2025 Cambridge IAS-Level History (9489) Practice Paper with Answers

### Comparison (Points of Agreement)
- **The Role of the League:** Both sources accept that the Abyssinian Crisis is an issue for the League of Nations to resolve under its Covenant.
- **Sanctions:** Both sources agree that economic sanctions are the primary policy being utilized to deter Italian aggression.
- **The Principle of Collective Security:** Both recognize that the response depends on the collective action of member states, rather than any single nation acting alone.

### Contrast (Points of Difference)
- **Evaluation of the Sanctions:** Source A supports a "cautious" application of economic sanctions to prevent a broader war. Source B labels these sanctions "half-hearted" and criticizes the failure to implement an oil embargo.
- **Diplomatic Integrity:** Source A describes British diplomatic efforts as an attempt to find a "peaceful, negotiated settlement" acceptable to all. Source B exposes these negotiations as "secret agreements made behind our backs," implying treachery and appeasement.
- **Urgency vs. Caution:** Source A prioritizes preventing a "wider, more devastating conflagration" (a European war). Source B prioritizes immediate, robust action to save Abyssinia from destruction, criticizing the League's "hesitation and delay."

### Evaluation (Context and Provenance)
- **Source A (Sir Samuel Hoare, October 1935):** Written at the start of the crisis. Hoare's speech is designed to appease domestic public opinion in Britain, which strongly supported the League (as shown by the 1935 Peace Ballot), while simultaneously avoiding any bold actions (like military intervention or oil sanctions) that could provoke Italy into war. His perspective is guided by British national self-interest and European balance-of-power diplomacy.
- **Source B (Haile Selassie, June 1936):** Written after the fall of Addis Ababa. Selassie's perspective is that of a defeated victim of aggression. He has no diplomatic need to protect British or French interests, allowing him to speak with brutal honesty. His speech serves as a prophetic warning that the failure of collective security in Abyssinia would lead to the collapse of the international order.

### Marking Scheme

* **Level 1 (1–3 marks):** Identifies basic surface-level similarities or differences, or simply summarizes the contents of both sources without direct comparison.
* **Level 2 (4–7 marks):** Identifies valid similarities OR differences with appropriate source support, but does not cover both.
* **Level 3 (8–10 marks):** Identifies both valid similarities AND differences with support from both sources. At this level, analysis remains largely focused on the text.
* **Level 4 (11–15 marks):** Evaluates the sources using historical context, provenance, and audience to explain *why* the views differ. Explains how the different political positions and dates (October 1935 vs. June 1936) shape the arguments of Samuel Hoare and Haile Selassie.

### Analysis of the Sources

* **Source A:**
* **Context:** Japanese representative speaking to the League Council in December 1931, shortly after the Mukden Incident.
* **Content:** Argues that Japan acted in self-defense to protect its investments from Chinese lawlessness and warns the League against interference.
* **Relation to Prompt:** Challenges the view. It suggests that if the League failed, it was not due to major power self-interest, but rather because the League failed to comprehend the chaotic local realities of East Asia and attempted to apply inappropriate European diplomatic standards.
* **Evaluation/Reliability:** Highly biased. As a diplomatic defense of Japanese military aggression, it seeks to deflect international condemnation. The claim of "self-defense" was later thoroughly discredited by the Lytton Report.

* **Source B:**
* **Context:** British conservative newspaper editorial during the height of the crisis in early 1932.
* **Content:** Opposes any strong League action (sanctions or military threats) because of Britain's domestic economic troubles (the Great Depression) and military overstretch. It praises Japan as a bulwark against Soviet communism.
* **Relation to Prompt:** Strongly supports the view. It openly advocates for British self-interest over the principles of collective security, showing why a key major power in the League was unwilling to enforce decisive action.
* **Evaluation/Reliability:** Reflects a powerful segment of British public and political opinion at the time. It is highly reliable for showing how national self-interest directly undermined the League’s collective security mandate.

