A-level
HISTORY
Component 2R The Cold War, c1945–1991
Friday 7 June 2024 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 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
7042/2R.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• 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:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
IB/M/Jun24/G4006/E2 7042/2R
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a speech to the American people, broadcast on American radio and television, by
Leonid Brezhnev, 24 June 1973. Brezhnev was the first Soviet leader to address the
American public.
I would like to convey the feelings of the Soviet people who are looking forward to the
summit meeting between myself and President Nixon and hoping it will make a fruitful
contribution to better relations between our countries. I came to this country anticipating
negotiations about major questions, and these hopes were satisfied. Agreements have
been signed to broaden the sphere of peaceful cooperation. You Americans are aware 5
that in the past, relations between our countries developed very unevenly. There were
periods of stagnation and there were ups and downs. A lot has been done to develop
Soviet-American relations. Yet we are still only at the beginning of a long road. Constant
care is needed to develop the new shoots of good relationships. I believe those who
support a radical improvement in relations can be optimistic, for this objective meets the 10
vital interests of both our nations. Mankind has outgrown the rigid restrictions of the
Cold War. People want to live peacefully and breathe freely.
Source B
From a diplomatic report to the Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko from
Anatoly Dobrynin, 11 July 1978. Dobrynin was Soviet Ambassador to the United States.
Soviet-American relations since Carter took office in 1977 have been characterised by
instability. American beliefs in support of détente are associated with a simple
conviction: détente lessens the threat of confrontation and nuclear war with the
Soviet Union. The Carter administration has developed a half-hearted conception of
détente. Détente is seen as important and necessary in support of the national interests 5
of the US, such as problems associated with war and peace, limitation of strategic
weapons and a total ban on nuclear tests. Carter has come to realise a deterioration in
relations would cause deep alarm amongst the American population and for him it would
be a political loss, representing a catastrophe in the 1980 presidential elections. A
different concept of détente is applied to other issues, such as human rights, and in other 10
areas, such as in Africa and the Middle East, however much the Carter administration
denies that it is supporting a return to the Cold War.
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2R
, 3
Source C
From a private letter to Leonid Brezhnev from President Jimmy Carter, 29 December
1979.
I want to ensure that you have fully considered the results of Soviet actions in
Afghanistan, which we regard as a clear threat to peace. You should understand that
these actions could mark a fundamental turning point in our relations as they constitute a
clear violation of the Basic Principles Agreement which you signed in 1972. We note with
great concern that this is the first time since the invasions of Hungary and 5
Czechoslovakia that the Soviet Union has taken direct military action against another
country. In the present instance, the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan obviously
represents an unsettling, dangerous and new stage in your use of military force, raising
deep apprehension about the general trend of Soviet policy. Unless you draw back, this
will inevitably harm the course of US-Soviet relations. I urge you to take prompt action to 10
withdraw your forces and stop interference in Afghanistan. Many years of promoting
more stable relations between our countries could be undermined if this situation is not
resolved promptly.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying relations between the
USA and USSR in the years 1972 to 1979.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2R Turn over ►
HISTORY
Component 2R The Cold War, c1945–1991
Friday 7 June 2024 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 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
7042/2R.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• 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:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
IB/M/Jun24/G4006/E2 7042/2R
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a speech to the American people, broadcast on American radio and television, by
Leonid Brezhnev, 24 June 1973. Brezhnev was the first Soviet leader to address the
American public.
I would like to convey the feelings of the Soviet people who are looking forward to the
summit meeting between myself and President Nixon and hoping it will make a fruitful
contribution to better relations between our countries. I came to this country anticipating
negotiations about major questions, and these hopes were satisfied. Agreements have
been signed to broaden the sphere of peaceful cooperation. You Americans are aware 5
that in the past, relations between our countries developed very unevenly. There were
periods of stagnation and there were ups and downs. A lot has been done to develop
Soviet-American relations. Yet we are still only at the beginning of a long road. Constant
care is needed to develop the new shoots of good relationships. I believe those who
support a radical improvement in relations can be optimistic, for this objective meets the 10
vital interests of both our nations. Mankind has outgrown the rigid restrictions of the
Cold War. People want to live peacefully and breathe freely.
Source B
From a diplomatic report to the Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko from
Anatoly Dobrynin, 11 July 1978. Dobrynin was Soviet Ambassador to the United States.
Soviet-American relations since Carter took office in 1977 have been characterised by
instability. American beliefs in support of détente are associated with a simple
conviction: détente lessens the threat of confrontation and nuclear war with the
Soviet Union. The Carter administration has developed a half-hearted conception of
détente. Détente is seen as important and necessary in support of the national interests 5
of the US, such as problems associated with war and peace, limitation of strategic
weapons and a total ban on nuclear tests. Carter has come to realise a deterioration in
relations would cause deep alarm amongst the American population and for him it would
be a political loss, representing a catastrophe in the 1980 presidential elections. A
different concept of détente is applied to other issues, such as human rights, and in other 10
areas, such as in Africa and the Middle East, however much the Carter administration
denies that it is supporting a return to the Cold War.
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2R
, 3
Source C
From a private letter to Leonid Brezhnev from President Jimmy Carter, 29 December
1979.
I want to ensure that you have fully considered the results of Soviet actions in
Afghanistan, which we regard as a clear threat to peace. You should understand that
these actions could mark a fundamental turning point in our relations as they constitute a
clear violation of the Basic Principles Agreement which you signed in 1972. We note with
great concern that this is the first time since the invasions of Hungary and 5
Czechoslovakia that the Soviet Union has taken direct military action against another
country. In the present instance, the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan obviously
represents an unsettling, dangerous and new stage in your use of military force, raising
deep apprehension about the general trend of Soviet policy. Unless you draw back, this
will inevitably harm the course of US-Soviet relations. I urge you to take prompt action to 10
withdraw your forces and stop interference in Afghanistan. Many years of promoting
more stable relations between our countries could be undermined if this situation is not
resolved promptly.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying relations between the
USA and USSR in the years 1972 to 1979.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2R Turn over ►
