Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918-1939

    AQA
    GCSE

    This wider world depth study examines the complex dynamics of international relations from the Armistice of 1918 to the outbreak of war in 1939. Candidates must evaluate the mechanisms of peace-making, specifically the Treaty of Versailles and the structural integrity of the League of Nations. The study necessitates a critical analysis of the collapse of collective security in the 1930s, driven by the Great Depression and the aggressive foreign policies of revisionist powers (Germany, Italy, Japan), culminating in the failure of Appeasement and the invasion of Poland.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks in Source questions (Q2) only when provenance (Nature, Origin, Purpose) is explicitly linked to utility for the specific enquiry.
    • Credit 'Write an account' responses (Q3) that demonstrate sequencing and causation (e.g., 'This led to...' or 'As a result...'), rather than simple narrative description.
    • Ensure the 16-mark essay (Q4) contains a sustained line of reasoning; the conclusion must logically follow from the preceding analysis, not just summarize it.
    • Differentiate between 'failure' of the League due to structure (veto, absence of USA) versus failure due to member self-interest (Hoare-Laval Pact).

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have described the event accurately; now explain the *consequences* to access Level 3 marks."
    • "Your evaluation of the source's utility relies too much on content; you must analyse how the author's purpose affects reliability."
    • "Excellent factual recall, but your argument needs to explicitly address 'How far' by weighing the relative importance of the factors."
    • "Avoid generic statements like 'the source is biased'; specify *why* it is biased and how that impacts its use for a historian."

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks in Source questions (Q2) only when provenance (Nature, Origin, Purpose) is explicitly linked to utility for the specific enquiry.
    • Credit 'Write an account' responses (Q3) that demonstrate sequencing and causation (e.g., 'This led to...' or 'As a result...'), rather than simple narrative description.
    • Ensure the 16-mark essay (Q4) contains a sustained line of reasoning; the conclusion must logically follow from the preceding analysis, not just summarize it.
    • Differentiate between 'failure' of the League due to structure (veto, absence of USA) versus failure due to member self-interest (Hoare-Laval Pact).

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡For Q2 (Utility), apply the 'COP' method: Content (what it says), Origin (who/when), Purpose (why) – but ALWAYS link back to the specific question topic.
    • 💡In Q3 (Write an account), structure your answer into two distinct steps or phases of the event to ensure you hit the 'progression' criteria for top marks.
    • 💡Allocate time strictly: 5 mins for Q1, 15 mins for Q2, 10 mins for Q3, and 25 mins for Q4.
    • 💡In Q4, ensure you discuss the factor named in the statement first, then at least two other factors before concluding.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing the chronology of the Manchurian (1931) and Abyssinian (1935) crises.
    • Dismissing a source as 'useless' because it is biased; examiners require analysis of *how* the bias reveals the author's perspective or purpose.
    • Providing a narrative of events in the 16-mark question without explicitly addressing the 'How far do you agree' command.
    • Failing to identify specific terms of the Treaty of Versailles (e.g., Article 231, £6.6bn reparations) and using vague assertions instead.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    How do you know
    How useful
    Write an account
    How far do you agree
    Explain
    Study Sources

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