* **Source C:**
* **Context:** The official League-commissioned Lytton Report, published in late 1932.
* **Content:** Rejects Japan's claim of self-defense and confirms Chinese sovereignty over Manchuria, but also recommends a compromise that protects Japanese economic rights and establishes an autonomous regime.
* **Relation to Prompt:** Offers a mixed/nuanced view. On one hand, it shows the League trying to act impartially and effectively by investigating and asserting international law. On the other hand, its compromise recommendations reflect the League's hesitation to take a hardline stand against a major power, showing a pragmatic capitulation to realpolitik.
* **Evaluation/Reliability:** Highly reliable as the official consensus view of the League's inquiry commission. However, it also highlights the structural limitations of the League, which could investigate and report but lacked the political will of its major members to enforce its findings.

* **Source D:**
* **Context:** Memoirs of the chief Chinese delegate to the League, looking back in 1939 as WWII was beginning.
* **Content:** Blames the League's failure directly on the hesitation and self-interest of Great Britain and France. It characterizes the Lytton Commission as a deliberate delaying tactic to avoid taking concrete action against Japan.
* **Relation to Prompt:** Strongly supports the view. It directly links the League's failure to the major powers prioritizing their own imperial and domestic concerns over collective security.
* **Evaluation/Reliability:** Written from a Chinese nationalist perspective, which naturally felt betrayed by the international community. The retrospective date (1939) allows the author to view the Manchurian Crisis as the starting point of the collapse of international order, but this hindsight may exaggerate the degree to which Britain and France consciously intended to "paralyze" the League rather than just acting out of cautious diplomacy during a global depression.

### Synthesis & Conclusion
In conclusion, there is substantial support across the sources for the view that the League failed due to the self-interest of its major powers. Sources B and D offer direct evidence of this: Source B openly argues that Britain should put its own economic and military security first, while Source D directly accuses Britain and France of paralyzing collective security to protect their own interests. Source C demonstrates that while the League's administrative machinery could produce a balanced report, its final recommendations were watered down to accommodate major power interests. Only Source A challenges this view, instead blaming the League's failure on its failure to understand Asian realities, though Source A's reliability is highly compromised by its role as state propaganda.

### Marking Scheme (25 Marks Total)

| Level | Marks | Description |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Level 5** | **21–25** | * Uses all four sources to construct a balanced, synthesized argument.
* Evaluates the sources effectively (considering context, bias, audience, and purpose) to explain *why* they hold these views.
* Reaches a clear, sustained, and nuanced conclusion that directly answers the prompt. |
| **Level 4** | **16–20** | * Explains both sides of the argument using evidence from the sources.
* Attempts evaluation of at least some of the sources, though this may not be fully integrated into the final argument.
* Shows a clear understanding of the historical context of the Manchurian Crisis. |
| **Level 3** | **11–15** | * Identifies sources that support and sources that challenge the assertion.
* Relies primarily on source content/comprehension without significant evaluation or cross-referencing.
* Shows reasonable historical knowledge of the topic. |
| **Level 2** | **6–10** | * Shows a one-sided approach, identifying sources for only one side of the debate.
* OR writes a general essay on the Manchurian Crisis with limited, superficial references to the sources. |
| **Level 1** | **1–5** | * Writes a very general response with little or no relevance to the sources or the specific prompt.
* Inaccurate or highly simplified historical knowledge. |

The Frankfurt Parliament, which met in May 1848, failed to achieve its primary objective of creating a unified German nation-state for several reasons:

1. Internal Divisions and Indecision: The delegates, who were mostly middle-class academics, lawyers, and civil servants, lacked practical political experience. They spent months in protracted debates over basic civil rights rather than acting quickly to establish state structures. A critical division emerged between the 'Grossdeutsch' (Greater Germany, including Catholic Austria) and 'Kleindeutsch' (Lesser Germany, excluding Austria and led by Protestant Prussia) factions, which delayed the drafting of a constitution.

2. Lack of Practical Power and Military Force: The Parliament possessed no independent army, taxation system, or administrative apparatus. To enforce its decisions or defend itself, it had to rely on the armed forces of the individual German states, particularly Prussia. This dependency was demonstrated during the Schleswig-Holstein crisis, where the Prussian army acted in Prussia's own national interest rather than under the Parliament's direction.

3. Resurgence of Conservative Authority: By late 1848 and early 1849, the initial shock of the revolutions had subsided. The rulers of the major German states, particularly Austria and Prussia, reasserted their control, restored order, and regained the loyalty of their armies, undermining the authority of the Frankfurt assembly.

