Page 1 of 61
History
Grade 12 2025
November & September Exam
Paper 1
This document has been compiled using the following previous papers: DBE preparatory exam 2021.
NSC DBE/November 2023, NSC NOVEMBER: HISTORY VR1 | 2021. IMAGES: CANVA.COM
NOTE: These are only suggested answers/ information that comes directly from the memoranda. So
there are more possible answers. PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS and ESSAY QUESTIONS must be
answered in paragraphs and correct formats during the examination.
Good luck: Juffrou Ansie
CONTENT
THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR 3
HOW DID THE COLD WAR PERIOD SHAPE RELATIONSHIPS AFTER WORLD WAR II? 3
HOW DID THE USSR AND THE USA CREATE THEIR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE IN EUROPE
BETWEEN 1945 AND 1949? 9
HOW DID BERLIN BECOME A FOCUS OF COLD WAR TENSION BETWEEN THE SOVIET UNION
(USSR) AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) IN 1948? 13
ANGOLA FROM THE 1970s TO THE 1980s 19
WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT IN THE ANGOLEAN CIVIL WAR? 19
WHAT FACTORS LEADED TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE THREE NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS
(MPLA, FNLA AND UNITA) IN THE ANGOLANESE CIVIL WAR IN 1975? 24
@Juffrou_Ansie
, Page 2 of 61
INDEPENDENT AFRICA: COMPARATIVE STUDY - THE CONGO AND TANZANIA: HOW DID THE
LEADERS OF THE CONGO AND TANZANIA TRANSFORM THEIR COUNTRIES AFTER
INDEPENDENCE? 30
CIVIL RESISTANCE FROM THE 1950S TO THE 1970S: THE AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
35
WHAT CHALLENGES DID THE CIVIL RIGHTS PROTESTERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FREEDOM
RIDES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) ENCOUNTER? 35
WHAT IMPACT DID THE GREENSBORO SIT-DOWNS HAVE ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE 1960s? 41
ESSAY QUESTIONS 50
THE EXPANSION OF THE COLD WAR: CASE STUDY: VIETNAM 50
INDEPENDENT AFRICA: THE CONGO 51
CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS FROM THE 1950S TO THE 1970S: BLACK POWER MOVEMENT 55
Debate the impact of the US Civil Rights Movement's non-violent assault against racial
discrimination on the lives of black Americans in the 1960s. 58
'Mao's "Great Leap Forward" and the Cultural Revolution were ill-conceived and had disastrous
consequences, but many of his goals, including emphasizing China's self-reliance, were
admirable.' 59
@Juffrou_Ansie
, Page 3 of 61
THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR
HOW DID THE COLD WAR PERIOD SHAPE RELATIONSHIPS AFTER WORLD
WAR II?
NSC NOVEMBER: HISTORY VR1 | 2021
Source 1A
This excerpt from the History.com website describes the relationship between the United States
and the Soviet Union after World War II.
During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union fought alongside
each other as allies against the Axis Powers. Nevertheless, the relationship
between the two nations was a tense one.
The Americans had long been very cautious (suspicious) about Soviet
Communism and worried about the Russian leader, Joseph Stalin's tyrannical
rule of his own country. For their part, the Russians deplored (offended)
America's decades-long refusal to accept the USSR as a legitimate part of the
international community, as well as their slow entry into World War II, which
resulted in the deaths of millions of Russians. about it.
After the end of the war, these grievances (criticism) matured into an
overwhelming mutual mistrust and enmity. Post-war Soviet expansion in
Eastern Europe fuelled many of the American fears of a Russian plan to
dominate the world. Meanwhile, the USSR deplored (offended) what they saw
as American officials' hostile rhetoric (aggressive style), arms buildup, and
meddling attack on international relations. In such a hostile atmosphere, no
single party could fully bear the blame for the Cold War; fact is, some
historians believe it was inevitable. At the end of World War II, most US officials
agreed that the best defence against the Soviet threat was a strategy called
"containment".
