SECTION A: CORE CONTENT. Option B: The twentieth century. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a serious threat to world peace.

Mark scheme

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

1. [1] Castro was the leader / prime minster of Cuba.
2. [1] Castro was president of Cuba.
3. [1] He was a lawyer.
4. [1] He campaigned against the Batista regime in Cuba.
5. [1] In 1959, he overthrew the Batista regime.
6. [1] He gained popular support by promising to give the Cuban people their land.
7. [1] He made changes to Cuba, such as reorganising healthcare and offering free education.
8. [1] Castro arrested and exiled political opponents.
9. [1] He took over US businesses in Cuba.
10. [1] Castro received arms from the USSR.
11. [1] Castro captured or killed 1400 exiles in the Bay of Pigs.
12. [1] His position strengthened because of his success at the Bay of Pigs.
13. [1] Castro made trade agreements with the USSR which reduced the influence of the USA in Cuba.
14. [1] Castro allowed the US to keep a naval base on Cuba.
15. [6] Level 4: Explains two reasons.
16. [4-5] Level 3: Explains one reason. Four marks for one explanation, five marks for explanation supported by specific contextual knowledge.
17. [4] The US objected to missiles being placed on Cuba by the USSR because they were close to the US. Most cities in the United States would be in range of these missiles should they have become operational. If they were used there would be massive civilian casualties and much of the US could have been destroyed.
18. [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.
19. [1] They were close to the US's major cities.
20. [1] The US thought of Cuba as being in their 'own backyard' or sphere of influence.
21. [1] A nuclear attack could be imminent.
22. [1] They gave strength to the Soviet Union in the Cold War.
23. [1] The missiles were a threat to world peace.
24. [1] The missiles were a challenge for Kennedy who was inexperienced.
25. [1] It looked as though Khrushchev was gaining the upper hand in the Cold War.
26. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
27. [1] The US was anti-communist.
28. [0] Level 0: No creditable response. 0 marks
29. [10] Level 5: Explains both sides and supports a valid judgement on 'how far'. One explanation or more on each side.
30. [10] Probably Kennedy gained the most. He was young and inexperienced but had managed to avoid a nuclear war and seemed to have made Khrushchev back down. The American press praised his efforts and he became more popular with the US public. Khrushchev, on the other hand, was removed from office within two years and many thought he had made a weak decision.
31. [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.
32. [4-6] Level 3: Explains one side. One Level 3 mark for each explanation.
33. [4] Kennedy gained in terms of his reputation. Khrushchev had thought Kennedy would back down as he was young and inexperienced. However, he did not do this and his negotiations with Khrushchev brought the crisis to an end. Part of the agreement reached was that the Soviet missiles would be removed from Cuba and this made Americans feel much safer.
34. [4] Khrushchev made gains through the agreement reached which ended the missile crisis. One factor which had caused the crisis was the USSR being unhappy about US missiles in Turkey which could have reached targets within the Soviet Union. A secret part of the agreement reached between Kennedy and Khrushchev was that the American missiles in Turkey would be removed, and this had been one of his aims from the outset.
35. [2-3] Level 2: Identifies or describes valid points; addresses the question but does not explain. One Level 2 mark for each identification/description.
36. [1] Kennedy came out of the crisis with an improved reputation.
37. [1] Kennedy stood up to hardliners in his own government who wanted him to invade Cuba.
38. [1] Kennedy stood up to Khruschev.
39. [1] The US blockade forced Khrushchev to negotiate.
40. [1] Kennedy had to remove missiles from Turkey.
41. [1] Cuba remained communist.
42. [1] Khrushchev emerged as a responsible peacemaker.
43. [1] Khrushchev wrote to Kennedy and suggested he would remove the missiles if the Americans did not invade Cuba.
44. [1] A secret deal was made to remove US missiles in Turkey.
45. [1] Being a secret deal, it meant Khrushchev could not gain any publicity and credit.
46. [1] Khrushchev seemed to have lost by removing missiles from Cuba.
47. [1] In 1964 Khrushchev was forced from power.
48. [1] Level 1: Writes about the topic but does not address the question.
49. [1] During the crisis, a 'hotline' was set up between the US and USSR.
50. [0] Level 0: No creditable response. 0 marks