteen Points’ should form the basis of the Treaty of
Versailles? [6]
(c) How far did the peace settlement of 1919–20 reflect the aims of Clemenceau? Explain
your answer. [10]

Achieving success at the Paris peace negotiations was difficult.

(a) What did Lloyd George want to achieve for Britain from the Paris peace negotiations? [4]
(b) Why did Lloyd George find it difficult to achieve his aims at the Paris peace negotiations?
[6]
(c) ‘Military restrictions were the main reason for German dissatisfaction with the terms of the
Treaty of Versailles.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

The negotiators of the Paris Peace Settlement faced many challenges.

(a) What were the main terms of the Treaty of Saint Germain with Austria? [4]
(b) Why were Wilson’s expectations of the Peace Settlement of 1919–20 different from those
of Clemenceau? [6]
(c) ‘The War Guilt Clause was the main cause of German bitterness towards the Treaty of
Versailles.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

The results of the negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference satisfied no one.
(a) What were the main terms of the Treaty of Trianon? [4]
(b) Why was there discussion about the status of Danzig at the Paris Peace Conference? [6]
(c) ‘The terms of the Treaty of Versailles were surprising.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

It was difficult to reach agreement at the Paris Peace Conference.

(a) What were the main terms of the Treaty of Sèvres with Turkey? [4]
(b) Why did Lloyd George believe that a moderate peace settlement with Germany was in
British interests? [6]
(c) Who was more satisfied with the Treaty of Versailles: Wilson or Clemenceau? Explain
your answer. [10]

The Versailles Settlement dealt with Germany and its allies.

(a) Describe the restrictions imposed on the German land forces by the Treaty of Versailles.
[4]
(b) Why was the Treaty of Sèvres replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne? [6]
(c) How satisfied were the French people with the Treaty of Versailles? Explain your answer.
[10]

At the Paris Peace Conference, the victorious allies decided the outcomes.
(a) What were the territorial terms of the Treaty of Saint Germain? [4]
(b) Why was the work of the peacemakers at the Paris Peace Conference difficult? [6]
(c) ‘German hatred of the Treaty of Versailles was justified.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

The treatment of Germany and its allies at Versailles brought fierce criticism.
(a) What features of the Treaty of Versailles were shared by the other peace treaties of
1919–20? [4]
(b) Why were the German people unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles? [6]
(c) Who was more satisfied with the Treaty of Versailles: Clemenceau or Lloyd George?
Explain your answer. [10]

To what extent was the League of Nations a success?

The League of Nations had both successes and failures.
(a) What was the role of the Assembly within the League of Nations? [4]
(b) Why was the idea of ‘collective security’ unlikely to be successful for the League of
Nations? [6]
(c) How successful was the League of Nations in the 1920s? Explain your answer. [10]
The League of Nations faced many problems.
(a) What was the role of the Council within the League of Nations? [4]
(b) Why did the Great Depression make the work of the League difficult? [6]
(c) ‘Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia damaged the League more than Japan’s invasion of
Manchuria had.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
The League of Nations failed to live up to expectations.
(a) What actions could the League take to encourage members to follow its decisions? [4]
(b) Why were events in Corfu (1923) a problem for the League? [6]
(c) ‘The League failed in Manchuria because of the attitudes of its leading members.’ How
far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

The League of Nations in theory was strong but in practice was weak.
(a) Describe the work of the Lytton Commission. [4]
(b) Why did Japan invade Manchuria? [6]
(c) Which was the more important cause of the failure of the League: its organisation or its
membership? Explain your answer. [10]

The League of Nations, in addition to peacekeeping activities, was involved in humanitarian

work.
(a) Describe the part played by the League in international humanitarian work. [4]
(b) Why did the Japanese invasion of Manchuria weaken the League? [6]
(c) ‘Ineffective sanctions were the main reason for the failure of the League in Abyssinia.’
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?

