AQA_2024: AS History - The American Dream: Reality and Illusion, 1945–1980 Component 2Q: Prosperity, Inequality, and Superpower Status, 1945–1963 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)

AQA_2024: AS History - The American Dream: Reality and Illusion, 1945–1980 Component 2Q: Prosperity, Inequality, and Superpower Status, 1945–1963 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme) AS HISTORY The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945–1980 Component 2Q Prosperity, inequality and Superpower status, 1945–1963 Monday 20 May 2024 Materials For this paper you must have:  an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions Afternoon  Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes  Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7041/2Q.  Answer two questions. In Section A answer Question 01. In Section B answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Information  The marks for questions are shown in brackets.  The maximum mark for this paper is 50.  You will be marked on your ability to: – use good English – organise information clearly – use specialist vocabulary where appropriate. Advice  You are advised to spend about: – 50 minutes on Section A – 40 minutes on Section B. For AS History: The American Dream: Reality and Illusion, 1945–1980, Component 2Q: Prosperity, Inequality, and Superpower Status, 1945–1963, focus on these key areas: 1. Post-WWII Prosperity (1945–1960s):  Economic Boom: Understand the economic prosperity in the U.S. following World War II, including the growth of consumerism, the rise of the suburban middle class, and the baby boom. The GI Bill and government policies helped expand education and housing, contributing to this prosperity.  Technological Innovation: Study the impact of technological advancements like television, cars, and household appliances on American life, as well as space exploration, exemplified by the Apollo program and the space race.  Post-war Welfare: Examine the development of welfare policies aimed at addressing poverty and expanding the social safety net, including Medicare and Social Security. 2. Economic Inequality:  Racial Inequality: Despite economic prosperity, racial inequality persisted. Study the impact of Jim Crow laws in the South and the Civil Rights Movement led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., which sought to challenge racial discrimination.  Gender Inequality: Explore the role of women during the post-war era. While many women joined the workforce during WWII, they were often relegated to traditional roles in the 1950s, despite the rise of the feminist movement in the 1960s.  Poverty: Look at the growing poverty in urban areas, especially in inner cities, where African Americans and Latinos faced poor living conditions, despite national prosperity. Consider the work of Michael Harrington’s “The Other America” (1962) in highlighting these issues. 3. The Cold War and Superpower Status:  Cold War Influence: Study how the Cold War influenced American foreign policy, including the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan aimed at containing communism and promoting U.S. influence globally.  Korean War (1950–1953): Analyze the Korean War as a critical Cold War conflict that reinforced the USA's role as a global superpower, asserting its military and ideological dominance in the fight against communism.  Nuclear Arms Race: Understand the development of nuclear weapons and the U.S.’s growing military dominance during the 1950s and 1960s, symbolized by the arms race with the Soviet Union. 4. Cultural Impact of Prosperity:  The American Dream: Explore how the concept of the American Dream was promoted during this period, symbolizing a prosperous and equal society, yet often masking underlying social problems such as poverty, racial discrimination, and inequality.  Youth Culture: Look at the emergence of youth culture in the 1950s, with the rise of rock-and-roll music, the Beat Generation, and the early stirrings of countercultural movements.  Consumerism: Examine the cultural shift towards consumerism, with advertisements promoting the "good life" symbolized by new homes, cars, and technology, contrasting with those left behind in poverty. IB/M/Jun24/G4002/E2 7041/2Q 2 Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From a letter to Earl Mazo from Martin Luther King, 2 September 1958. Mazo, who was writing a biography of Vice-President Nixon, had asked King for his views on Nixon. I have found Nixon to be a very friendly man. He has one of the most magnetic personalities that I have ever come across. He is a superb diplomat. A reporter friend of mine told me that when they set off overseas with him, 98% of the reporters were opposed to Nixon. When they returned, 99% were wildly enthusiastic about Nixon. Finally, I would say that Nixon has a genius for convincing people that he is sincere. When you are close to Nixon, you are struck by his gushing attempt to appear sincere. The problem is, can Richard Nixon be trusted? If he is not being honest and truthful, then he is the most dangerous man in America. 5 Source B From comments made in an interview for the popular magazine, ‘Look’, by Vice-President Nixon, 25 October 1960. The interview was published two weeks before the 1960 Presidential election. General Eisenhower said that, in his administration, the Vice-President’s duties and responsibilities would be greatly enlarged. Therefore, when I first began campaigning as the Vice-Presidential candidate, my speaking schedule took me to 31 States, on behalf of candidates for the Senate and House. I made it a policy to go into any district or State where my appearance was requested. Since 1952, my campaigning – either for myself or for other party candidates – has taken me roughly 135 000 miles into every part of the country. Still, gruelling or not, it’s the only way I know to get a real ‘feel’ for the interests and concerns of the people. In these campaigns, I came to know my country. 5 0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which of these two sources is more valuable in explaining Nixon’s strengths as Vice-President? [25 marks] IB/M/Jun24/7041/2Q 3 Section B Answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Either 0 2 ‘The growth of the American economy in the 1950s was due to an increase in the availability of credit.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. [25 marks] or 0 3 ‘American foreign policy in Asia was a failure in the years 1953 to 1960.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. [25 marks] END OF QUESTIONS IB/M/Jun24/7041/2Q 4