The Comparing Interpretations Questions: America 1920-1973 (Q1 & Q2) (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Natasha Smith
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Summary of Question One
Question One on Paper One, Section A, outlines an issue
The question asks you to explain how the content of two interpretations differ from each other concerning that issue
The interpretations used in Question One will be the same interpretations used in Questions Two and Three
Amount of marks | 4 |
|---|---|
The time that you should spend on the question | No more than 5 minutes |
An example of the type of question you may encounter can be seen below:
In previous years this question has focused on the following topics in American history:
Year of Exam | Question Topic |
|---|---|
2018 | |
2019 | |
2020 | |
2021 | |
2022 | |
Sample 1 | New Deal |
Sample 2 | Women in the 1920s |
What is an Interpretation Question?
An interpretation is an account based on a point of view of a historical event, person or group
Interpretations are used to explain the past by looking at history from different points of view
This type of question uses different types of interpretations
These interpretations could be accounts written:
After the event
During the event
By people who were there at the time
By historians
For the example question above, you will be given two interpretations in an insert
An insert is an additional booklet to your answer paper. It provides key sources or interpretations needed to answer specific questions in the exam
Question One - How are the Interpretations Different?
The interpretations used in question one will always be different, because of the interpretation's:
Author
Point of view
Date of publication
Interpretations can be different based on their content
As the content will have a different point of view
In the AQA America 1920 - 1973 option, interpretations are likely to be different based on the following themes across all the topic areas:
Social issues e.g. cultural and social changes of the 1920s
Economic policies e.g. the New Deal
Political policies e.g. President Lyndon B Johnson and the ‘Great Society’
Civil Rights e.g. The Civil Rights Act of 1964
“How are the Interpretations Different” Question Structure
You need to identify and explain one difference between the two interpretations’ content in your response
Your answer needs to:
Identify one way the interpretation content differs
Include a short quote or summary from each interpretation, highlighting their differences
Explain how they are different
To achieve full marks you need to have an extended reasoning within your answer
Worked Example of the Question One Interpretation Question
Worked Example
How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about immigrants in America in the 1920s?
[4 marks]
Interpretation A: Adapted from the book Heroes of the Fiery Cross by Alma White published in 1928. White was a Protestant bishop and founder of the Pillar of Fire Church which supported the Ku Klux Klan. “Thousands of immigrants have arrived in the past twenty years. This has made America the dumping ground for every sort of criminal and undesirable from other countries. They have no respect for our laws. They do not appreciate our great achievements created by the hard work and sacrifice of others. They are only waiting for the chance to replace the Stars and Stripes with the red flag of Communism.” |
Interpretation B: Adapted from a speech by Robert H Clancy in the late 1920s. Clancy was a Republican politician from an industrial city in northern USA. He had a career as a lawyer, journalist and businessman and advised the US government on the economy. “Immigrants are no threat to America but are good citizens. They are active in every profession and walk of life. They often do the hard work that many Americans dislike. They have come to this country to stay and to make a new life for themselves. Immigrants take pride in how quickly they have become part of American society and have adapted to our way of life.” |
Answer:
Interpretation B recognises that immigrants in the 1920s were as valuable to America as all the previous generations of immigrants (1). Clancy believed that immigrants were valuable because they added to the “melting pot” and created successful businesses and communities (1). Whereas, interpretation A argues that they have no loyalty to American laws or values (1). Interpretation A suggests that immigrants wanted to change America as they were bringing new political theories to America, like Communism and anarchy which many WASPs (White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestants) and second-generation immigrants disliked (1).
Summary of Question Two
Question Two on Paper One, Section A asks you to explain why the authors of the interpretations might have different views concerning the issue
The interpretations used in Question Two will be the same as those used in Questions One and Three
Amount of marks | 4 |
|---|---|
The time that you should spend on the question | No more than 5 minutes |
An example of the type of question you may encounter can be seen below:
In previous years this question has focused on the following topics in American history:
Year of Exam | Question Topic |
|---|---|
2018 | |
2019 | |
2020 | |
2021 | |
2022 | |
Sample 1 | New Deal |
Sample 2 | Women in the 1920s |
Question Two - Why are Interpretations Different?
