Questions
1.
[a] Source C states that the Geneva Conference failed because most of all the nations present only presented their 'own specific programs of rearmament.' The French refused to limit arms, thus immediately stomping any attempts at a world disarmament.
[b] The cartoon depicted in Source E portrays the result of the Geneva Conference. Professor Geneva (aka the conference) presented 'King Kong the Greatest Monster in Captivity.' King Kong is labelled with 'armaments' thus implying that the strongest monster in the world was the worlds weapons of warfare. Armaments is breaking free of its captivity, implying that once it is free peace (which is cowering in fear) will suffer at the worlds hands. The overal message from this cartoon is that the world cannot have a complete disarmament of its weapons and militaries. Peace will not successful with this ideation.
3.
Source C is a news piece, 'Izvestia', from the Soviet Union, dated on July 26, 1932. The exact author is considered to be unknown, thus making it more difficult to assess its limitations and values based on origin alone. The except from this news piece addresses the Geneva Conference, with its purpose being to specifically detail why the conference was not a success for the world. The intended audience it was written for was most likely to the people who were currently residing in the Soviet Union, and possbily to the League of Nations. The purpose of this source provides a good oppurtunity to address it's values for studying. One of the obvious values for studying this is that the news piece provides a direct insight into the Soviet Union and
Stalin's specific views on the conference. This value also has it's coinciding limitation that it presents a nationalistic bias, which is not uncommon for documents of this type. Another value is the educational purposes this documents provides. The reasons for the Geneva Conference failing are layed out, though they are from a one-sided point of view that blames the Soviet Union for no part of the failure. The reasons such as the excess amounts of other proposals can be confirmed by other sources, such as in Source E when Germany's views on the matter are introduced.
Source E is a Biritish source, published in 1999. This source is an excerpt from what is believed to be a book written by Carolyn Kitching entitled 'Britain and the Problem of International Disarmament, 1919-1934.' The excerpt provides a British perspective on who should be to blame for the failure of the Geneva Conference. The prime limitation is found alone in the origin. Carolyn Kitching is a British author who is 1) commenting on Germany's faults, 2) defending the French's faults and 3) not addressing any British faults. This document provides no British insight to their own country, thus making the documents value decrease. There is a value, howeve, found in the purpose. There's a new view on the matter of the failure that is being presented. It shows an opposite side of the argument in comparassion to Source C.
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Hi Dylan,
ReplyDeleteSolid work.
I had a 2/3 on 1a and a 2/3 on 1b for a 4 out of 5 marks.
Remember, make three solid points on a 3-mark question.
On the OPVL, I had you for easily a 4 out of 6 marks, and likely a 5/6 marks.
Overall, A- or A Sturgis grade.
Here's the markscheme for you to judge how you did!
3. With reference to their origin and purpose, assess the value and limitations of Source C and Source D for historians studying the Geneva Disarmament Conference.
[6 marks]
Source C:
Origin: Izvestia (‘News’), Soviet Union, 26 July 1932
Purpose: Izvestia was the most popular newspaper in the USSR at the time. Published to report the news on the disarmament conference to Soviet citizens, and to apportion blame for the failure of the conference on other powers.
Value: Gives a Marxist interpretation of the Conference, from a country not involved in the original Versailles treaty, gives details of some of the discussions (French role, ideas about LofNs)
Limitations: Censored, written for a domestic market, USSR not a member of the LofNs at the time, USSR had at Rapallo supported German rearmament (and therefore sympathetic to German case), USSR saw war as inevitable and knew the weakness of its own position in 1932, USSR ‘outcast’ still in Europe at this time.
Source D:
Origin: Carolyn J. Kitching, Britain and the Problem of International Disarmament, 1919-1934, 1999.
Purpose: to explain the proposals for international disarmament and their failings from a British perspective, audience: academics and students.
Value: It is a history book, published in 1999, which would allow for an analysis of the period with some objectivity and hindsight. It is a clearly focused, analytical text and addresses a defined subject area. Gives details of historical context, and German domestic policies which impacted on the conference
Limitations: as its purpose is to deal with British perspectives it might not cover other interpretations adequately.
Do not expect all of the above. Ideally there will be a balance between the two sources, and each one can be marked out of [3 marks], but allow a 4/2 split. If only one source is assessed mark out of [4 marks]. For a maximum of [6 marks] candidates must refer to both origin and purpose, and value and limitations in their assessment.
More good news - you were absent for a 50-point Paper 1 Quiz, and I have substituted this grade for it! So you earned a 40/50 Sturgis Grade!
Current grade - 61, and that's before any make up work we agreed to yesterday!
Now let's go! Keep the work coming!