GCSE History America Paper 1
1. How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about President Roosevelt’s
New Deal? Explain your answer using Interpretation A and Interpretation B.
In Interpretation A, John Gates criticises the New Deal and argues that Roosevelt acted
like a dictator because he ‘announced the closing of the banks’. On the other hand, in
Interpretation B, Tugwell supports the New Deal, arguing that America may have ‘fallen
to a dictatorship’ without Roosevelt’s intervention. Interpretation B differs from
Interpretation A because it presents a positive point of view about the New Deal.
Tugwell’s argument that America was ‘lucky’ is presented in contrast to the critical
argument of Gates.
2. Why might the authors of Interpretation s A and B have a different interpretation
about President Roosevelt’s New Deal?
Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.
Interpretation A was written by Gates, was a communist, writing in 1959 about his
experience of living in America. Interpretation B, in contrast, was written by Tugwell, a man
who worked as an advisor to Roosevelt before and after he was elected. Therefore,
Interpretation is biased due to its close involvement with Roosevelt.
The authors of Interpretation A and B may have different interpretations of the New Deal
since they display opposing political opinions. Gates, as a Communist, would be very critical
of a Capitalist American Government, Tugwell, however, was a pro-capitalist and in praising
Roosevelt, he is praising his own political achievements.
3. Which interpretation do you find more convincing about President Roosevelt’s New
Deal
Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.
Interpretation A is critical of Roosevelt’s New Deal as it states that the closure of the banks
was ‘a dictatorship’. One of Roosevelt’s first acts as President was to close the banks as a
temporary measure to regulate banks and prevent panicked withdrawal of money.
In contrast, Interpretation B offers a more balanced view of the New Deal in comparison to
Interpretation A. Whilst the Government did regulate banks, there was more to the New
Deal than this. The New Deal helped many groups of people through the Alphabet Agencies,
such as the NRA, that improved working conditions. This is shown in Interpretation B when
Tugwell argues the New Deal helped the people with the least power to ‘bargain’. Overall,
Interpretation B, though biased, is more convincing about the New Deal because agencies
such as the FERA gave $500 million to provide help to the homeless and childcare so
parents could find work. Furthermore, the three Rs (relief, recovery and reform) supported
the damaged economy and helped to support many different groups in the American
society.
1. How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about President Roosevelt’s
New Deal? Explain your answer using Interpretation A and Interpretation B.
In Interpretation A, John Gates criticises the New Deal and argues that Roosevelt acted
like a dictator because he ‘announced the closing of the banks’. On the other hand, in
Interpretation B, Tugwell supports the New Deal, arguing that America may have ‘fallen
to a dictatorship’ without Roosevelt’s intervention. Interpretation B differs from
Interpretation A because it presents a positive point of view about the New Deal.
Tugwell’s argument that America was ‘lucky’ is presented in contrast to the critical
argument of Gates.
2. Why might the authors of Interpretation s A and B have a different interpretation
about President Roosevelt’s New Deal?
Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.
Interpretation A was written by Gates, was a communist, writing in 1959 about his
experience of living in America. Interpretation B, in contrast, was written by Tugwell, a man
who worked as an advisor to Roosevelt before and after he was elected. Therefore,
Interpretation is biased due to its close involvement with Roosevelt.
The authors of Interpretation A and B may have different interpretations of the New Deal
since they display opposing political opinions. Gates, as a Communist, would be very critical
of a Capitalist American Government, Tugwell, however, was a pro-capitalist and in praising
Roosevelt, he is praising his own political achievements.
3. Which interpretation do you find more convincing about President Roosevelt’s New
Deal
Explain your answer using Interpretations A and B and your contextual knowledge.
Interpretation A is critical of Roosevelt’s New Deal as it states that the closure of the banks
was ‘a dictatorship’. One of Roosevelt’s first acts as President was to close the banks as a
temporary measure to regulate banks and prevent panicked withdrawal of money.
In contrast, Interpretation B offers a more balanced view of the New Deal in comparison to
Interpretation A. Whilst the Government did regulate banks, there was more to the New
Deal than this. The New Deal helped many groups of people through the Alphabet Agencies,
such as the NRA, that improved working conditions. This is shown in Interpretation B when
Tugwell argues the New Deal helped the people with the least power to ‘bargain’. Overall,
Interpretation B, though biased, is more convincing about the New Deal because agencies
such as the FERA gave $500 million to provide help to the homeless and childcare so
parents could find work. Furthermore, the three Rs (relief, recovery and reform) supported
the damaged economy and helped to support many different groups in the American
society.
