2
AQA_2024: A-level History - Component 2P
The Transformation of China, 1936–1997
(Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)
A-level
HISTORY
Component 2P The Transformation of China, 1936–1997
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
7042/2P.
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/Jun24/7042/2P
, 3
Key areas:
1. Chinese Civil War and Japanese Invasion (1936–1945):
Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945): The Japanese invasion significantly weakened
China, causing widespread devastation. During this time, the Nationalist government
(Kuomintang) and the Communists led by Mao Zedong temporarily cooperated to resist
Japan, though tensions remained.
The war allowed the Communists to strengthen their position in rural areas, gaining support
by resisting Japanese forces and promoting social reforms.
2. The Establishment of the People’s Republic of China (1949):
After the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War (1945–1949), Mao Zedong declared
the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, marking the end of the
Nationalist government, which retreated to Taiwan.
The Communist Party solidified its control over mainland China, initiating major social,
economic, and political changes.
3. Mao’s Reforms (1949–1976):
Land Reforms (1950s): Land redistribution aimed at breaking up large estates and
empowering peasants, though the process was violent and disruptive.
The First Five-Year Plan (1953–1958): Focused on industrializing China, particularly heavy
industries, with mixed results.
The Great Leap Forward (1958–1962): An ambitious but disastrous attempt to rapidly
industrialize and collectivize agriculture. It resulted in a famine that caused millions of
deaths.
The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976): Mao’s campaign to purge China of capitalist and
traditional elements, leading to widespread violence, persecution, and disruption to
education, culture, and the economy.
4. Post-Mao Reforms (1976–1989):
After Mao’s death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping emerged as the leader and initiated economic
reforms starting in 1978. These included opening up the economy, promoting market-
oriented reforms, and establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to attract foreign
investment.
Despite economic liberalization, the Communist Party maintained strict political control,
exemplified by the Tiananmen Square protests (1989), where pro-democracy
demonstrations were violently suppressed.
5. China’s Growth and Global Position (1990s):
Under Deng Xiaoping’s continued leadership, China saw significant economic growth,
becoming an industrial powerhouse. It began to integrate more with the global economy.
China’s admission to the WTO (2001) further solidified its economic rise on the world
stage, marking its shift towards a more market-based economy while maintaining
Communist political control.
These key areas outline China’s political, economic, and social transformation from 1936 to 1997.
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2P Turn over ►
, 4
IB/M/Jun24/G4006/E5 7042/2P
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a statement made in an interview with a Western historian, by Liu Lin, 2001.
Liu Lin, an agricultural expert, worked at a people’s commune during the
Great Leap Forward.
Even when the cooking pot of the last family in the production team was thrown into the
backyard furnace, it was still not enough to meet the steel production goals set by the
commune’s cadre. The cadre then walked around the village, came back and
announced that he wanted the production team to smash their waterwheels to feed the
furnace. I couldn’t stand this and stood in his way. “The waterwheel is an important 5
production means and is needed to irrigate the crops,” I said. With cold eyes, he looked
at me. “Would you like to take over my position as cadre and see what it is like?” he
replied. For a moment, I did not know what to say. He walked back to the members of
the production team standing nearby and ordered: “Smash them!” After three of the
commune’s waterwheels had been smashed and fed into the furnace, the cadre’s steel 10
production target was finally met.
Source B
From a speech at a CCP conference for provincial and local party cadres by
Mao Zedong, February 1959.
The ratio between our achievements and our shortcomings in the Great Leap Forward is
the ratio between nine fingers and one finger. The achievements outnumber the
shortcomings by a great amount! Some people suspect or deny the success of the
Great Leap Forward and suspect or deny the advantages of the people’s communes.
This viewpoint is obviously completely wrong. Extra-large communes are the best 5
means for us to achieve the transition from the rural collective system to the socialist
system of full public ownership, and are the best means of accomplishing the transition
from socialism to communism. If any suspicions develop regarding this basic principle,
this is completely wrong. This should be considered a rightist deviation. I fear that we
need to anticipate that rightist factions will come out jeering at us and that those 10
landlords, rich peasants, counter-revolutionaries and other bad elements may well carry
out dreadful acts of sabotage.
