DP History Questionbank

What, according to Source B, were the limits of political reform in Deng Xiaoping’s [Teng Hsiao-p’ing’s] China?

What is the message conveyed by Source E?

Compare and contrast the views expressed in Source C and Source D about the nature of, and the Party’s response to, the demonstrations of 1989.

With reference to their origin and purpose, assess the value and limitations of Source A and Source D for historians studying political change in Deng Xiaoping’s [Teng Hsiao-p’ing’s] China.

Using the sources and your own knowledge, examine the extent of political change in the People’s Republic of China between 1978 and 1989.

What, according to Source E, was the significance of the invasion of Abyssinia for Britain?

What is the message conveyed by Source D?

Compare and contrast the views expressed in Sources A and C about the importance of the invasion of Abyssinia.

With reference to their origin and purpose, assess the values and limitations of Source B and Source C for historians studying the Italian invasion of Abyssinia.

Using the sources and your own knowledge, examine the significance of the Italian invasion of Abyssinia for the League of Nations and international relations (up to December 1936).

What, according to Source A, were the Soviet Union’s motives for getting involved in Middle Eastern affairs?

What is the message conveyed by Source B?

Compare and contrast the views expressed in Sources C and D about the attitudes of outside powers towards the Middle East.

With reference to their origin and purpose, assess the value and limitations of Source C and Source E for historians studying the conflict in the Middle East during the period from 1955 to 1975.

Using the sources and your own knowledge, examine the involvement of outside powers in the escalation of tension in the Middle East during the period from 1953 to 1967.

Examine the reasons why some 20th-century wars ended with a peace treaty while others did not.

Examine the role of economic factors in causing two wars, each chosen from a different region.

“Technological developments were not significant to the outcome of 20th century wars.” Discuss with reference to two wars.

To what extent did guerrilla tactics determine the outcome of either the Algerian War (1954–1962) or the Chinese Civil War (1946–1949)?

With reference to Pakistan’s defeat in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, discuss the political consequences for Pakistan.

Discuss the causes of either the Falklands/Malvinas War (1982) or the Gulf War (1991).

“Democratic electoral systems led to stable governments.” Discuss with reference to two post-1945 states.

To what extent were the methods used by 20th-century political parties similar to those used by pressure (interest/lobby) groups?

Evaluate the ways in which two 20th-century democratic states responded to the challenges posed by either ethnic or religious groups.

Evaluate the effectiveness of economic policies in either Weimar Germany (1919–1933) or Argentina under Alfonsin (1983–1989).

Evaluate the success of social policies in either India (1947–1964) or South Africa (1991–2000).

Discuss the reasons why Johnson was more successful than Eisenhower and Kennedy in securing the passage of civil rights legislation.

To what extent did popular support for the aims and ideology of one authoritarian/single-party leader contribute to the rise to power of that leader?

Compare and contrast the conditions that led to the rise to power of two authoritarian/single-party leaders.

Evaluate the treatment of religious groups and minorities in two authoritarian/single-party states, each chosen from a different region.

To what extent did the structure and organization of government in Germany between 1933 and 1939 contribute to Hitler’s maintenance of power?

Examine the role of education and propaganda in the maintenance of power in Mao’s China.

With reference to Castro (Cuba) or Nasser (Egypt), to what extent did the use of force contribute to his maintenance of power?

With reference to Africa and/or Asia, to what extent did political ideology contribute to the rise of independence movements in two colonial territories?

With reference to Africa and/or Asia, examine the impact of the Cold War on the success of two independence movements.

“Armed struggle was not the most important factor in the achievement of independence.” Discuss with reference to India or Indochina.

Discuss the factors that led to the end of Soviet control in two states in Central/Eastern Europe.

Evaluate the role of two of the following in leading their countries to independence: Ben Bella (Algeria); Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam); Mugabe (Zimbabwe); Nkrumah (Ghana); Walesa (Poland); Havel (Czechoslovakia).

Discuss the impact of racial and separatist movements in India or Pakistan or Yugoslavia.

To what extent did the Sovietization of Eastern and Central Europe contribute to the emergence of the Cold War between 1945 and 1949?

Evaluate the impact of the Cold War on the outbreak and development of either the Korean War or the Vietnam War.

