Practice Paper 1

1 (a) What, according to Source E, was the significance of the Locarno Conference?

- According to source E, the significance of the Locarno Confernence was that it contributed the security within Europe, and it presented a positive future for the Rhineland, which would be evacuation of the region. Also, its states that Stressemann's initiative was successful, because the Rhineland was demilitarized, and Germany was willing to enter the League of Nations. Another significant point was that was an attempt to move towards peace, and form alliances within Europe.

1 (b) What message is conveyed by source D?

-The cartoon in source D is showing Briand, Chamberlain and Stresemann forming an alliance in order to strengthen the League of Nations. However, while Stresemann and Chamberlain are shaking with both hands, Briand is holding a boxing glove behind his back. This shows that he simply making the alliance to please the other leaders, but he will probably not stay true to the pact made, but the other two are committed to the alliance.

2. Compare and contrast the views expressed about the Locarno Conference in sources B and C

- Document B is an extract of a speech given by Garnett, a secretary of the League of Nations. The document portrays the Locarno Conference as a success, which will increase security among the European nations, and will soon get rid of all chances of war.

Document C is an extract from the British Foreign and Commonwealth website. The views expressed in document C are that, as a result of the Locarno Conference, France and Great Britain would never be able to revive their alliance, or create any military talks.

Both documents analyze the effects of the Locarno Conference, and its success in preventing a future war. Also, both documents B and C, mention allies, and borders. However, while source B states that any possibility of war would soon be diminished, source C states Britain's obligations in the case of a war. Additionally, source B states that France and Britain can and will work together, while source C states that all possibilities of the two nations working together were eliminated by the Locarno Conference.

4. Using these sources and your own knowledge, analyse the importance of the Locarno Conference for international relations between 1925 and 1936

During the time the Locarno Conference occurred, Europe was in a state of turmoil and Germany was beginning to gain power, causing the other European Nations to feel threatened. The Locarno Conference was meant to reassure these nations, and secure peace within Europe.

Sources A, B and E support the view that as a result of the Locarno Conference there will be peace within Europe, and that borders will be secured. On the other hand, Source C states that due to the Locarno Conference, alliances will not be able to be made between France and Great Britain, straining the peace within Europe. Source D, is a cartoon depicting the view that the treaty will be broken, because not all the members involved in the agreement are honesty and true to the treaty.

The Locarno Conference was meant to create alliances within Europe, assure peace, and demilitarize the Rhineland. It was an important conference because it allowed the League of Nations to show that they indeed did have power to the world. It was also a major step towards peace, which was one of Chamberlain's largest goals.

Document anaylsis

3 Document case-study questions:

1. In document 4.1 Hitler is stating that Germany has the right to conquer land, and change boundaries. He states that Germany will either be a "world power or there will be no Germany." He also states that Germany must stop focusing on the south and the west, and must move towards Russia and the countries near Russia, because that was where the land was. Hitler also states that they must move toward the "soil policy"- gaining as much land as possible. Meanwhile in document 4.3 it states that the main goal of Germany is to "secure and preserve the racial community and enlarge it." In this document, Hitler also states that Germany's main concerns is France and Britain, and that Germany must overthrow Czechoslovakia and Austria simultaneously. However, a common theme between the two documents is Hitlers desire for more land.

3. The significance of Chamberlain's views in document 4.4 is that is shows Britains desire not to go to war, and the extent to which Chamberlain was willing to go to avoid war. In this document he is willing to give Czechoslovakia to the Germans as a mean of avoiding war. His excuse is that there is no way France or Great Britain could protect the Czechs. Chamberlain also mentions the power and weapons Germany has, but he seems not to care.

6. In document 4.2 Roosevelt is supporting a non-violent policy, and a policy of peace. He also is strongly against war, and refuses to get involved, however he does warn that America cannot ensure themselves "against the disastrous effects of war and the dangers of involvement...." Roosevelt also lists the horrors of war, and appears to not understand why Germany has decided to attack civilians, and countries. He also states that the peace-loving nations must continue to remain in opposition to breaking of treaties, but also warns there is no escape through isolation or neutrality. In document 4.7 Roosevelt has involved himself in the war, by sending materials to Japan. He says he does this to keep peace in the pacific region. Also that his is afraid of Japan seizing all the oil, which makes Roosevelt and US side with France an Great Britain. Also, he says that he supplies oil otherwise Japan would attack the netherlands, and be closer to France. So from 4.2 to 4.7 Roosevelt has sided with France and Britain, and as a result has involved himself, in a small way, in the war.

The Punitive Expedition

After Carranza gained control in Mexico City, Zapata  had no interest in Villa's campaigns, or the events occurring in Mexico City.

