May 2025 Edexcel: AS Level History 8HI0/2H Paper 2 – Depth Study, Option 2I-1.1:
The USA, c.1920–1955: Boom, Bust and Recovery & Option 2I-1.2: The USA, 1955–
1992: Conformity and Challenge – Merged Question Paper & Mark Scheme
Exam Resource Summary
This May 2025 Pearson Edexcel AS Level History 8HI0/2H document merges the
official question paper and mark scheme for Paper 2 – Depth Study, covering
Option 2I-1.1: The USA, c.1920–1955 – Boom, Bust and Recovery and Option 2I-1.2:
The USA, 1955–1992 – Conformity and Challenge. It provides students with a
comprehensive view of assessment format—including source-based questions in
Section A and essay questions in Section B—and shows how marks are allocated
across the whole paper. The merged format supports focused revision,
self-assessment and development of tailored historical argumentation and analysis
for whichever option the student has studied. An essential resource for effective
preparation for the 2025 Edexcel AS Level History examination.
Turn over
, SECTION A
Choose EITHER Option 2H.1 (Question 1) OR Option 2H.2 (Question 2), for
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
which you have been prepared.
Option 2H.1: The USA, c1920–55: boom, bust and recovery
Answer Question 1, parts (a) and (b).
You should start the answer to part (a) on page 4.
You should start the answer to part (b) on page 7.
1 (a) Study Source 1 in the Sources Booklet before you answer this question.
Why is Source 1 valuable to the historian for an enquiry into women’s
roles in the war effort during the Second World War?
Explain your answer using the source, the information given about it
and your own knowledge of the historical context.
(8)
AND
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(b) Study Source 2 in the Sources Booklet before you answer this
question.
How much weight do you give to the evidence of Source 2 for an
enquiry into Black America at the time of the Harlem Renaissance?
Explain your answer using the source, the information given about it
and your own knowledge of the historical context. (12)
(Total for Question 1 = 20 marks)
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2
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, Choose EITHER Option 2H.1 (Question 1) OR Option 2H.2 (Question 2), for
which you have been prepared.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Option 2H.2: The USA, 1955–92: conformity and challenge
Answer Question 2, parts (a) and (b).
You should start the answer to part (a) on page 4.
You should start the answer to part (b) on page 7.
2 (a) Study Source 3 in the Sources Booklet before you answer this question.
Why is Source 3 valuable to the historian for an enquiry into reactions to
student protests in the years 1963–72?
Explain your answer using the source, the information given about it
and your own knowledge of the historical context.
(8)
AND
(b) Study Source 4 in the Sources Booklet before you answer this question.
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How much weight do you give to the evidence of Source 4 for an
enquiry into the impact of Nancy Reagan’s ‘Just Say No’ campaign
against drug taking in the 1980s?
Explain your answer using the source, the information given about it
and your own knowledge of the historical context.
(12)
(Total for Question 2 = 20 marks)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
3
■■■■ Turn over
, Indicate which question you are answering by marking a cross in the box . If
you change your mind, put a line through the box and then indicate
your new question with a cross .
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Chosen question number: Question 1 Question 2
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The USA, c.1920–1955: Boom, Bust and Recovery & Option 2I-1.2: The USA, 1955–
1992: Conformity and Challenge – Merged Question Paper & Mark Scheme
Exam Resource Summary
This May 2025 Pearson Edexcel AS Level History 8HI0/2H document merges the
official question paper and mark scheme for Paper 2 – Depth Study, covering
Option 2I-1.1: The USA, c.1920–1955 – Boom, Bust and Recovery and Option 2I-1.2:
The USA, 1955–1992 – Conformity and Challenge. It provides students with a
comprehensive view of assessment format—including source-based questions in
Section A and essay questions in Section B—and shows how marks are allocated
across the whole paper. The merged format supports focused revision,
self-assessment and development of tailored historical argumentation and analysis
for whichever option the student has studied. An essential resource for effective
preparation for the 2025 Edexcel AS Level History examination.
Turn over
, SECTION A
Choose EITHER Option 2H.1 (Question 1) OR Option 2H.2 (Question 2), for
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
which you have been prepared.
Option 2H.1: The USA, c1920–55: boom, bust and recovery
Answer Question 1, parts (a) and (b).
You should start the answer to part (a) on page 4.
You should start the answer to part (b) on page 7.
1 (a) Study Source 1 in the Sources Booklet before you answer this question.
Why is Source 1 valuable to the historian for an enquiry into women’s
roles in the war effort during the Second World War?
Explain your answer using the source, the information given about it
and your own knowledge of the historical context.
(8)
AND
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(b) Study Source 2 in the Sources Booklet before you answer this
question.
How much weight do you give to the evidence of Source 2 for an
enquiry into Black America at the time of the Harlem Renaissance?
Explain your answer using the source, the information given about it
and your own knowledge of the historical context. (12)
(Total for Question 1 = 20 marks)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
2
■■■■
, Choose EITHER Option 2H.1 (Question 1) OR Option 2H.2 (Question 2), for
which you have been prepared.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Option 2H.2: The USA, 1955–92: conformity and challenge
Answer Question 2, parts (a) and (b).
You should start the answer to part (a) on page 4.
You should start the answer to part (b) on page 7.
2 (a) Study Source 3 in the Sources Booklet before you answer this question.
Why is Source 3 valuable to the historian for an enquiry into reactions to
student protests in the years 1963–72?
Explain your answer using the source, the information given about it
and your own knowledge of the historical context.
(8)
AND
(b) Study Source 4 in the Sources Booklet before you answer this question.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
How much weight do you give to the evidence of Source 4 for an
enquiry into the impact of Nancy Reagan’s ‘Just Say No’ campaign
against drug taking in the 1980s?
Explain your answer using the source, the information given about it
and your own knowledge of the historical context.
(12)
(Total for Question 2 = 20 marks)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
3
■■■■ Turn over
, Indicate which question you are answering by marking a cross in the box . If
you change your mind, put a line through the box and then indicate
your new question with a cross .
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Chosen question number: Question 1 Question 2
(This is for part (a)) ............................................................................................................................. ..
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