The interpretations used in Question Two will always be:
Different
From opposing points of view
In the AQA America 1920 - 1973 you could have interpretations from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X or Betty Friedan and Phyllis Schlafly as they have opposing interpretations of American History
Authors will have different interpretations due to their:
Background
For the example question, Interpretation A was written by a former supporter of the KKK
Experiences
For the example question, Interpretation B was written by a Republican politician living in the north of the USA. Immigrants were treated differently in the North than in the South
Purpose of writing the interpretation
For the example question, Interpretation A is likely to try and persuade people to support the views of white supremacy. The information is likely to be biased
Audience
For the example question, Interpretation B was a speech. His audience was likely more supportive of his view on immigration
Access to information
Origin of information
First-hand account
Primary sources
Place and time of writing
“Why are the Interpretations Different?” Question Structure
You need to identify and explain one reason why the authors have different interpretations
In this question, you will need to refer only to the interpretation's provenance
Provenance
Provenance is the background information of sources
The provenance can be found at the top of each source. Essentially it is:
Who - The person who created the source
What - The type of source it is, for example, a newspaper article
When - The date when the source was made
Where - The place that the source is based on
For the example question, here is a breakdown of the provenance of Interpretation A:
Who | Alma White, a Protestant bishop and founder of the Pillar of Fire Church |
|---|---|
What | A book called Heroes of the Fiery Cross |
When | 1928 |
Where | The USA |
In this question, you should use the provenance of the source to:
Help you to identify who the author of the interpretation is
Gain information about the background of the author
Understand who is the author's audience
Understand what purpose the author had in writing the interpretation
Understand the context of the interpretation
This will help you explain why the interpretations differ
Your answer needs to:
Identify one reason why author A has a different interpretation using the provenance
Include specific knowledge to support your reason
Explain why this makes the interpretation different
Identify one reason why author B has a different interpretation
Include specific knowledge to support your reason
Explain why this makes the interpretation different
To achieve full marks consider choosing a difference which is visible and the same in both provenances
For example, the previous experience of the authors or the audience which they are writing for
Worked Example of the Question Two Interpretation Question
Worked Example
Why might the authors of Interpretation A and B have a different interpretation about immigrants in America in the 1920s?
[4 marks]
Interpretation A: Adapted from the book Heroes of the Fiery Cross by Alma White published in 1928. White was a Protestant bishop and founder of the Pillar of Fire Church which supported the Ku Klux Klan. “Thousands of immigrants have arrived in the past twenty years. This has made America the dumping ground for every sort of criminal and undesirable from other countries. They have no respect for our laws. They do not appreciate our great achievements created by the hard work and sacrifice of others. They are only waiting for the chance to replace the Stars and Stripes with the red flag of Communism.” |
Interpretation B: Adapted from a speech by Robert H Clancy in the late 1920s. Clancy was a Republican politician from an industrial city in northern USA. He had a career as a lawyer, journalist and businessman and advised the US government on the economy. “Immigrants are no threat to America but are good citizens. They are active in every profession and walk of life. They often do the hard work that many Americans dislike. They have come to this country to stay and to make a new life for themselves. Immigrants take pride in how quickly they have become part of American society and have adapted to our way of life.” |
Answer:
Interpretation A is by a Protestant bishop and founder of a Church who supported the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) (1). The KKK and this Protestant Church are prejudiced against immigrants who are Catholic and who are not White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestants (WASPs). This suggests that they would have a negative interpretation of immigration due to their beliefs and opinions of immigrants (1).
Whereas, interpretation B is by Robert H Clancy, a Republican politician who is more likely to have a more positive interpretation of immigration and the open-door policies of the 1920s (1). Clancy’s interpretation is different to Alma White’s. His interpretation would be focused more on their economic contribution to America because he advised the US Government on the economy (1).
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