-August 1914-August 1915: Mexico City was put under Obregons sanctions, then Villa's reign of terror, and then back to Obregon, who destroyed the city (313) Then Zapata's men gain controlled, and began looting the city; eventually the citizens viewed Zapata's men to be as bad as Obregons

-Zapatas two main principals:

1. Support village leaders (315)

2. The civilian must always take precedence over the military (315)

-Palafox- One of Zapatas main men, who was a socialist (315)

-Zapata saw Villas campaign as a mean the end of land reform (315)

-2 August- Gonzalez takes over Mexico City: Zapata did nothing because thought Carranza would be as short lived as Huerta

-19 October: Woodrow Wilson put an embargo on all arms sells to Carranza's enemies  

-1916: Carranza sets out to completely destroy Zapata, by mid- June Zapata had lost most of his army and had fled to the mountains (318)

-March 1917: Wilson was forced to acknowledge Carranza as Mexico's leader, which Villa took personally and became furious with the Americans. Villa also thought that Carranza and Wilson were working together to dismember Mexico (320)

Villa and Columbus, New Mexico

-Four different motives for Villas attack on Columbus have been suggested

1. Personal Revenge on an arms dealer (322)

2. Villa was a pawn in unseen hands. Maybe have been a pawn for German's for US businesses (322)

3. Villa acted alone and on impulse (322)

4. Villa believed the US wanted to annex Mexico, so he thought it would be better to ignite a war now (322)

The attack (323): The attack was a failure for Villa

-Result: Wilson was forced to take action against Villa, and enter Mexico. Although he did not want to because he wanted to focus his attention on Europe. 

-Pershing, a US general, entered Mexico on the 10 March

- His troops faced difficulties with the desert weather, and villagers were uncooperative, however Carranza secretly helped him. 

- As a result, the villagers began to like Villa

-17 March:  Villa had his 1st fight with federal forces, and won the battle

- Villa got a wound and was forced to go to the mountains for two months (327) During those 2 months, many of Villas men and generals were killed including Lopez (328) who became a martyr 

-Villas army was now neutralized, but Wilson didn't want to pull out because Carranza had made no concessions to Washington (329)

-As a result, Carranza felt that the US intended to stay for a long time

Four-way Conflict

1. Carranza and Wilson: Both wanted Villa gone, but Carranza wanted Pershing to be removed from Mexico. While Wilson wanted Carranza to authorize a joint operation between Pershings troops and Mexican federal forces (330). Meanwhile Pershing wanted to be able to go after Villa in his own way

-In may Villa attacked the US border again, and Carranza reacted by saying no more American troops could enter, and he demanded Pershing leave Mexico

-21 june: major battle between Pershing and Carranza troops (331)

- Finally after many negations (332) the last American soldier left Mexico on 5 February 

Results of the Punitive Expedition:

- Germany no longer feared the US (333) and ordered unrestricted warfare

-Helped train UA GIs and convinced the public that military spending was needed

-Zimmermann telegram: February 1917: German foreign secretary, Zimmermann, sent a telegraph to Mexico, asking them to engage the US in a war, which Germany would help to supply (333)

- Villa was given a lot of credit, and he once again became a strong military leader

IA- Evidence of research

Topic: How the bombing of Guernica changed the nature of war 

Guernica and Total War. author: Ian Patterson

Notes from Chapter 1:

The bombing of Guernica became the center of international attention, and has remained so because of its large impact. 

- It was the first time a unmilitarised town in Europe had been subjugated to that type of attack- (pg 17 good quote)

- General Franco's rebel forces denied all responsibility claiming it was the Basque republicans (pg 17)

- Became a huge event in the press, who used pictures for propaganda

Franco would not allow this bombing to be mentioned until 1960 (pg 20)

The German Condor Legion was responsible for the bombings

A few weeks prior, Durango had been bombed, as a result about 3,000 refugees fled from Durango to Guernica. Guernica alone had a population of 7,000 (pg 24)

At 4:30 pm the air-raid warning went off, and 6 bombes were dropped on the town (26)

For 15 or 20 minutes nothing happened, so people began coming out of their shelters when more planes came through, and dropped more  bombs, grenades, and shooting people with machine guns. Then, around 5 pm larger bombers came. These planes bombed Guernica in waves 20 minutes apart for about two hours (27-28)

why Guernica? Guernica was the symbolic city for the Basque region, and held many Basque historic records (30) and to demoralize the Basque popultion (good quote 31)

Germany denied all involvement, and for awhile the world believed them (35)

Good first hand account quoted on pages 43-44 and 47

The Guernica Generation author: Dorothy Legarreta

Chapter 1 Notes: War and Evacuation in Euzkadi

- good background information

In the 1930' s many Fascist leaders began to gain power, and Germany turned her attention towards spain (9)

After the Civil War, food became scarce and extremely expensive  (21) which made living conditions hard the Basques