In his famous "Long Telegram," the diplomat, George Kennan (1904-2005),
explained his policy: The Soviet Union, he wrote, was "a political power
fanatically committed to the belief that with the U.S. no permanent modus
vivendi” [agreement between parties who differ], can be. The result was that
America's only choice was the "long-term, patient but firm and ready (vigilant)
pinning down of Russian propensity for expansion". It must be the policy of the
United States," he declared before Congress in 1947, "to support the free
people who have resisted the attempted oppression (subjugation)...by outside
pressure." This mindset determined American foreign policy for the next four
decades.
[Freely translated from: https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history Accessed February 1, 2021]
@Juffrou_Ansie
, Page 4 of 61
Concerns the Americans had about the USSR mentioned in Source 1A
• Americans had long been suspicious of Soviet communism.
• The United States was concerned about Stalin's tyrannical government.
• The Soviet Union's expansion in Eastern Europe was a concern.
• The Soviet Union's expansion into Eastern Europe fuelled many Americans' fears about a
Russian plan to control the world
The best defence against the Soviet threat according to the source: Pinning
The USSR resented the Americans for the following:
• The Americans' decades-long refusal to accept the USSR as a worthy part of the
international community.
• The sluggish entry of the United States into World War II which caused the deaths of
millions of Russians.
• The United States' arms build-up.
• The United States' interference in international relations.
• US officials' hostile rhetoric (aggressive style).
A sentence from the source to imply that the United States and the Soviet Union were not
always enemies.
• "During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union
fought together as allies against the Axis Powers."
The Cold War in historical context
• A state of political hostility (through threats, propaganda and
other measures) without actual war.
• The state of hostility that existed between Soviet Bloc countries
and the Western powers between 1945 and 1990. /A period of
ideological and geo-political tension between the USA and the Soviet Union after the
Second World War
What is meant by "Russian propensity (behaviour) for expansion".
• The Soviet Union / Russia gained control of Albania, Hungary, Bulgaria and East Germany
after WWII and they became satellite states of the Soviet Union.
• The Soviet Union / Russia had support in countries like Vietnam and Cuba by offering them
support.
@Juffrou_Ansie
History
Grade 12 2025
November & September Exam
Paper 1
This document has been compiled using the following previous papers: DBE preparatory exam 2021.
NSC DBE/November 2023, NSC NOVEMBER: HISTORY VR1 | 2021. IMAGES: CANVA.COM
NOTE: These are only suggested answers/ information that comes directly from the memoranda. So
there are more possible answers. PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS and ESSAY QUESTIONS must be
answered in paragraphs and correct formats during the examination.
Good luck: Juffrou Ansie
CONTENT
THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR 3
HOW DID THE COLD WAR PERIOD SHAPE RELATIONSHIPS AFTER WORLD WAR II? 3
HOW DID THE USSR AND THE USA CREATE THEIR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE IN EUROPE
BETWEEN 1945 AND 1949? 9
HOW DID BERLIN BECOME A FOCUS OF COLD WAR TENSION BETWEEN THE SOVIET UNION
(USSR) AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) IN 1948? 13
ANGOLA FROM THE 1970s TO THE 1980s 19
WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT IN THE ANGOLEAN CIVIL WAR? 19
WHAT FACTORS LEADED TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE THREE NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS
(MPLA, FNLA AND UNITA) IN THE ANGOLANESE CIVIL WAR IN 1975? 24
@Juffrou_Ansie
, Page 2 of 61
INDEPENDENT AFRICA: COMPARATIVE STUDY - THE CONGO AND TANZANIA: HOW DID THE
LEADERS OF THE CONGO AND TANZANIA TRANSFORM THEIR COUNTRIES AFTER
INDEPENDENCE? 30
CIVIL RESISTANCE FROM THE 1950S TO THE 1970S: THE AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
35
WHAT CHALLENGES DID THE CIVIL RIGHTS PROTESTERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE FREEDOM
RIDES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) ENCOUNTER? 35
WHAT IMPACT DID THE GREENSBORO SIT-DOWNS HAVE ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE 1960s? 41
ESSAY QUESTIONS 50
THE EXPANSION OF THE COLD WAR: CASE STUDY: VIETNAM 50
INDEPENDENT AFRICA: THE CONGO 51
CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS FROM THE 1950S TO THE 1970S: BLACK POWER MOVEMENT 55
Debate the impact of the US Civil Rights Movement's non-violent assault against racial
discrimination on the lives of black Americans in the 1960s. 58
'Mao's "Great Leap Forward" and the Cultural Revolution were ill-conceived and had disastrous
consequences, but many of his goals, including emphasizing China's self-reliance, were
admirable.' 59
@Juffrou_Ansie
, Page 3 of 61
THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR
HOW DID THE COLD WAR PERIOD SHAPE RELATIONSHIPS AFTER WORLD
WAR II?
