SECTION A: CORE CONTENT. Option A: The nineteenth century. Many factors contributed to the growth of tension between the Great Powers in the years before the First World War.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] It was a secret Serbian nationalist society.
2. [1] It spread anti-Austrian propaganda within Serbia.
3. [1] It was involved in acts of sabotage and political murders.
4. [1] It was especially keen to prevent Austria-Hungary taking over parts of Serbia.
5. [1] The group included many radicals, government officials, professionals and army officers.
6. [1] The Black Hand decided to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand because they saw him as a threat to Serbian independence.
7. [1] Three young Bosnians were recruited to carry out the assassination.
8. [1] Gavrilo Princip was one of the conspirators.
9. [6] Level 4: Explains two reasons.
10. [4-5] Level 3: Explains one reason. Four marks for one explanation, five marks for explanation supported by specific contextual knowledge.
11. [4] The Alliance System developed because countries were looking for security against foreign attack. The Triple Alliance was formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The Alliance made plans about how they would react if war started against France.
12. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid reason(s); addresses the question but does not explain. One Level 2 mark for each identification/description.
13. [1] Countries in an alliance promised to support each other if they were attacked.
14. [1] Countries thought that being in an alliance would give them greater strength and deter war.
15. [1] The Alliance System divided Europe into two power blocs.
16. [1] Alliances were formed between countries which already had mutual defence treaties.
17. [1] Alliances were formed because countries were afraid of the growing power of their rivals.
18. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
19. [1] The Triple Alliance was formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
20. [0] Level 0: No creditable response. 0 marks
21. [10] Level 5: Explains both sides and supports a valid judgement on 'how far'. One explanation or more on each side.
22. [10] Colonial rivalry caused tension between the two countries but it was not the most important cause. Naval rivalry between Germany and Britain was much more important as it caused a public outcry and the British started to see Germany as a real threat. Britain had a strong naval tradition and was viewed as 'ruling the waves'. Germany had a strong army and did not challenge British sea power. This changed when the German High Seas Fleet was established. The British response was to build Dreadnoughts and there was a huge public outcry to increase spending on these ships. This was more important than colonial rivalry, and the naval arms race which followed suggested that both sides were preparing for war.
23. [7-9] Level 4: Explains both sides. For candidates to be awarded this level they must have one explanation on each side; one additional mark for each additional explanation on either side.
24. [4-6] Level 3: Explains one side. One Level 3 mark for each explanation.
25. [4] The British were afraid that Germany wanted an empire and would use its strength to acquire colonies. This had happened in Morocco where the Kaiser had challenged French control. Britain was concerned that Germany's Empire would be serviced by a rapidly increasing military fleet, which would be based in the North Sea.
26. [4] Britain felt Germany was threatening its economic superiority and her naval power by building up her naval strength. Britain, therefore, started a programme of Dreadnought building to counteract Germany's High Seas Fleet. This was a greater threat because the German fleet was close to Britain. Traditionally Germany had a strong army and Britain had a strong navy. Now the balance was under threat.
27. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid points; addresses the question but does not explain. One Level 2 mark for each identification/description.
28. [1] Events such as the Morocco crises fuelled suspicion between the two countries.
29. [1] Germany wanted an empire to rival Britain.
30. [1] Britain and Germany were building bigger and more powerful ships.
31. [1] Britain built Dreadnoughts.
32. [1] The Kaiser seemed war-like.
33. [1] There was an arms race going on between the countries.
34. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
35. [1] There were many reasons for tension between the two countries.
36. [0] Level 0: No creditable response. 0 marks