1937- Franco put a blockade on the Basque coast, some German ships were part of this blockade (23)

Soon bombings began happening throughout the Bsaque states, in one state 3,000 bombs were dropped in 7 months (29)

Bombing of Guernica (same book)

-for the 1st time, small incendiary bombs were used with aerial bombs (32)

no troops were stationed in Guernica, and no anti-aircraft protection

the Spanish government did almost nothing to help the Basque regions 

Villa and Zapata: Civil War Notes

-On January 1915 another Civil War began between Villa and Carranza. At this time, Villa and his men were in Mexico City

- there were 3 many issues that divide them:

1. the issue over the central government: Villa wanted an autonomous state while Carranza          wanted a strong, powerful government

2. Land- Villa would confiscate land from the elite for his military, on the other hand Carranza would return land to the wealthy

3. US- Villa was pro- american, he respected Woodrow Wilson. Carranza was anti-american

- Villa's strengths: Villa had most of northern Mexico under his control, he had railways and many ways to communicate, the US liked him (because he was pro-american),  and with one victory he could ruin Carranza.

-Villas weaknesses: Due his him mens behavior in Mexico City, a lot of the middle class did not like him, he was careless about his image, and he could not control his men well. He also was running low on cattle and cotton to export, which was a main way for him to receive money, which caused him to slowly dislike the US

-Carranza strengths: He had stronger propaganda, used the behavior of Villa's men against him, and he realized that there was a problem of increased debt peonage. Villa wouldn't use bad propaganda against Carranza. 

Villa's downfall:

-Villa should have gone and attacked Obregon in Veracruz, but instead he headed north, where he felt more comfortable: as a result neither Villa or Zapata was in Mexico City. 

-Obregon then took over Mexico City

-Villa then lost a vital battle, in Celaya, to Obregon in April 1915

-Villa then attempted attacking Celaya once again, but he used the same tactics, which caused him to suffer heavy losses

-By July Villa had lost almost all power, and Carranza was considered the leader

-By December, most of Villas men turned towards Carranzas side

-Villa then turned back to fighting with guerilla tactics

Other facts

-During this time Fierro dies, one of Villas main and most loyal men in quick sand. He died on October 14, 1915

OPVL: Origins of WWI and WWII

Source 3.2: Hitlers View on the Versailles Treaty

This source is a passage taken from the book Adolf Hitler wrote while imprisoned, Mein Kampf (My Struggles). The purpose of this document is to state his opinions on the Treaty of Versailles and it's effects on Germany, as well as to state his goals for Germany's future. Another aim of this passage to convince Germans to follow his cause and take on his beliefs. The value of this source is that it clearly states Hitlers aims and demonstrates how passionate he is about making Germany powerful once again. However, the limitations of this source are that it lacks historical perspective and it is a bias account.

Source 3.6: The Paris Peace Settlement: A British assessment 

This source is a British assessment stated by a British delegate at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. The purpose of this source is to state his opinions on the terms agreed upon at the Paris Peace Conference, as well as to state how he believes historians will view the terms in the future. Another aim is to get the nations to realize how harsh they are being on Germany. The value of this source is its ability to clearly state the opinions of one delegate at the Paris Peace Conference, as well as the ability it has in demonstrating the overbearing confidence the Allied nations had the conference. The limitation is that lacks historical perspective and it is a bias account. 

Idea's for History IA topic

I have a few ideas, although I am still a little unsure because the two topics I have in mind are general at this point.

1) The Spanish Civil War- Focus on how it was a proxy war between Nazi Germany/ Italy and the Soviet Union. I could then focus on how this proxy war helped with Nazi Germany's success in WWII. 

2) The Cuban Missile Crisis. This then obviously brings in Castro and the Cold War. Although with this topic i am not sure what I would focus on yet. Probably something about how it added to red scare or nuclear arms. 

Convergence of the Twain

After Carranza was forced out of Mexico City, Zapata and his men marched in and took control. To Zapata, tradition and land reform were of high importance and as a result, when he entered Mexico City he treated all the civilians with respect and kindness. Despite his victory Zapata still faced four big problems (pg 267). The largest problems he faced was banditry and the alliance with Villa. To solve this problem Villa invited Zapata to meet him in Mexico City on December 4. This was to be the only time the two great leaders of the Mexican Revolution meet. The two decided that neither of them wanted the presidency, however, the president would still have to to be underneath them. They also decided Villa would remain in the North and Zapata in the South. A few months later, Zapata went back to the South because he realized Villa's desire was to have more control. After Zapata's departure Villa began a reign of terror in Mexico City, and his men began to terrorize the civilians. As a result President Gutuierrez fled the city and issued a manifesto condemning Villa and Zapata. This resulted in their alliance being a standstill and ultimately the end of their power.