Peace in Europe became increasingly threatened during the second half of the 1930s.
(a) What did Hitler achieve by the Anschluss? [4]
(b) Why did Hitler want to take over Czechoslovakia? [6]
(c) ‘The policy of appeasement was a mistake.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain your answer.
By the end of the 1930s war in Europe was inevitable.
(a) Describe the increase in Italian militarism in the 1930s. [4]
(b) Why did Chamberlain, on his return from Munich in 1938, say, ‘I believe it is peace for
our time’? [6]
(c) ‘The British-French guarantee to Poland was more responsible than the Nazi–Soviet Pact
for the Second World War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
[10]

From 1936 onwards, Hitler revealed his intentions.

(a) Describe Hitler’s takeover of Austria. [4]
(b) Why, in 1939, did Stalin make a deal with Germany rather than with Britain or France? [6]
(c) ‘The remilitarisation of the Rhineland was more important to Hitler’s plans than was the
Spanish Civil War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

International peace had collapsed by 1939.

(a) In what ways did Hitler undermine the Treaty of Versailles between 1933 and 1936? [4]
(b) Why did some people argue that the policy of appeasement was a good idea? [6]
(c) ‘Decisions taken at Munich in 1938 were more important in bringing about war than
Hitler’s
aggression against Poland.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
[10]

Hitler influenced events throughout Europe.

(a) Describe what happened in Guernica in April 1937. [4]
(b) Why did Hitler want to remilitarise the Rhineland? [6]
(c) ‘The Nazi-Soviet Pact was more advantageous to Stalin than it was to Hitler.’ How far do
you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Peace was threatened in the 1930s.

(a) What did Hitler gain from the return of the Saar to Germany? [4]
(b) Why, by 1937, was Japan a threat to world peace? [6]
(c) ‘Appeasement was not justifiable.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain
your answer. [10]

Hitler’s military power affected many people in Europe.

(a) What actions had Hitler taken by the end of 1935 to break the Treaty of Versailles? [4]
(b) Why was involvement in the Spanish Civil War of benefit to Hitler? [6]
(c) ‘Chamberlain’s attempts to reach agreement at Munich were worthwhile.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Hitler showed his ambitions after 1933.

(a) Describe the crisis over Austria in 1934. [4]
(b) Why was Hitler able to re-militarise the Rhineland in 1936? [6]
(c) ‘Appeasement was a sensible response to Hitler’s aggression.’ How far do you agree with
this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

The causes of the outbreak of war in 1939 were both long term and short term.
(a) What happened in relation to the Sudetenland during 1938 which raised tensions in
Europe? [4]
(b) Why was Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 significant? [6]
(c) How far was the outbreak of war in 1939 Hitler’s fault? Explain your answer. [10]

Hitler took advantage of opportunities.

(a) What were the consequences of the Spanish Civil War for peace in Europe? [4]
(b) Why did Hitler take Germany out of the League of Nations in 1933? [6]
(c) ‘The policy of appeasement played a greater part in the outbreak of war in 1939 than did
the Nazi-Soviet Pact.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Who was to blame for the Cold War?

The Cold War between the USA and the USSR developed in the years after the Second World War.
(a) What decisions, in relation to Germany, were agreed at Yalta and Potsdam? [4]
(b) Why was the Truman Doctrine significant? [6]
(c) ‘It was the Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe that caused the Cold War.’ How far do you agree
with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

After the Second World War tensions increased between the victorious powers.
(a) What was agreed about Poland by the Great Powers in 1945? [4]
(b) Why were there tensions at the Potsdam Conference in 1945? [6]
(c) ‘Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech at Fulton was the main cause of tension between the
West and the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1950.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Soviet actions brought increased tension to Europe in the years before 1949.
(a) What changes to the frontiers of Poland were agreed at the Potsdam Conference? [4]
(b) Why was the Marshall Plan offered to all countries of Europe? [6]
(c) ‘The main cause of tension between the Soviet Union and the West between 1947 and
1949 was the Berlin Airlift.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
[10]

