1
These notes have been compiled using the following resources from: NSC/ DBE NOV 2023, NSC/DBE Nov. 2024, SACAI NOV 2024, NSC/ DBE NOV
2025 & SACAI NOV 2025.
This information and these answers come from the memoranda (there are more
possible answers). Some information is repeated - I want to show you the different ways
the same information is asked. I encourage you to answer the calculation/illustration
questions.
To make optimal use of this document, you must learn/revise the study notes for Terms
1 and 2 and the Prelim Examination. To purchase the full-year package, contact:
Note: Some questions in the exam require you to write your answer in paragraph
format. In these notes, the answers are presented pointwise so that you can learn
and memorize them more easily. Use the points to write a flowing paragraph in the
exam.
Purpose of this document:
• To be your complete revision guide for the 2026 Final Exam.
• To show you which topics have already been covered in Term 1/Term 2 and Term 3
and where you can review them.
• To include new content and case studies from the Final papers 2023/2024/2025
for you.
• To make sure you don't miss any possible exam question.
Good luck: Juffrou Ansie
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 2
Contents
Topic 1A: The Origins of the Cold War in Europe ...................................................... 3
TOPIC 1B — VIETNAM ........................................................................................... 10
TOPIC 2A — ANGOLA ........................................................................................... 13
TOPIC 2B — THE CONGO ...................................................................................... 20
TOPIC 3A — THE US CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT ..................................................... 22
ESSAY QUESTIONS ................................................................................................ 29
Key Terms:
Integration The process of allowing African American and white students to
attend the same school and use the same facilities.
Segregation The enforced separation of racial groups, especially African
Americans and white Americans, in facilities and public life.
Sit-in A form of non-violent direct action in which protesters sit in a
place where they are refused service or access and remain there
peacefully to challenge segregation.
Conservative In the context of the Civil Rights Movement, white Americans
white Americans who opposed racial integration and wanted segregation to
continue, particularly in schools and public facilities.
Desegregation The process of ending legally enforced racial segregation so
that African Americans and white Americans could use the same
schools, transport and public facilities.
Non-violent Protest that directly challenges an unjust law or practice without
direct action using physical violence, for example sit-ins and Freedom Rides.
Civil Deliberately and peacefully refusing to obey an unjust law, rule
disobedience or practice in order to bring about change.
Boycott A form of protest in which people deliberately refuse to buy
goods or use services in order to place economic pressure on a
business or institution.
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 3
Topic 1A: The Origins of the Cold War in Europe
REVISION: Prelim notes cover ideological differences, containment, Truman Doctrine,
Marshall Plan, spheres of influence, Iron Curtain, Potsdam, the division of
Germany/Berlin, Berlin Blockade, Berlin Airlift, Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie.
Note to learners: The extracts in this section are shortened study extracts based on
exam-style source material. Read each extract carefully and answer the questions
that follow. You do not need to look for the original source.
POLAND AND THE BREAKDOWN OF WARTIME COOPERATION
Case Study: @November 2025 Paper 1
Below is an extract called “Origins of the Cold War”, taken from the article, The Cold
War 1945 – 1989 published on 7 July 2016. It explains how the Cold War developed
after the Second World War.
SOURCE 1B - Summary
The Cold War developed from growing suspicion and distrust between the USA
and USSR over the future of post-war Europe. Poland became an important source
of conflict. The USSR wanted Poland under Soviet influence, while the USA
supported an independent, representative government. At the Yalta Conference in
February 1945, the Allies agreed that Eastern European countries would hold free
elections, but the agreement was interpreted differently. President Harry Truman
strongly demanded that the Soviet Union honour the Yalta agreements and allow
Polish self-determination. His
confrontational meeting with Soviet
Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov
further damaged relations. Meanwhile,
Soviet forces occupied much of Central
and Eastern Europe and used their
military influence to support Communist
parties, increasing tensions between the
two superpowers.
[Source: http;//www.cvce/eu/obj/the-cold-war,1945 -
1989.fulltext. Accessed on 14 October 2024]
Why Poland became the first test of mistrust.
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 4
o Poland was occupied by the USSR during the Second World War, but
following the Yalta conference it was agreed to give such countries self-
determination.
o The USSR established/maintained a Soviet-backed communist government in
Poland and restricted genuine self-determination.
o The USA demanded self-determination for Poland.
Why Truman insisted on self-determination.
To implement the Yalta Accord (agreements)
Limitations of a source.
➢ The source is from the internet.
➢ It gives limited information about the development of the Cold War.
➢ Focuses only on the part played by Poland in the Cold War.
ARMS RACE AND MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION (MAD)
Prelim notes mention that the USA and USSR competed through nuclear weapons,
and Checkpoint Charlie includes fear of nuclear war.
Case Study: @November 2025 Paper 1
The source below is an extract from an article, The Arms Race and the Space Race –
The Cold War Origins 1941 – 1956, compiled by the British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC). It explains the reasons for an arms and space race between the USSR and the
USA. It was broadcast in 1959.
SOURCE 1D - Summary
After the USA dropped the atomic
bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, the
USSR became determined to develop
its own nuclear weapons, succeeding
in 1949. This began a nuclear arms
race, with both superpowers
developing increasingly powerful
weapons. The theory of Mutually
Assured Destruction (MAD)
developed, meaning that neither side
would launch a nuclear attack because the other could retaliate and destroy it. The
rivalry also extended to the Space Race, as the USA and USSR competed to
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
These notes have been compiled using the following resources from: NSC/ DBE NOV 2023, NSC/DBE Nov. 2024, SACAI NOV 2024, NSC/ DBE NOV
2025 & SACAI NOV 2025.
