History Paper 2
IB History Paper 2 Past Questions
and Markschemes
Topic 1 Causes, practices and effects of war
1. Analyse the results of either the First World
War or the Second World War. (May 2005)
Candidates should understand by results, the actual
results of the war – which side won, the effects
upon both sides and the wider effects.
For the First World War, the winning side consisted
of Britain and the Commonwealth, France, Italy, the
USA and their allies. Both winners and losers
suffered financially, economically and socially, and
the losers were subjected to the Treaty of Versailles
and the other treaties. Candidates could outline main
clauses, and analyse their effects. The Ottoman,
Austrian and German empires all ceased to exist. No
doubt many candidates will include the rise of Hitler,
the Great Depression and the Second World War as
results. For the Second World War, again the allies
of Britain, USA, France, and this time the USSR,
and their allies won the war. Results again were
devastation and economic problems throughout
Europe and in the Pacific region. The main results to
analyse could be: the defeat of Hitler and the Nazis;
the Cold War; the rise of superpowers, the impetus
to granting independence to European colonies; the
1
,History Paper 2
changing nature of Europe, perhaps leading to the
European Union.
2
,History Paper 2
Candidates should know much and high marks will
depend on analysis and selection.
[0 to 7 marks] for inadequate general comments.
[8 to 10 marks] for narrative with implicit
analysis. [11 to 13 marks] for suitable selection of
material and explicit analysis.
[14 to 16 marks] for structured, analytical answers,
focused on results.
[17+ marks] for balance, in-depth analysis and
perhaps different interpretations.
2. Examine the impact of foreign intervention on
either the Chinese Civil War or the Spanish Civil
War. (May 2005)
Foreign intervention could be concerned with causes,
course and results of the chosen civil war. As no
dates are given, candidates can either use the long
term civil war in China, or concentrate on the period
1946 to 1949. Mao and the CCP received some
assistance from communist supporters, but their
main strength was their own people, whereas the
Kuomintang or KMT/GMD was aided by the USA
(which had tried to mediate between the two sides),
and lost support because of this foreign element.
Both sides in the Spanish Civil War received
foreign help, but the German and Italian support for
Franco and the Nationalists was more useful than
the communist, socialist, anarchist etc. support
3
, History Paper 2
given to the Republicans.
[0 to 7 marks] for general comments on the chosen
civil war with no mention of foreign involvement.
4
IB History Paper 2 Past Questions
and Markschemes
Topic 1 Causes, practices and effects of war
1. Analyse the results of either the First World
War or the Second World War. (May 2005)
Candidates should understand by results, the actual
results of the war – which side won, the effects
upon both sides and the wider effects.
For the First World War, the winning side consisted
of Britain and the Commonwealth, France, Italy, the
USA and their allies. Both winners and losers
suffered financially, economically and socially, and
the losers were subjected to the Treaty of Versailles
and the other treaties. Candidates could outline main
clauses, and analyse their effects. The Ottoman,
Austrian and German empires all ceased to exist. No
doubt many candidates will include the rise of Hitler,
the Great Depression and the Second World War as
results. For the Second World War, again the allies
of Britain, USA, France, and this time the USSR,
and their allies won the war. Results again were
devastation and economic problems throughout
Europe and in the Pacific region. The main results to
analyse could be: the defeat of Hitler and the Nazis;
the Cold War; the rise of superpowers, the impetus
to granting independence to European colonies; the
1
,History Paper 2
changing nature of Europe, perhaps leading to the
European Union.
2
,History Paper 2
Candidates should know much and high marks will
depend on analysis and selection.
[0 to 7 marks] for inadequate general comments.
[8 to 10 marks] for narrative with implicit
analysis. [11 to 13 marks] for suitable selection of
material and explicit analysis.
[14 to 16 marks] for structured, analytical answers,
focused on results.
[17+ marks] for balance, in-depth analysis and
perhaps different interpretations.
2. Examine the impact of foreign intervention on
either the Chinese Civil War or the Spanish Civil
War. (May 2005)
Foreign intervention could be concerned with causes,
course and results of the chosen civil war. As no
dates are given, candidates can either use the long
term civil war in China, or concentrate on the period
1946 to 1949. Mao and the CCP received some
assistance from communist supporters, but their
main strength was their own people, whereas the
Kuomintang or KMT/GMD was aided by the USA
(which had tried to mediate between the two sides),
and lost support because of this foreign element.
Both sides in the Spanish Civil War received
foreign help, but the German and Italian support for
Franco and the Nationalists was more useful than
the communist, socialist, anarchist etc. support
3
, History Paper 2
given to the Republicans.
[0 to 7 marks] for general comments on the chosen
civil war with no mention of foreign involvement.
4