Tensions between the two superpowers up to 1950 turned into a ‘cold war’.
(a) What issues were addressed at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences? [4]
(b) Why did Truman develop a strategy of containment? [6]
(c) ‘The Berlin Blockade was a serious threat to world peace.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]
The USSR aimed to be the dominant superpower before 1949.
(a) What disagreements between the two superpowers were there at the Potsdam
Conference? [4]
(b) Why was there tension over Berlin in the years 1945–49? [6]
(c) How effective was the USSR’s attempt to control Eastern Europe by 1948? Explain your
answer. [10]

Relations between the superpowers had broken down by 1950.

(a) What were the main agreements reached at the Yalta Conference of February 1945? [4]
(b) Why were the changes which took place between the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences
important? [6]
(c) ‘Stalin’s failure to abide by the agreements made at Yalta and Potsdam caused the Cold
War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Following the end of hostilities in 1945, differences between the USA and the USSR
surfaced.
(a) What was discussed at the Yalta Conference? [4]
(b) Why did Roosevelt’s death after the Yalta Conference affect what happened at the
Potsdam Conference? [6]
(c) ‘Blame for the Cold War rests with Stalin rather than with Truman.’ How far do you agree
with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Relations between the USSR and the USA changed after 1945.
(a) What actions had Stalin taken, by the end of 1945, to extend Soviet power across
Eastern Europe? [4]
(b) Why was it difficult to reach agreement over the future of Germany after World War Two?
[6]
(c) ‘The USA was responsible for starting the Cold War.’ How far do you agree with this
statement?
Explain your answer. [10]

How effectively did the USA contain the spread of Communism?

Events in Korea were a test of the American policy of containment.
(a) What was the response of the United Nations Organisation to events in Korea in June
1950?[4]
(b) Why did the US provide most of the forces that resisted North Korea’s invasion of the
South? [6]
(c) How great a threat was the Korean War to world peace? Explain your answer. [10]
In the early 1950s Korea was the focal point of tension between communism and
democracy.
(a) Describe the events which led to the UN involvement in the Korean War. [4]
(b) Why did the USA oppose the North Korean invasion of South Korea? [6]
(c) How successful was the USA’s policy of containment in Korea? Explain your answer. [10]
America feared the spread of Communism.
(a) What was the 38th Parallel in relation to the Korean War? [4]
(b) Why did North Korea invade South Korea in June 1950? [6]
(c) ‘America was more successful in Korea than it was in Vietnam.’ How far do you agree
with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Increasing Communist influence was feared by the USA.

(a) Describe the Bay of Pigs invasion. [4]
(b) Why was the Cuban Revolution seen as a threat to the USA? [6]
(c) ‘The US policy of containment was more successful in Korea than in Cuba.’ How far do
you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

The USA maintained a policy of containment.

(a) Describe relations between the USA and Cuba between 1959 and the end of March
1961. [4]
(b) Why was Kennedy humiliated by the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961? [6]
(c) ‘The Cuban Missile Crisis was a success for the USA’s policy of containment.’ How far do
you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

America adopted the policy of containment to deal with the threat of Communism.
(a) What did the Geneva Agreements of 1954 propose for Vietnam? [4]
(b) Why did the USA become involved in the conflict in Vietnam? [6]
(c) How successful was the USA’s containment policy? Explain your answer. [10]

The USA’s policy of containment was tested in Vietnam.

