IBDP History: The Second World War and the Americas (1933–1945)-IB Style questions-HL option 2 -Paper 3

Question

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

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

Candidates may refer to the effects of political and diplomatic efforts to improve cooperation within the region in the given period. One possible approach could be to evaluate whether specific cases of hemispheric cooperation were able to achieve their aims.

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Inter-American political and defence relations improved after 1933
• The Buenos Aires conference (1936) or Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace attempted to prevent countries’ intervention in each other’s affairs.
• The Declaration of Lima (1938) reiterated the purpose of nations supporting one another against attacks from outside of the region.
• Before and during the Second World War, countries coordinated regional policies towards the outbreak of war at meetings in Panama (1939), Havana (1940) and Rio de Janeiro (1942).

Relations between the US and specific Latin American countries improved
• The Platt Amendment with Cuba was terminated (1934) and a new Treaty of Relations was drafted.
• In 1936, the US signed a treaty with Panama ending the right of the US to interfere in the domestic issues of Panama.
• Commercial bilateral agreements were signed to encourage inter-American trade by reducing tariffs.
• The Export-Import (EXIM) Bank was founded (1934) and encouraged trade between US and other nations in the region.

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.

Question

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

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

Candidates are required to consider the interrelationship between the social impact of the war and any two of the stated groups. Since no country is identified in the question, these groups can come from one country or more than one country.

Indicative content
• Answers will vary based upon the country or countries chosen. Popular countries might be the US and/or Canada.
• For the US and/or Canada, candidates are likely to discuss the increasing number of women in the workforce and in the military, breaking social barriers and resulting in the women’s movement.
• Similarly, candidates might discuss the increasing number of African-Americans in the workforce; the Double V Campaign and military contributions that also broke barriers, giving rise to the civil rights movement and the integration of the Armed Forces a few years later.
• The relocation of Japanese-Americans and Japanese-Canadians to internment camps might also be discussed.

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.

Question

Examine the social impact of the Second World War on minorities in one country in the Americas up to 1945.

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

Candidates must examine how minorities were affected socially by the Second World War, up to 1945, in any one country of the region. While they may generalize as to how minorities were affected, specific examples should be applied as evidence to support the generalizations.

Indicative content
• The Second World War contributed to economic growth, due mostly to defence-related job creation. Minorities often found greater opportunity for social mobility as they acquired positions that provided higher wages, more secure employment and advanced social standing.
• Economic opportunity created by the war led to changes in both the pace and pattern of migration by minorities, especially rural to urban migration. The interaction of minorities in an urban culture established opportunities for cultural borrowing and intermarriage, among other effects. However, clashes among competing minorities or conflict with the dominant cultural group also occurred.
• Immigration patterns were also affected by the Second World War. In some cases, immigration of minorities was expanded to meet the needs of agriculture and industry, replacing native-born individuals that had entered the military. In other cases, immigration rates declined due to risks associated with wartime travel or due to restrictions tightened for reasons of national security.
• New opportunities were opened for minorities to enter the armed forces within those nations of the region that declared war. In general, minorities achieved more, but less than full, equality in their respective branches of service as compared to their pre-war position. Minorities often gained respect and some advancement of status due to their service, which was less restricted to menial labour than in the First World War. There were some minority groups that had distinguished combat records.
• In some countries of the region, minorities were isolated to internment camps, based on either their nationality or concern in regard to their loyalty. Internment generally caused long-term social stigma and loss of civil liberty as well as economic hardship.

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so

Question

“The economic and diplomatic effects of the Second World War were of limited significance.”Discuss with reference to one country in the Americas up to 1945.

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans:

Candidates must offer a considered and balanced review of the influence of the Second World War on the economy of the selected country and on its diplomatic relations with others. Answers will depend on the country chosen and it must be noted that the question stops in 1945.

Indicative content
Economic effects:
• These may include its contribution to the end of the Depression, conversion from a peacetime to a wartime economy, increase in the demand of goods and employment opportunities (including women and minorities), government control (resources, production, wages and prices), inflation, rationing and changes in trade relations.

Diplomatic effects:
• These may include the early stages of the war and neutrality, relations with the belligerent nations before and after US entry in 1941, US pressure on countries to declare war on the Axis powers, and economic and political agreements up to 1945.

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so

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