4. Rejection of the Crown by Frederick William IV: When the parliament finally settled on a Kleindeutsch constitution and offered the imperial crown to King Frederick William IV of Prussia in April 1849, he rejected it. Believing in the divine right of kings, he refused to accept a 'crown from the gutter' offered by an elected popular assembly. His refusal effectively destroyed the legitimacy and viability of the Parliament's unification plan, leading to its dissolution.

Level 4 (8–10 marks): Identifies and explains multiple distinct reasons for the failure of the Frankfurt Parliament (e.g., internal ideological divisions, lack of military power, conservative recovery, and the Prussian King's refusal of the crown). The response shows a clear understanding of the causal relationships and historical context.

Level 3 (6–7 marks): Explains at least two reasons, but with less depth or detail. The connection between these factors and the ultimate failure of unification is clear but may lack nuance.

Level 2 (3–5 marks): Identifies reasons for the failure but describes them descriptively rather than analytically, or focuses heavily on only one factor (such as the Prussian King's refusal) while neglecting others.

Level 1 (1–2 marks): Offers vague or highly generalized assertions about German unification and the 1848 revolutions with minimal specific historical evidence.

Level 0 (0 marks): No creditworthy response.

The Populist (or People's) Party emerged in 1892 as a direct response to the economic and political grievances of American farmers, particularly in the South and West:

1. Severe Economic Hardships: In the late 19th century, commercial farmers suffered from a long-term decline in crop prices (such as wheat and cotton) due to global overproduction and domestic competition. At the same time, they faced high, unregulated shipping rates charged by monopolistic railroad companies, which squeezed their profit margins.

2. Debt and Deflationary Monetary Policy: Many farmers had taken out mortgages to buy land and machinery. The US government's commitment to the gold standard restricted the money supply, leading to deflation. This meant farmers had to pay back fixed debts with dollars that were worth more than when they borrowed them, trapping them in a cycle of debt and foreclosure.

3. Political Alienation: Farmers felt increasingly ignored by both the Democratic and Republican parties, which they believed were dominated by wealthy Eastern industrial, banking, and railroad elites. The 'Sherman Silver Purchase Act' of 1890 was seen as an inadequate compromise, reinforcing the belief that a new political vehicle was needed to represent the working class.

4. Organizational Precedents: The Populist Party grew out of existing cooperative movements like the Patrons of Husbandry (the Grange) and, more importantly, the Farmers' Alliances. When these organizations realized that economic cooperation alone could not overcome systemic political and financial obstacles, they mobilized politically to form a national party to advocate for structural reforms (such as the free coinage of silver, government ownership of railroads, and a graduated income tax).

Level 4 (8–10 marks): Identifies and explains multiple distinct causes of the emergence of the Populist Party (such as agricultural depression, railroad monopolies, monetary policy/deflation, and political alienation). The response shows a sophisticated grasp of late 19th-century economic and political dynamics.

Level 3 (6–7 marks): Explains at least two causes of the party's formation, but with less detailed analysis of the link between the farmers' grievances and their political mobilization.

Level 2 (3–5 marks): Identifies causes but presents them as a narrative list of farmers' problems rather than explaining how they led to the creation of a new political party, or focuses almost exclusively on a single factor like the silver issue.

Level 1 (1–2 marks): Offers basic assertions about late 19th-century farming or politics with very little historical detail or structural organization.

Level 0 (0 marks): No creditworthy response.

Introduction:
- Set the context: The French Revolution transitioned from a moderate reform movement in 1789 to a radical republic characterized by the Terror by 1793.
- Introduce the core debate: Whether this radicalisation was primarily driven by economic factors (inflation, food shortages) or by political and external pressures (war, royal betrayal, counter-revolution).

Arguments for Economic Hardship as the Primary Driver:
- The poor harvest of 1788-89 and subsequent high bread prices initially mobilised the Parisian masses, directly leading to crucial early radical actions like the Storming of the Bastille and the Women's March on Versailles.
- The introduction of the assignat (paper currency) in 1789 led to rapid inflation, wiping out savings and driving up the cost of living, which deepened working-class resentment against moderate leaders.
- Constant food shortages and hoarding rumors empowered the sans-culottes, who demanded price controls (the Maximum) and pushed the Jacobins to take extreme measures to secure food supplies and punish speculators.

