2025 AQA AS HISTORY Component 1K The Making of a
Superpower: USA, 1865–1975 – From Civil War to World War,
1865–1920 Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged)
Wednesday 14 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
AS
HISTORY
The making of a Superpower: USA, 1865–1975
Component 1K From Civil War to World War, 1865–1920
Wednesday 14 May 2025 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7041/1K.
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.
IB/M/Jun25/G4002/E4 7041/1K
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
By 1890, there was no room for further expansion across continental America. The
expansionist urge, previously focused on pushing the frontier and building an economic
empire, was therefore projected outwards and west across the Pacific. The USA looked
first to Hawaii, the Philippines and the Far East and then took on wider responsibilities for
the defence of the western hemisphere. This feeling of responsibility replaced the 5
isolationist instinct. The change in attitude brought the United States across the Atlantic
into the European War of 1914 to 1918 as a major world power. The European War
quickened the transformation of the United States; the days of isolation were over.
Adapted from F Thistlethwaite, The Great Experiment: An Introduction to the History of the
American People, 1955
Extract B
It is absolutely clear that the Great War and Woodrow Wilson transformed US foreign
policy more dramatically than any other developments in American History. As a result of
the war, the United States moved away from the isolationist attitudes that had prevailed
since 1890 and became a major player in world politics and economics. Americans began
to recognise their changing position in the international system. However, they were not 5
threatened by events beyond their shores and therefore remained unwilling to take on the
sort of commitments Wilson asked of them. Americans had learned more about
international relations during Wilson’s presidency. The 1920 election saw the Americans
reject involvement in world affairs.
Adapted from GC Herring, From Colony to Superpower: US Foreign Relations since 1776,
2008
0 1 With reference to these extracts and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two extracts provides the more convincing interpretation of US isolationism by
1920?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun25/7041/1K
Superpower: USA, 1865–1975 – From Civil War to World War,
1865–1920 Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged)
Wednesday 14 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
AS
HISTORY
The making of a Superpower: USA, 1865–1975
Component 1K From Civil War to World War, 1865–1920
Wednesday 14 May 2025 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7041/1K.
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.
IB/M/Jun25/G4002/E4 7041/1K
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
By 1890, there was no room for further expansion across continental America. The
expansionist urge, previously focused on pushing the frontier and building an economic
empire, was therefore projected outwards and west across the Pacific. The USA looked
first to Hawaii, the Philippines and the Far East and then took on wider responsibilities for
the defence of the western hemisphere. This feeling of responsibility replaced the 5
isolationist instinct. The change in attitude brought the United States across the Atlantic
into the European War of 1914 to 1918 as a major world power. The European War
quickened the transformation of the United States; the days of isolation were over.
Adapted from F Thistlethwaite, The Great Experiment: An Introduction to the History of the
American People, 1955
Extract B
It is absolutely clear that the Great War and Woodrow Wilson transformed US foreign
policy more dramatically than any other developments in American History. As a result of
the war, the United States moved away from the isolationist attitudes that had prevailed
since 1890 and became a major player in world politics and economics. Americans began
to recognise their changing position in the international system. However, they were not 5
threatened by events beyond their shores and therefore remained unwilling to take on the
sort of commitments Wilson asked of them. Americans had learned more about
international relations during Wilson’s presidency. The 1920 election saw the Americans
reject involvement in world affairs.
Adapted from GC Herring, From Colony to Superpower: US Foreign Relations since 1776,
2008
0 1 With reference to these extracts and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two extracts provides the more convincing interpretation of US isolationism by
1920?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun25/7041/1K
