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Date May 2021 Marks available 15 Reference code 21M.3op2.HL.TZ0.29
Level Higher level only Paper Paper 3 (History of the Americas) Time zone TZ0
Command term Compare and contrast Question number 29 Adapted from N/A

Question

Section 15: Political developments in the United States (1945–1980) and Canada (1945–1982)

Compare and contrast the domestic policies of Ford and Carter.

Markscheme

The question requires that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between Ford and Carter in terms of their domestic policies, referring to both throughout. There does not need to be an equal number of each. For comparison candidates may refer to the efforts of both to restore trust in government (Ford following Watergate and Carter following Vietnam), their loss of public support due to controversial pardons (Ford of Nixon and Carter of Vietnam draft resisters), the dominance of energy issues and their difficult relations with Congress. For contrast, candidates may address Ford’s limited legislative initiatives and the impact of “stagflation” (low growth and high inflation) with Carter’s relative success in initiatives such as the creation of the Superfund to clean toxic environmental sites, de-regulation of the transportation industry and legislation for energy independence. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

Examiners report

The question required that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between Ford and Carter in terms of their domestic policies.

Syllabus sections

HL options: first exams 2017 » HL option 2: History of the Americas » 15: Political developments in the United States (1945–1980) and Canada (1945–1982) » Nixon’s domestic policies; Watergate and possible impeachment; Ford’s domestic policies and pardon of Nixon; Carter’s domestic policies; changing composition and internal conflicts within the Democratic and Republican parties in the 1960s and 1970s, and the impact on elections
HL options: first exams 2017 » HL option 2: History of the Americas » 15: Political developments in the United States (1945–1980) and Canada (1945–1982)
HL options: first exams 2017 » HL option 2: History of the Americas
HL options: first exams 2017

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