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Y216/01 The USA in the 19th Century: Westward expansion and Civil War 1803–c1890Summer 2017 examination seriesVersion 1
H505For first teaching in 2015
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A LEVEL
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ContentsIntroduction 3
Question 1(a): Level 6 answer – 9 marks 4
Commentary 7
Question 1(b): Level 6 answer – 17 marks 8
Commentary 12
Question 2(a): Level 4 answer – 6 marks 13
Commentary 15
Question 2(b): Level 3 answer – 9 marks 16
Commentary 19
Question 2(a): Level 1 answer – 1 mark 20
Commentary 22
Question 2(b): Level 3 answer – 8 marks 23
Commentary 26
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IntroductionThese exemplar answers have been chosen from the summer 2017 examination series.
OCR is open to a wide variety of approaches and all answers are considered on their merits. These exemplars, therefore, should not be seen as the only way to answer questions but do illustrate how the mark scheme has been applied.
Please always refer to the specification (http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/170128-specification-accredited-a-level-gce-history-a-h505.pdf ) for full details of the assessment for this qualification. These exemplar answers should also be read in conjunction with the sample assessment materials and the June 2017 Examiners’ Report to Centres available on the OCR website http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/.
The question paper, mark scheme and any resource booklet(s) will be available on the OCR website from summer 2018. Until then, they are available on OCR Interchange (school exams officers will have a login for this).
It is important to note that approaches to question setting and marking will remain consistent. At the same time OCR reviews all its qualifications annually and may make small adjustments to improve the performance of its assessments. We will let you know of any substantive changes.
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Question 1(a)
Which of the following was of greater significance in opening up the West to settlement in the period after 1861?
(i) The Homestead Act (1862)
(ii) The Morrill Act (1862)
Explain your answer with reference to both (i) and (ii). [10]
Level 6 answer – 9 marks
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Examiner commentaryThe answer starts by arguing that both factors were important in allowing farmers to make a living on the newly acquired land in the west before going on to suggest the Morrill Act was more significant. The significance of the Homestead Act is explained and there is a balanced and quite detailed discussion of both the achievements and limitations of the act, which leads to a judgement. Similarly, in dealing with the Morrill Act there is sound explanation and analysis, with the response arguing that it was of greater significance because it helped to overcome some of the issues raised by the Homestead Act. The argument is well supported and is also placed in context of wider developments within agriculture. The response reaches a judgement, but this is less convincing in terms of the justification than the main body of the response and this means that the answer does not reach the very top of Level 6.
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Question 1(b)
To what extent can the success of the Republican Party in the years 1854–1861 be explained by the leadership of Lincoln? [20]
Level 6 answer – 17 marks
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Examiner commentaryThe opening offers a clear view about the importance of Lincoln and there is some explanation to support the claim made. The answer explains why Lincoln’s leadership should not be seen as the most important factor and provides some support for the argument. The response does explain his popularity in the north and lack of support in the south and also argues that his influence was more in the period after 1860 and therefore does not explain the earlier period. Democrat weaknesses are explained and again support is provided. The material is linked back to republican success and there is some comparison with the role of Lincoln. The issue of slavery is also explained and there is some detailed support about the role it played in 1856, with a further attempt to compare the issue with other factors. The conclusion does show a sense of judgement, but this is not developed. The attempted comparison of factors takes the answer into Level 6, but in order to go higher the overall judgement would need to be developed and there would also be greater support for some factors, notably on Lincoln himself.
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Question 2(a)
Which of the following was of greater importance in generating Northern hostility towards the South in the years 1850–1861?
(i) The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
(ii) The Dred Scott Decision of 1857
Explain your answer with reference to both (i) and (ii). [10]
Level 4 answer – 6 marks
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Examiner commentaryThe opening paragraph offers a view about the two issues and there is some explanation to support the claim made. There is some explanation of the importance of the Fugitive Slave Law and some support, but this needs to be further developed and might be linked to the slave conspiracy idea. The Dred Scott case is explained, although there is some description of it and the analysis is rather limited and quite basic in places. There is a judgement, but again this is not fully developed. The answer reaches Level 4 as there is some discussion of both issues and there is a supported judgement, but all aspects would need greater development if the response was to reach Level 5.
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Question 2(b)
“The consequences of Westward Expansion were entirely positive for the United States in the period 1803–c.1890.” How far do you agree? [20]
Level 3 answer – 9 marks
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Examiner commentaryThe opening does offer a view that westward expansion was positive and suggests a number of reasons for this view. The response tends to list the reasons why the expansion was positive, but the supporting detail is quite thin and general and there is no evaluation of the issues discussed. It then progresses to a discussion of the negative consequences and as with the positive elements, the supporting material is limited and the issues are explained but not really analysed or evaluated. The generalized approach is perhaps best seen in the consideration of industrial development where no precise examples are provided to support the claims and this continues into the comments about Native Americans and Mexico. The judgement lacks support and is little more than a view as the lack of detail in the main body of the response limits the validity of the claim made. A number of factors are explained, but the lack of support limits the answer to Level 3. It does go to the top because of the range, but the lack of support prevents it from going into Level 4.
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Question 2(a)
Which of the following was of greater importance in generating Northern hostility towards the South in the years 1850–1861?
(i) The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
(ii) The Dred Scott Decision of 1857
Explain your answer with reference to both (i) and (ii). [10]
Level 1 answer – 1 mark
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Examiner commentaryThe answer is confused as to what the Dred Scott decision was and this has a significant impact on the level reached as only one of the two factors is discussed. The discussion of the Fugitive Slave Law is generalized and there is little attempt to link it to issues such as the slave conspiracy. The superficial treatment of the second issue suggests that the response knew little about the Dred Scott case and none of the material is accurate or relevant. This means that only one factor is discussed and the ceiling for such a response is Level 1. In order to reach a higher level the response would need to show some accurate knowledge of the second issue.
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Question 2(b)
“The consequences of Westward Expansion were entirely positive for the United States in the period 1803–c.1890.” How far do you agree? [20]
Level 3 answer – 8 marks
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Examiner commentaryThe opening does set out a view about the issue. There is then a list of negative impacts with some, albeit limited, supporting detail, as seen in the comments made about the Native Americans, where no specific groups or wars are mentioned. Similarly, the discussion about it leading to civil war is also based on very general knowledge and limited reference to any of the states that were taken in during the expansion and their position over slavery. The comments about the acquisition of land are also very general or, as with the Sand Creek Massacre, quite descriptive. The range of issues considered is limited and the judgement is no more than a simple statement. There is some explanation of a limited range of issues which is why the response reaches Level 3, but there would need to be greater depth of support to go to Level 4.
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