(a) What was the ‘domino effect’ in relation to Vietnam? [4]
(b) Why did Nixon find it difficult to withdraw from Vietnam? [6]
(c) ‘In Vietnam, Kennedy was more successful than Johnson.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe, 1948-c.1989?
Soviet control over Eastern Europe was tested in 1956 and 1968.
(a) Describe events in Hungary on the days immediately following the outbreak of revolution
against the government on 23 October 1956. [4]
(b) Why did many Hungarians oppose the Communist regime in 1956? [6]
(c) How different were events in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968? Explain your
answer. [10]
The Soviet Union faced many problems controlling countries in Eastern Europe.
(a) What was COMECON? [4]
(b) Why did Berlin remain a focus of Cold War tensions in the years up to 1961? [6]
(c) Which was the more serious threat to Soviet control of Eastern Europe: the Hungarian
Rising (1956) or events in Czechoslovakia (1968)? Explain your answer by reference to
each. [10]

Soviet policies were not popular in Eastern Europe.

(a) What aspects of Soviet control were hated by the people of Czechoslovakia? [4]
(b) Why were people leaving East Berlin before 1960? [6]
(c) How far were Gorbachev’s policies of Glasnost and Perestroika responsible for the
collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe? Explain your answer. [10]

The Soviet Union found it hard to control its Eastern European satellites.
(a) What aspects of Soviet control were hated by the Hungarian people by 1956? [4]
(b) Why did the Polish government agree to meet the demands of Solidarity? [6]
(c) ‘The Berlin Wall was built for economic reasons.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Soviet control of Eastern Europe was tested between 1956 and 1968.
(a) What reforms did the Nagy government plan for Hungary? [4]
(b) Why did the Soviet Union oppose the changes proposed by Dubcek for Czechoslovakia?
[6]
(c) ‘The main reason the Berlin Wall was built was to keep western influence out of East
Germany.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Threats to Communist control of Eastern Europe always existed.

(a) Describe the reaction of the Western allies to the building of the Berlin Wall. [4]
(b) Why did the Communists build the Berlin Wall in 1961? [6]
(c) How different was the Soviet reaction to events in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia
(1968)? Explain your answer. [10]

From 1956 Soviet control of Eastern Europe was under threat.

(a) Describe the methods of control exercised by the Soviet Union over Hungary before the
1956 uprising. [4]
(b) Why was Solidarity successful? [6]
(c) ‘The Berlin Wall was more advantageous to the Western allies than to the USSR.’ How
far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Why did events in the Gulf matter, c.1970-2000?

Events in Iraq and Iran were of key importance in the 1970s and 1980s.
(a) Describe Saddam Hussein’s rise to power in Iraq. [4]
(b) Why did the Iranian Revolution take place in 1979? [6]
(c) ‘There was no victor in the Iran-Iraq War of 1980–88.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. [10]
Saddam Hussein was hostile towards Iran.
(a) Describe the Iranian Revolution of 1979. [4]
(b) Why did Iraqi troops invade Iran in September 1980? [6]
(c) ‘The most serious aspect of the Iran-Iraq War of 1980–88 was the threat to the stability of
the Arab World.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Saddam Hussein took action to secure his dictatorship.

(a) Describe how Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq. [4]
(b) Why did Saddam Hussein invade Kuwait in August 1990? [6]
(c) ‘The greatest impact of the First Gulf War was on the Iraqi people themselves.’ How far
do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Instability and volatility were features of the Gulf region.

(a) Describe the involvement of the Western Powers in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980–88. [4]
(b) Why was there opposition within Iran to the Shah’s rule? [6]
(c) ‘Iraq suffered more than Iran as a result of the war between the two countries.’ How far
do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

Saddam Hussein’s actions increased tension in the Gulf.

(a) Describe the events of the ‘July Revolution’ in Iraq in 1968. [4]
(b) Why did Saddam Hussein, after becoming President, use force on his own people? [6]
(c) ‘The most important reason for the Iran-Iraq War of 1980–88 was Iraq’s desire to
dominate the Persian Gulf region.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your
answer. [10]

On 2 August 1990, Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion of Kuwait.

(a) What was Operation Desert Shield? [4]
(b) Why did the Iraqi people suffer greatly from the First Gulf War? [6]
(c) ‘The main reason for Operation Desert Storm (1991) was to reduce the power of Saddam
Hussein.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]