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2P
AQA_2024: A-level History - Component 2P
The Transformation of China, 1936–1997
(Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)
A-level
HISTORY
Component 2P The Transformation of China, 1936–1997
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
7042/2P.
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/Jun24/7042/2P
, 3
Key areas:
1. Chinese Civil War and Japanese Invasion (1936–1945):
Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945): The Japanese invasion significantly weakened
China, causing widespread devastation. During this time, the Nationalist government
(Kuomintang) and the Communists led by Mao Zedong temporarily cooperated to resist
Japan, though tensions remained.
The war allowed the Communists to strengthen their position in rural areas, gaining support
by resisting Japanese forces and promoting social reforms.
2. The Establishment of the People’s Republic of China (1949):
After the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War (1945–1949), Mao Zedong declared
the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, marking the end of the
Nationalist government, which retreated to Taiwan.
The Communist Party solidified its control over mainland China, initiating major social,
economic, and political changes.
3. Mao’s Reforms (1949–1976):
Land Reforms (1950s): Land redistribution aimed at breaking up large estates and
empowering peasants, though the process was violent and disruptive.
The First Five-Year Plan (1953–1958): Focused on industrializing China, particularly heavy
industries, with mixed results.
The Great Leap Forward (1958–1962): An ambitious but disastrous attempt to rapidly
industrialize and collectivize agriculture. It resulted in a famine that caused millions of
deaths.
The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976): Mao’s campaign to purge China of capitalist and
traditional elements, leading to widespread violence, persecution, and disruption to
education, culture, and the economy.
4. Post-Mao Reforms (1976–1989):
After Mao’s death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping emerged as the leader and initiated economic
reforms starting in 1978. These included opening up the economy, promoting market-
oriented reforms, and establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to attract foreign
investment.
Despite economic liberalization, the Communist Party maintained strict political control,
exemplified by the Tiananmen Square protests (1989), where pro-democracy
demonstrations were violently suppressed.
5. China’s Growth and Global Position (1990s):
Under Deng Xiaoping’s continued leadership, China saw significant economic growth,
becoming an industrial powerhouse. It began to integrate more with the global economy.
China’s admission to the WTO (2001) further solidified its economic rise on the world
stage, marking its shift towards a more market-based economy while maintaining
Communist political control.
These key areas outline China’s political, economic, and social transformation from 1936 to 1997.
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2P Turn over ►
, 4
IB/M/Jun24/G4006/E5 7042/2P
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a statement made in an interview with a Western historian, by Liu Lin, 2001.
Liu Lin, an agricultural expert, worked at a people’s commune during the
Great Leap Forward.
Even when the cooking pot of the last family in the production team was thrown into the
backyard furnace, it was still not enough to meet the steel production goals set by the
commune’s cadre. The cadre then walked around the village, came back and
announced that he wanted the production team to smash their waterwheels to feed the
furnace. I couldn’t stand this and stood in his way. “The waterwheel is an important 5
production means and is needed to irrigate the crops,” I said. With cold eyes, he looked
at me. “Would you like to take over my position as cadre and see what it is like?” he
replied. For a moment, I did not know what to say. He walked back to the members of
the production team standing nearby and ordered: “Smash them!” After three of the
commune’s waterwheels had been smashed and fed into the furnace, the cadre’s steel 10
production target was finally met.
Source B
From a speech at a CCP conference for provincial and local party cadres by
Mao Zedong, February 1959.
The ratio between our achievements and our shortcomings in the Great Leap Forward is
the ratio between nine fingers and one finger. The achievements outnumber the
shortcomings by a great amount! Some people suspect or deny the success of the
Great Leap Forward and suspect or deny the advantages of the people’s communes.
This viewpoint is obviously completely wrong. Extra-large communes are the best 5
means for us to achieve the transition from the rural collective system to the socialist
system of full public ownership, and are the best means of accomplishing the transition
from socialism to communism. If any suspicions develop regarding this basic principle,
this is completely wrong. This should be considered a rightist deviation. I fear that we
need to anticipate that rightist factions will come out jeering at us and that those 10
landlords, rich peasants, counter-revolutionaries and other bad elements may well carry
out dreadful acts of sabotage.
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2P