NSC NOVEMBER: HISTORY VR1 | 2021
Source 1A
This excerpt from the History.com website describes the relationship between the United States
and the Soviet Union after World War II.
During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union fought alongside
each other as allies against the Axis Powers. Nevertheless, the relationship
between the two nations was a tense one.
The Americans had long been very cautious (suspicious) about Soviet
Communism and worried about the Russian leader, Joseph Stalin's tyrannical
rule of his own country. For their part, the Russians deplored (offended)
America's decades-long refusal to accept the USSR as a legitimate part of the
international community, as well as their slow entry into World War II, which
resulted in the deaths of millions of Russians. about it.
After the end of the war, these grievances (criticism) matured into an
overwhelming mutual mistrust and enmity. Post-war Soviet expansion in
Eastern Europe fuelled many of the American fears of a Russian plan to
dominate the world. Meanwhile, the USSR deplored (offended) what they saw
as American officials' hostile rhetoric (aggressive style), arms buildup, and
meddling attack on international relations. In such a hostile atmosphere, no
single party could fully bear the blame for the Cold War; fact is, some
historians believe it was inevitable. At the end of World War II, most US officials
agreed that the best defence against the Soviet threat was a strategy called
"containment".
In his famous "Long Telegram," the diplomat, George Kennan (1904-2005),
explained his policy: The Soviet Union, he wrote, was "a political power
fanatically committed to the belief that with the U.S. no permanent modus
vivendi” [agreement between parties who differ], can be. The result was that
America's only choice was the "long-term, patient but firm and ready (vigilant)
pinning down of Russian propensity for expansion". It must be the policy of the
United States," he declared before Congress in 1947, "to support the free
people who have resisted the attempted oppression (subjugation)...by outside
pressure." This mindset determined American foreign policy for the next four
decades.
[Freely translated from: https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history Accessed February 1, 2021]
@Juffrou_Ansie
, Page 4 of 61
Concerns the Americans had about the USSR mentioned in Source 1A
• Americans had long been suspicious of Soviet communism.
• The United States was concerned about Stalin's tyrannical government.
• The Soviet Union's expansion in Eastern Europe was a concern.
• The Soviet Union's expansion into Eastern Europe fuelled many Americans' fears about a
Russian plan to control the world
The best defence against the Soviet threat according to the source: Pinning
The USSR resented the Americans for the following:
• The Americans' decades-long refusal to accept the USSR as a worthy part of the
international community.
• The sluggish entry of the United States into World War II which caused the deaths of
millions of Russians.
• The United States' arms build-up.
• The United States' interference in international relations.
• US officials' hostile rhetoric (aggressive style).
A sentence from the source to imply that the United States and the Soviet Union were not
always enemies.
• "During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union
fought together as allies against the Axis Powers."
The Cold War in historical context
• A state of political hostility (through threats, propaganda and
other measures) without actual war.
• The state of hostility that existed between Soviet Bloc countries
and the Western powers between 1945 and 1990. /A period of
ideological and geo-political tension between the USA and the Soviet Union after the
Second World War
What is meant by "Russian propensity (behaviour) for expansion".
• The Soviet Union / Russia gained control of Albania, Hungary, Bulgaria and East Germany
after WWII and they became satellite states of the Soviet Union.
• The Soviet Union / Russia had support in countries like Vietnam and Cuba by offering them
support.
@Juffrou_Ansie