“The Cold War had a significant impact on the effectiveness of the United Nations between 1945 and 1989.” Discuss.

Examine the view that the policy of peaceful coexistence failed to promote good relations between the US and the USSR up to 1964.

To what extent did internal problems contribute to the break-up of the Soviet Union?

Discuss the factors that led to the rise of the Hehe under Mkwawa.

Discuss the social and economic organization of the Ndebele under Lobengula.

Evaluate the argument that the most important causes of the Mfecane were economic.

Evaluate the reasons for the rise of the Niger Delta trading states in the 19th century.

“Traders rather than explorers played the dominant role in promoting European interest in Africa in the period from 1850 to 1900.” Discuss.

To what extent did the economic and political weaknesses of African states contribute to the European annexation of Africa?

“Economic factors were the main cause of the Maji Maji Rising (1905).” Discuss.

To what extent do you agree that economic factors were a significant cause of John Chilembwe’s rising in 1915?

“Khama chose to collaborate with the British because of internal weaknesses.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Compare and contrast the results of Asante resistance to British imperialism with that of the Mandinka to French imperialism.

“The segregation and discrimination policies of Smuts and Hertzog achieved their aims.” Discuss.

To what extent did growing international opposition contribute to the collapse of the apartheid system?

With reference to social and economic developments in Kenya up to 1963, to what extent was British rule more of a success than a failure?

“The administrative systems used by the British in Nigeria were a success.” Discuss.

With reference to one area of Africa, discuss the changing role of women within the period from 1800 to 1960.

To what extent was dissatisfaction with some elements of Christianity a major cause of the emergence of Independent Churches?

Compare and contrast the achievement of independence in Tanganyika and Kenya.

“Mozambique achieved independence because of external factors rather than internal factors.” Discuss.

Examine the role of political parties and leaders in the achievement of independence in Senegal in 1960.

Evaluate the reasons why Namibia (South West Africa) achieved its independence significantly later than Ghana (Gold Coast).

Evaluate the political impact of ethnic conflict in any two African countries.

Discuss the reasons why one-party states were established in any two African countries.

To what extent did the structure of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) affect the achievement of its aims?

Compare and contrast the regional impact of the East African Community and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

With reference to two Southeast Asian countries, discuss the nature and effects of colonial rule.

Discuss the reasons why the Great Revolt (Indian Mutiny) of 1857 was so violent.

Examine the reasons for, and the consequences of, the failure of the Western trade missions to China.

With reference to the period up to 1868, examine the political impact of Commodore Perry’s arrival in Japan.

“The Government of India Act 1858 was a major influence on the emergence of a nationalist movement in India.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

“The Siamese monarchs’ effective use of diplomacy ensured their country’s independence was maintained.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

To what extent was conservative opposition responsible for the failure of the Self-Strengthening Movement (1861–1894)?

To what extent did the social and cultural developments of the Meiji period transform Japan?

Examine the ways in which the non-cooperation campaign and the civil disobedience campaign contributed to the movement for Indian Independence.

With reference to two Southeast Asian countries, to what extent did the Japanese occupation lead to the emergence of nationalism?

“The conflict between Yuan Shikai (Yuan Shih-k’ai) and the Guomindang, GMD (Kuomintang, KMT) undermined the principles of the Chinese Republic.” Discuss.

“The importance of the Long March to the survival of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the 1930s has been exaggerated.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

To what extent did Japan have a successful democratic parliamentary system of government by 1929?

Discuss the reasons for Japan’s changing relations with the West between 1929 and 1940.

Examine the impact of the Second World War on the foreign and domestic policies of Australia up to 1972.

Discuss the relationship between New Zealand and the Pacific Island states in the second half of the 20th century.

Evaluate the success of Zulfikar Bhutto’s domestic policies.

With reference to two of the following countries: the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Burma, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, examine the factors that have helped and hindered their political development.

“By 1961 the Chinese people’s hopes for a more prosperous and a fairer China had not been realised.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Discuss the reasons for China’s emergence as a global power by 2000.

To what extent did the Korean War contribute to South Korea’s economic miracle?

Discuss the factors that led to Taiwan’s economic success.

With reference to one country of the region, discuss the impact of changes in education and technology on the economic development of that country.

