AQA AS HISTORY The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945–1980 Component 2Q Prosperity, inequality and Superpower status, 1945–1963 FINAL MAY 2023

AQA AS HISTORY The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945–1980 Component 2Q Prosperity, inequality and Superpower status, 1945–1963 Tuesday 23 May 2023 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 7041/2Q. • 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. Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From the opening statement given by Senator John F Kennedy during the first televised Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate, to an audience of 66 million, 26 September 1960. I should make it very clear that I am not satisfied with our progress. This is a great country, but I think it could be greater; and this is a powerful country, but I think it could be more powerful. I’m not satisfied when four million Americans wait every month for a government food package which averages five cents a day per individual. I’m not satisfied when the Soviets produce twice as many scientists and engineers as we do. I’m not satisfied when the USA had a lower rate of economic growth than our rivals last year. Economic growth means strength; it means we can sustain our defences and vitality; it means we’re able to meet our commitments abroad. 5 Source B From ‘The Making of the President, 1960’ by Theodore White, a successful and renowned journalist. The book was published in 1961 and won a prestigious Pulitzer Prize for general non-fiction. In the first televised presidential debate, Kennedy had been the boy under assault, attacked by Nixon as immature, lazy, inexperienced. Kennedy, however, was nerveless; Nixon, by contrast, was tense, almost frightened and looked haggard. The studio background was grey and against this Nixon, in a grey suit, faded into a fuzzy outline while Kennedy in his dark suit made a crisp picture. Radio listeners believed the candidates performed equally. Yet every survey of television viewers indicated that the Vice-President had come off poorly. One survey estimated two million of Kennedy’s voters came from television’s impact, and since he won by only 112 000 votes, Kennedy was entirely justified in saying, ‘It was TV more than anything that turned the tide’. 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 the reasons for Kennedy’s victory in 1960? [25 marks] Section B Answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Either 0 2 ‘The issue of race was the most significant factor dividing American society in the years 1945 to 1952.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. [25 marks]