2025 AQA AS HISTORY Component 2Q The American Dream:
Reality and Illusion, 1945–1980 – Prosperity, Inequality and
Superpower Status, 1945–1963 Question Paper & Mark
Scheme (Merged) Monday 19 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
AS
HISTORY
The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945–1980
Component 2Q Prosperity, inequality and Superpower status, 1945–1963
Monday 19 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
7041/2Q.
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.
IB/G/Jun25/G4001/E3 7041/2Q
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a private letter to Richard Simon from President Eisenhower, 4 April 1956. Simon
was a friend of Eisenhower.
We are rapidly getting to the point where there would be no winners in a war between
America and the USSR. When both sides know that they will destroy each other, we may
have enough sense to meet at the conference table with the understanding that the era of
armaments has ended and the human race must conform to this truth or die. I do not deny
the need for strength. But that strength must be spiritual, economic and military. All three 5
are important and are not mutually exclusive. They are all part of, and the product of, the
American genius and the American will but we have already come to the point where
safety cannot be assumed by arms alone.
Source B
From a speech to Congress on the situation in the Middle East by President Eisenhower,
5 January 1957.
The action which I propose would have the following features.
1. It would authorize the United States to cooperate with and assist any nation or group
of nations in the general area of the Middle East in the development of economic
strength dedicated to the maintenance of national independence.
2. It would authorize the Executive to undertake, in the same region, programs of 5
military assistance and cooperation with any nation or group of nations which desires
such aid.
3. It would authorize assistance and cooperation to include the employment of the
armed forces of the United States to secure and protect the territory and political
independence of nations requesting aid against armed aggression from any nation 10
controlled by International Communism.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two sources is more valuable in explaining Eisenhower’s attitude to
military conflict?
[25 marks]
IB/G/Jun25/7041/2Q
Reality and Illusion, 1945–1980 – Prosperity, Inequality and
Superpower Status, 1945–1963 Question Paper & Mark
Scheme (Merged) Monday 19 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
AS
HISTORY
The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945–1980
Component 2Q Prosperity, inequality and Superpower status, 1945–1963
Monday 19 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
7041/2Q.
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.
IB/G/Jun25/G4001/E3 7041/2Q
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a private letter to Richard Simon from President Eisenhower, 4 April 1956. Simon
was a friend of Eisenhower.
We are rapidly getting to the point where there would be no winners in a war between
America and the USSR. When both sides know that they will destroy each other, we may
have enough sense to meet at the conference table with the understanding that the era of
armaments has ended and the human race must conform to this truth or die. I do not deny
the need for strength. But that strength must be spiritual, economic and military. All three 5
are important and are not mutually exclusive. They are all part of, and the product of, the
American genius and the American will but we have already come to the point where
safety cannot be assumed by arms alone.
Source B
From a speech to Congress on the situation in the Middle East by President Eisenhower,
5 January 1957.
The action which I propose would have the following features.
1. It would authorize the United States to cooperate with and assist any nation or group
of nations in the general area of the Middle East in the development of economic
strength dedicated to the maintenance of national independence.
2. It would authorize the Executive to undertake, in the same region, programs of 5
military assistance and cooperation with any nation or group of nations which desires
such aid.
3. It would authorize assistance and cooperation to include the employment of the
armed forces of the United States to secure and protect the territory and political
independence of nations requesting aid against armed aggression from any nation 10
controlled by International Communism.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two sources is more valuable in explaining Eisenhower’s attitude to
military conflict?
[25 marks]
IB/G/Jun25/7041/2Q