With reference to one country of the region, to what extent have changing gender roles had a significant impact on the society of that country?

“Failure to solve the political challenges of the ancien régime caused the French Revolution.” Discuss.

“Napoleon’s domestic and foreign policies underwent major change after his coronation as Emperor in 1804.” Discuss.

To what extent did Mazzini’s ideology contribute to Italian unification?

Discuss the objectives of Bismarck’s foreign policy between 1871 and 1890.

Discuss the causes of the Greek War of Independence.

Discuss the causes of the Balkan Wars of 1912 to 1913.

Evaluate the impact of the Dreyfus affair in France.

Evaluate the successes and failures of Gladstone’s domestic policies between 1868 and 1894.

Evaluate the economic and political impact of the domestic policies of Nicholas II between 1894 and 1914.

“The political and military weaknesses of the Whites led to Bolshevik victory in the Russian Civil War.” Discuss.

To what extent did the Alliance System contribute to the outbreak of the First World War?

“Economic factors determined the outcome of the First World War.” Discuss.

Evaluate the factors that led to the creation of the State of Israel.

Evaluate the nature of Reza Shah’s regime (1925–1941).

Examine the social and economic impact on Italy of Mussolini’s domestic policies.

Discuss the impact of the purges in the Soviet Union.

Compare and contrast the foreign policies of Khrushchev and Brezhnev.

“While there was limited political change, there was significant economic development in Spain in the period from 1939 to 1975.” Discuss.

With reference to one Western European state (excluding Germany and Spain), discuss the main aspects of domestic policy in the years from 1945 to 2000.

Compare and contrast the domestic policies of Nasser and Sadat.

“The issue of the Occupied Territories was the major obstacle to peace in the period up to 2000.” Discuss.

With reference to one country of the region discuss the reasons for its changing social structure over a period of approximately fifty years.

With reference to one country of the region, evaluate the causes of urbanization during a period of approximately fifty years.

Evaluate the role of foreign intervention on two independence movements in the Americas.

Compare and contrast the independence movements in two countries in Latin America.

Evaluate the main challenges to the establishment of political systems in the emerging nations of Latin America.

Evaluate the arguments used to oppose Canadian Confederation.

To what extent did the expansion of slavery contribute to the outbreak of the US Civil War?

“1863 was the military and moral turning point of the US Civil War.” Discuss.

Discuss the influence of neocolonialism in the development of two nations in the Americas between 1865 and 1929.

Evaluate the impact of “indigenismo” and nativism in Latin America in the period from 1865 to 1929.

Examine the long and short-term causes of the Spanish–American War (1898).

“Whether it was called the Big Stick, Dollar Diplomacy or Moral Diplomacy, the impact of United States foreign policy towards Latin America was virtually the same.” Discuss.

“The Mexican Revolution was not started by the oppressed; it began with a division within the dominant elite.” Discuss.

Examine the impact of the Mexican revolution on the arts and education.

Compare and contrast the causes of the Great Depression in two countries in the Americas.

“The Great Depression of 1929 presented Latin America with opportunities as well as problems.” Discuss.

To what extent was hemispheric cooperation between countries in the Americas successful between 1933 and 1945?

Examine the social impact of the Second World War on two of the following groups: African Americans, Native Americans, women, minorities.

Evaluate the extent to which the domestic policies of one Latin American leader during the period from 1945 to 1979 were populist.

Evaluate the impact of one military regime in Latin America between 1945 and 1979.
Note: Castro’s Cuba is not an appropriate example for this question.

Evaluate the reasons for, and the consequences of, Nixon’s covert operations in Chile.

“After 1945, the foreign policy of countries in the Americas was largely shaped by the Cold War.” Discuss with reference to either Canada or one Latin American country.

Evaluate the reasons for the emergence and development of radical African American activism in the 1960s and 1970s.

Evaluate the factors that led to the emergence of a counterculture in the 1960s and 1970s in the Americas.

Evaluate the impact of Reagan’s foreign policy on Latin America.

Discuss the social and economic effects of globalization on one country in the Americas during the period from 1980 to 2000.

“By 1929, the Weimar Republic had overcome the problems of the immediate post-war years.” Discuss.