IB History Past Questions – Papers 2 & 3
Paper 2 – Topic 1: Causes, practices and effects of war.
Civil Wars
1. Analyze the principal causes of either the Algerian War (1954-62) or the Spanish Civil War (1936-39).
2. To what extent did foreign involvement affect the outcome of either the Spanish Civil War, or the Vietnam War?
3. Analyze the impact of foreign intervention on either the Chinese Civil War or the Spanish Civil War.
4. Compare and contrast the reasons for, and impact of, foreign involvement in two of the following: Russian Civil War, Spanish Civil War, Chinese Civil War.
First & Second World Wars
5. Analyze the reasons for the defeat of Germany in either the First World War or the Second World War.
6. Analyze (a) the long-term causes and (b) the short-term causes, of the Second World War.
7. Why, and with what results, was the First World War not confined to Europe?
8. Assess the social and economic causes of one twentieth century war.
9. Account for either the defeat of the Central Powers in the First World War or the Axis Powers in the Second World War.
Practices of War
10. Compare and contrast the use of naval warfare in two wars, each chosen from a different region.
11. Assess the importance of air power in determining the outcome of one twentieth century war.
12. Define limited war and explain to what extent one twentieth century war was a limited war.
13. Examine the role of warfare either at sea or in the air in two wars each chosen from a different region.
14. Evaluate the contribution made towards the war effort by civilians on both the home front and the battle front in two wars, each chosen from a different region.
Effects of War
15. In what ways, and with what results, did twentieth century wars increase the role and status of women?
16. Compare and contrast the social and economic issues caused by two wars, each chosen from a different region.
17. Analyze the results of one twentieth century treaty of peace settlement.
18. For what reasons, and in what ways, did one twentieth century war effect the social and economic conditions of two countries fighting in it?
19. Analyze the results of either the First World War or the Second World War.
20. To what extent to you agree with the view that war accelerates social change?
21. “Peace settlements create conditions for new conflicts.” With reference to at least two settlements explain to what extent you agree with this statement.
Paper 2 – Topic 3: Origins and development of authoritarian and single-party states
Origins & Rise of Dictators
1. Analyze the circumstances that helped one right-wing leader to become the ruler of a single-party state.
2. “Unpopular rulers or governments, and their overthrow, were responsible for the formation of the majority of twentieth century single-party states.” To what extent to you agree with this assertion?
3. Analyze the rise to power of either Hitler or Lenin.
4. Analyze the methods used and the conditions which helped in the rise to power of one ruler of a single-party state.
Support & Opposition
5. Discuss (a) the support for, and (b) the ideology of, one left-wing ruler of a single-party state.
6. Evaluate the methods used by either Lenin (1918-24) or Mussolini (1922-39) to consolidate his rule.
7. Account for the ineffectiveness of internal opposition to two rulers of single-party states.
Domestic Policy
8. Examine the role of the media in one single-party or authoritarian state.
9. In 1924 Hitler wrote: “The masses of the population are more affected by rhetoric than by any other force. All great movements are popular movements.” To what extent do you agree with this assertion?
10. For what reasons, and with what results, did rulers of single-party states both support and censor the arts?
11. Compare and contrast the regime of one right-wing and one left-wing single-party state.
12. With reference to at least two rulers, assess the importance of social and economic policies for rulers of single-party states.
13. To what extent was the ruler of one single-party state successful in achieving his aims?
14. Evaluate the successes and failures of one ruler of a single-party state.
15. Examine the status of women in two single-party states, each chosen from a different region.
16. With reference to two examples each chosen from a different region, to what extent do you agree with the claim that “ideology was the most important factor in the rise to power of single-party leaders”?
17. How successful was either Lenin (1918-24) or Mussolini (1922-43) in solving the problems he faced?
18. Identify the aims of educational and youth policies in two single-party states, and evaluate the extent to which they were achieved.
Foreign Policy
19. To what extent was foreign policy (a) the key to success, or (b) the reason for failure, for the rulers of two single-party states, each chosen from a different region?
20. Compare and contrast the influence outside of their own countries of Hitler and Mao.
Paper 3 – Topic 5: Imperial Russia, revolution, and emergence of the Soviet State 1853-1924
Alexander II
1. “His measures of reform did not disguise his belief in the need to maintain autocratic rule.” To what extent do you agree with this view of Alexander II?
2. “What happened in Russia during the reign of Alexander II (1855-1881) was more a revolution than many that went by that name elsewhere.” To what extent do you agree with the assertion that Alexander II’s policies were revolutionary?
3. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of Russia in the second half of the 19th century.
4. “Considering the difficulties he inherited, Alexander II of Russia should be praised not criticized for his reforms.” To what extent do you agree with this judgment?
Revolutions
5. Compare and contrast the causes and nature of the two 1917 Russian Revolutions.
6. Analyze the causes of the 1917 February/March Russia Revolution.
7. Analyze the reasons for the success of the Bolsheviks in the second (October/November) 1917 Russian Revolution.
8. Compare and contrast the roles of Lenin and Trotsky in the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, and in the foundation of the new Soviet State until 1924.
Paper 3 – Topic 6: European diplomacy and the First World War 1870-1923
German Foreign Policy
1. Evaluate continuity and change in German foreign policy between 1871 and 1914.
2. Analyze Bismarck’s impact on Germany between 1871 and 1890.
3. “Bismarck pursued a successful foreign policy between 1871 and 1890, but was often defeated on domestic issues.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
First World War
4. Why did the First World War break out in 1914?
5. Why were the Central Powers defeated in the First World War?
6. In what ways, and to what extent, did the internal and external policies of Austria-Hungary after 1867 lead to the First World War?
Post-WW1 Settlements
7. Analyze the successes and failures of one post-First World War treaty.
8. Analyze the effects on two European states (excluding Germany), of the Paris Peace Settlements, 1919-20.
Paper 3 – Topic 8: Interwar years: conflict and cooperation 1919-39
Hitler & Mussolini
1. Compare and contrast the domestic policies of Hitler and Mussolini.
2. Evaluate the impact on Italy of Mussolini’s domestic and foreign policies between 1922 and 1939.
3. Mussolini wrote “war alone drives men to make their greatest sacrifices”. In what ways, and with what success, did Mussolini seek to put this belief into practice?
4. “Mussolini’s greatest skill lay in projecting himself through propaganda as a great leader.” How far do you agree with this assertion?
Economic & Political Crisis
5. Analyze the causes and results of economic problems in one European country between 1919 and 1939.
6. Compare and contrast political and economic problems, between 1919 and 1939, in two of the following: France, Germany, Great Britain.
7. Why was the Weimar Republic so short-lived?
Collective Security
8. For what reasons, and to what extent, did attempts to achieve collective security between 1919 and 1939 fail?