Arguments against / Other Key Drivers of Radicalism:
- Political and Ideological Factors: The Flight to Varennes (June 1791) shattered the public's trust in Louis XVI, making a constitutional monarchy unviable and fueling republican radicalism.
- The Impact of War: The outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in April 1792 created a permanent state of national emergency, paranoia about internal traitors, and panic (e.g., the September Massacres), leading directly to the suspension of constitutional liberties.
- Counter-Revolutionary Threats: Internal uprisings, such as the Vendée rebellion, convinced radical leaders that extreme measures (including the creation of the Committee of Public Safety) were necessary to preserve the Republic.

Conclusion:
- Synthesise the arguments: Conclude that while economic hardship created the popular anger and mass mobilization required for radical shifts, it was the existential threat of foreign war and the perceived betrayal of the monarchy that converted this anger into systematic, state-sponsored political radicalism.

Level 5 (16–20 marks): Identifies and evaluates key factors. Offers a balanced, well-supported analysis of both economic hardships (inflation, food shortages) and other catalysts (war, king's flight, political ideology). Reaches a clear, sustained judgment.

Level 4 (11–15 marks): Explanation of both sides of the argument is present. The candidate explains how economic hardship and other factors contributed to radicalism but may lack depth in evaluation or a fully integrated judgment.

Level 3 (6–10 marks): One-sided argument or largely descriptive narrative. May focus only on economic problems or only on political events, with limited analytical depth.

Level 2 (3–5 marks): Identifies some basic features of the French Revolution but lacks focus on the question of radicalism or has significant factual errors.

Level 1 (1–2 marks): Little or no relevance to the question.

Introduction:
- Introduce the rapid growth of US industry in the late nineteenth century (Gilded Age).
- State the core debate: whether this expansion was primarily the product of federal government intervention and support, or whether it was driven by organic market forces, resource wealth, and technological innovation.

Arguments for Dependency on Federal Government Support:
- Tariff Policy: High protective tariffs (e.g., Morrill Tariff, McKinley Tariff) shielded infant US industries from foreign competition, allowing domestic manufacturing to dominate the home market.
- Transportation Infrastructure: Federal land grants and subsidies (e.g., Pacific Railway Acts) were crucial in building the transcontinental railroads, which created a unified national market.
- Legal and Regulatory Environment: The federal government maintained a largely 'laissez-faire' approach to regulation, while the courts frequently used the 14th Amendment and injunctions to protect corporate interests and suppress labor strikes.
- Financial Policy: The establishment of a national banking system and adherence to the gold standard provided a stable monetary environment that attracted foreign investment.

Arguments for Other Factors (Independence from Government Support):
- Natural Resources: The US possessed vast, untapped reserves of coal, iron ore, oil, and timber, which provided cheap raw materials essential for heavy industry.
- Labor Supply: Mass immigration provided a continuous supply of cheap, flexible labor, driving down production costs and expanding the consumer market.
- Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Innovators (like Edison and Tesla) and corporate leaders (like Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Vanderbilt) pioneered new production methods (Bessemer process, assembly lines) and corporate structures (trusts, vertical integration) that drove efficiency independently of direct government action.

Conclusion:
- Evaluate the relative importance. While federal support provided the stable, protective framework and infrastructure needed for a national market, the actual engine of industrialisation was driven by the unprecedented convergence of natural resources, labor, and capitalistic initiative. Thus, government policies were a vital facilitator rather than the sole driver.

Level 5 (16–20 marks): Analytical and balanced response. Evaluates the extent of federal government assistance (tariffs, land grants, legal support) against other critical factors (resources, labor, entrepreneurship). Reaches a clear, nuanced historical judgment.

Level 4 (11–15 marks): Explains both the role of government support and alternative factors, but may be more descriptive than evaluative or lack a fully integrated thesis.

Level 3 (6–10 marks): Explains only one side of the argument (e.g., focusing solely on the role of the government or solely on the 'robber barons' and resources) or provides a narrative of industrialisation without addressing 'dependency'.

Level 2 (3–5 marks): Descriptive answer with general, unsubstantiated claims about US industrialisation. Lacks specific historical evidence.

Level 1 (1–2 marks): Little or no relevance to the question.