| International Relations 1919-91
There will be five topics that you might be able to do and you will need to
be able to answer two
questions. The most important thing is to answer the question
set (ATBQ). Therefore it is very important that you
understand the question set. If you have any doubts about meaning,
leave the question well alone. Unless the question is identical to a
question you have prepared in advance, do not be tempted to use a
pre-prepared answer.
- What caused the First World War has been on every exam paper
as question 4 since this new syllabus began in 2000. I suppose
it has to be missing at some point but this would be a very
unpopular decision. For the 5 and 7 mark question can you
answer all the previous questions? What has not been asked
previously? (This is also worth asking of all the topics below) The 8 mark
question always requires an evaluation of one factor as a cause
of war. Germany's fault has been identified twice in past papers
including last time. Because this is such a predictable question
expect the examiners to add a twist to the question. If in doubt
do not attempt.
- Versailles was on last May but
LoN was on last November,
you should expect a question on one or a mixture of the two.
- Causes of WWII is almost as popular as causes of WWI and only
came up as a part question last summer. Remember the 6
factors which caused the war? All of the factors have been
covered in the 8 mark question except Nazi Soviet Pact and the
Depression. As with the WWI question expect the examiners to
include a more difficult question to make you think. (e.g. the
'Hitler was a gambler' question in May 2003)
- Cold War blame is the subject of
Paper 2 (1945-7 only) this summer and will
have to be revised for this reason.
- Vietnam was on last summer,
Cuba last November. Maybe Cuba
this summer or neither this time?
- USSR and Eastern Europe has not been on the paper since May
2002. Not a popular topic but this could be its year. A pity we
haven't had time to study it fully.
- UNO was on last summer and is not popular. This is one of the
reasons we didn't study it.
My prediction for May 2004
- WWI again. This time the focus on
Russia or Britain's responsibility or perhaps colonialism? But
look out for a tricky question.
- League of Nations 1920s mixed with
Versailles?
- Causes of WWII
mixed with LoN (see Nov 2002)? Pay particular attention to Nazi-Soviet pact, depression and appeasement.
- Cuba.
- USSR and Eastern Europe.
Should you only revise these topics? Absolutely not. There are 7 topics (key questions) in this part of the syllabus. You should
insure you have thoroughly revised at least 4 and preferably 5
topics. You
should also revise the whole of topic 3, 'Why
had international peace collapsed by 1939?'. This is an
important topic, a topic we have spent a long time on and a topic
you should do well.
Germany 1919-45
With Germany it is much more difficult to select the topics that
are most useful to revise. It is therefore important that your
revision covers everything. There will be only two questions and you
will only need to answer only one of them. Something on Weimar has
come up regularly and is obviously popular but will it come up
again? If it does, note that there has never been a question on
Weimar culture even
though this is a 'focus point' and specified content.
My prediction for May 2004
- Hitler's rise
to power. Perhaps going back to the 1920s?
There has never been a direct question on the impact of the Depression
and period
after Hitler became Chancellor until he became Fuhrer has been
little touched upon. Reichstag
fire has never been mentioned.
- Coercion, persuasion and consent.
Print out and learn your completed
table thoroughly. The question of 'totalitarianism'
has never been examined and neither has economic
policy including re-armament.
Click here
to see what the paper might look like!
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