This information and these answers come from the memoranda (there are more
possible answers). Some information is repeated - I want to show you the different ways
the same information is asked. I encourage you to answer the calculation/illustration
questions.
To make optimal use of this document, you must learn/revise the study notes for Terms
1 and 2 and the Prelim Examination. To purchase the full-year package, contact:
Note: Some questions in the exam require you to write your answer in paragraph
format. In these notes, the answers are presented pointwise so that you can learn
and memorize them more easily. Use the points to write a flowing paragraph in the
exam.
Purpose of this document:
• To be your complete revision guide for the 2026 Final Exam.
• To show you which topics have already been covered in Term 1/Term 2 and Term 3
and where you can review them.
• To include new content and case studies from the Final papers 2023/2024/2025
for you.
• To make sure you don't miss any possible exam question.
Good luck: Juffrou Ansie
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 2
Contents
Topic 1A: The Origins of the Cold War in Europe ...................................................... 3
TOPIC 1B — VIETNAM ........................................................................................... 10
TOPIC 2A — ANGOLA ........................................................................................... 13
TOPIC 2B — THE CONGO ...................................................................................... 20
TOPIC 3A — THE US CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT ..................................................... 22
ESSAY QUESTIONS ................................................................................................ 29
Key Terms:
Integration The process of allowing African American and white students to
attend the same school and use the same facilities.
Segregation The enforced separation of racial groups, especially African
Americans and white Americans, in facilities and public life.
Sit-in A form of non-violent direct action in which protesters sit in a
place where they are refused service or access and remain there
peacefully to challenge segregation.
Conservative In the context of the Civil Rights Movement, white Americans
white Americans who opposed racial integration and wanted segregation to
continue, particularly in schools and public facilities.
Desegregation The process of ending legally enforced racial segregation so
that African Americans and white Americans could use the same
schools, transport and public facilities.
Non-violent Protest that directly challenges an unjust law or practice without
direct action using physical violence, for example sit-ins and Freedom Rides.
Civil Deliberately and peacefully refusing to obey an unjust law, rule
disobedience or practice in order to bring about change.
Boycott A form of protest in which people deliberately refuse to buy
goods or use services in order to place economic pressure on a
business or institution.
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 3
Topic 1A: The Origins of the Cold War in Europe
REVISION: Prelim notes cover ideological differences, containment, Truman Doctrine,
Marshall Plan, spheres of influence, Iron Curtain, Potsdam, the division of
Germany/Berlin, Berlin Blockade, Berlin Airlift, Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie.
Note to learners: The extracts in this section are shortened study extracts based on
exam-style source material. Read each extract carefully and answer the questions
that follow. You do not need to look for the original source.
POLAND AND THE BREAKDOWN OF WARTIME COOPERATION
Case Study: @November 2025 Paper 1
Below is an extract called “Origins of the Cold War”, taken from the article, The Cold
War 1945 – 1989 published on 7 July 2016. It explains how the Cold War developed
after the Second World War.
SOURCE 1B - Summary
The Cold War developed from growing suspicion and distrust between the USA
and USSR over the future of post-war Europe. Poland became an important source
of conflict. The USSR wanted Poland under Soviet influence, while the USA
supported an independent, representative government. At the Yalta Conference in
February 1945, the Allies agreed that Eastern European countries would hold free
elections, but the agreement was interpreted differently. President Harry Truman
strongly demanded that the Soviet Union honour the Yalta agreements and allow
Polish self-determination. His
confrontational meeting with Soviet
Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov
further damaged relations. Meanwhile,
Soviet forces occupied much of Central
and Eastern Europe and used their
military influence to support Communist
parties, increasing tensions between the
two superpowers.
[Source: http;//www.cvce/eu/obj/the-cold-war,1945 -
1989.fulltext. Accessed on 14 October 2024]
Why Poland became the first test of mistrust.
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
, 4
o Poland was occupied by the USSR during the Second World War, but
following the Yalta conference it was agreed to give such countries self-
determination.
o The USSR established/maintained a Soviet-backed communist government in
Poland and restricted genuine self-determination.
o The USA demanded self-determination for Poland.
Why Truman insisted on self-determination.
To implement the Yalta Accord (agreements)
Limitations of a source.
➢ The source is from the internet.
➢ It gives limited information about the development of the Cold War.
➢ Focuses only on the part played by Poland in the Cold War.
ARMS RACE AND MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION (MAD)
Prelim notes mention that the USA and USSR competed through nuclear weapons,
and Checkpoint Charlie includes fear of nuclear war.
Case Study: @November 2025 Paper 1
The source below is an extract from an article, The Arms Race and the Space Race –
The Cold War Origins 1941 – 1956, compiled by the British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC). It explains the reasons for an arms and space race between the USSR and the
USA. It was broadcast in 1959.
SOURCE 1D - Summary
After the USA dropped the atomic
bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, the
USSR became determined to develop
its own nuclear weapons, succeeding
in 1949. This began a nuclear arms
race, with both superpowers
developing increasingly powerful
weapons. The theory of Mutually
Assured Destruction (MAD)
developed, meaning that neither side
would launch a nuclear attack because the other could retaliate and destroy it. The
rivalry also extended to the Space Race, as the USA and USSR competed to
© 2026 Juffrou Ansie Study Notes. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.
