AQA
A-level
HISTORY
7042/2P
Component 2P The Transformation of China, 1936–1997
Version: 1.0 Final
IB/M/Jun23/E2
... [Show More] 7042/2P
A-level
HISTORY
Component 2P The Transformation of China, 1936–1997
Friday 9 June 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/2P.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
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IB/M/Jun23/7042/2P
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From an interview with Jing Shenghong, an eminent Chinese historian, in China, in 2006.
Jing describes events at Nanjing University on 3 June 1966, where he had been a
student.
Several professors were criticised at first. Among them was Professor Lin from the
Philosophy department, Professor Hu from the Chinese Literature department and
Professor Su from the Foreign Language department. All these professors were in their
thirties. It was believed they were the masterminds of a poster campaign criticising the
authority of the Party. After criticising the professors, the students started to criticise
other groups. That was the first time I participated in such a session. If someone was
selected as a target, all others were mobilised to attack him. The attackers always used
the thinking, logic and language of ‘class struggle’. Your daily performance was
assessed according to the revolutionary standard. Even some very private conversations
were exposed by people you thought were friends, which made you feel vulnerable in
public. When I saw the targets being criticised on stage, some of them even being
beaten by the students, I became afraid.
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10
Source B
From a prepared speech given at the Central Work Conference, a national meeting of
CCP delegates, by Deng Xiaoping, 23 October 1966.
I must confess that not only have I not raised high the banner of Mao Zedong Thought,
but I have not even lifted this banner up. I have a very inadequate grasp of Mao Zedong
Thought. I have done little to spread it, nor do I apply it in my work. In matters
concerning class struggle and struggle within the Party, I have consistently shown rightist
tendencies. My distancing myself from the masses and lack of contact with reality is
directly connected with my failure to follow Chairman Mao and my lack of proper study.
Recent events have shown me to be an unreformed petit-bourgeois intellectual who has
failed to pass the tests posed by socialism. I feel it would be damaging to the Party for
me to continue in my present position. This is just an initial observation. I hope all
comrades present will give their suggestions.
Long live the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution!
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IB/M/Jun23/7042/2P Turn over ►
Source C
From comments made at a meeting of the Politburo by Mao Zedong, 19 February 1967.
The Central Cultural Revolution Group (CCRG) has been implementing the line adopted
by the Central Committee in August 1966. Its errors amount to 1%, 2%, maybe 3% while
it’s been correct up to 97% of the time. If someone opposes the CCRG, I will resolutely
oppose him! You attempt to negate the Great Cultural Revolution, but you shall not
succeed! Let’s tell Lin Biao that he’s not safe either. Some people are trying to grab his
power, and he should be prepared! If the Great Cultural Revolution fails, he and I will
withdraw from Beijing and go back to the mountains to fight a guerrilla war. You say that
Jiang Qing and Chen Boda are no good; well, let’s make one of you the head of the
CCRG and then arrest Chen Boda and Jiang Qing and have them executed! I’ll step
down too, and then you can ask the USSR to send one of their agents to be Chairman.
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0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying the beginnings of the
Cultural Revolution.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
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Section B
Answer two questions.
0 2 ‘The CCP’s successful consolidation of power in China, in the years 1949 to 1952, was
due to its policy of land reform.’
Assess the validity of this view [Show Less]