Confidential
NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE
GRADE 12
HISTORY P1
NOVEMBER 2025
MARKS: 150
TIME: 3 hours
This question paper consists of 9 pages and an addendum of 14 pages.
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History Grade 12 P1 NSC November 2025 Question Paper (Eng)
Grade 12 History Paper 1 question paper from the NSC November Exam 2025 (English), 9 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.
History · Grade 12 · NSC November Exam · 2025. Question paper, 9 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
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- 2025
- Exam period
- NSC November Exam
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History/P1 2 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
1. This question paper consists of SECTION A and SECTION B based on the
prescribed content framework in the CAPS document.
SECTION A: SOURCE-BASED QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1: THE COLD WAR: THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR
QUESTION 2: INDEPENDENT AFRICA: CASE STUDY – ANGOLA
QUESTION 3: CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS FROM THE 1950s TO THE
1970s: THE US CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
SECTION B: ESSAY QUESTIONS
QUESTION 4: THE EXTENSION OF THE COLD WAR: CASE STUDY –
VIETNAM
QUESTION 5: INDEPENDENT AFRICA: CASE STUDY – THE CONGO
QUESTION 6: CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS FROM THE 1950s TO THE
1970s: THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT
2. SECTION A consists of THREE source-based questions. Source material that
is required to answer these questions can be found in the ADDENDUM.
3. SECTION B consists of THREE essay questions.
4. Answer THREE questions as follows:
4.1 At least ONE must be a source-based question and at least ONE
must be an essay question.
4.2 The THIRD question can be either a source-based question or an essay
question.
5. You are advised to spend ONE hour per question.
6. When answering questions, you should apply your knowledge, skills and
insight.
7. You will be disadvantaged by merely rewriting the sources as answers.
8. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this
question paper.
9. Write neatly and legibly.
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History/P1 3 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
SECTION A: SOURCE-BASED QUESTIONS 2025
Answer at least ONE question, but not more than TWO questions, in this section. Source
material that is to be used to answer these questions is contained in the ADDENDUM.
QUESTION 1: HOW DID THE POLICY OF CONTAINMENT CONTRIBUTE TO
COLD WAR TENSIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA AND THE SOVIET UNION IN 1947?
Study Sources 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D and answer the questions that follow.
1.1 Use Source 1A.
1.1.1 Who, according to source, did Churchill blame for, 'A shadow (that)
has fallen upon the scenes so lately lighted by the Allied victory'?
Give TWO responses. (2 x 1) (2)
1.1.2 Why do you think Churchill adopted a conciliatory (soft) attitude
towards the Soviet Union despite its expansive tendencies? (1 x 2) (2)
1.1.3 Define the term Iron Curtain in your own words. (1 x 2) (2)
1.1.4 Comment on what Churchill implied by the words, '… all these
famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call
the Soviet sphere …' (1 x 2) (2)
1.1.5 Explain the reliability of this source to a historian researching about
the origins of the Cold War. (2 x 2) (4)
1.2 Consult Source 1B.
1.2.1 Explain the symbolic representation of the following:
(a) A bear/wolf labelled 'COMMUNIST INFILTRATION AND
DICTATORSHIP THREATS' (1 x 2) (2)
(b) 'U.S. AID' hammer (1 x 2) (2)
1.2.2 Comment on why you would consider the caption 'WHAT WE'RE
DRIVING AT' appropriate. (1 x 2) (2)
1.3 Refer to Sources 1A and 1B. Explain how the information in Source 1A supports
the evidence in Source 1B regarding the increasing threat of
communism. (2 x 2) (4)
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History/P1 4 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
1.4 Study Source 1C.
1.4.1 What, according to the source, was the first concern of the Marshall
Plan policymakers? (1 x 2) (2)
1.4.2 Why, according to the source, was containing the Soviet Union the
second major goal of American policy? Give TWO responses.
(2 x 1) (2)
1.4.3 Quote TWO pieces of evidence from the source that suggest the
aims of the third goal of the policy of containment. (2 x 1) (2)
1.4.4 Explain the implication of the phrase, '… the drive for European
integration …', in the context of the policy of containment. (2 x 2) (4)
1.5 Read Source 1D.
1.5.1 Why, according to the source, was the Molotov Plan created by the
Soviet Union in 1947? (1 x 2) (2)
1.5.2 Quote TWO reasons from the source why the Soviet Union refused
to accept financial aid from the Marshall Plan. (2 x 1) (2)
1.5.3 Explain the term satellite states in the context of the Cold War.
(1 x 2) (2)
1.5.4 Using the information in the source and your own knowledge,
comment on what the COMECON offered the USSR and its satellite
states. (2 x 2) (4)
1.6 Using the information in the relevant sources and your own knowledge,
write a paragraph of about EIGHT lines (about 80 words) explaining how the
policy of containment contributed to Cold War tensions between the United
States of America and the Soviet Union in 1947. (8)
[50]
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History/P1 5 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
QUESTION 2: WHY DID THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) BECOME
INVOLVED IN THE ANGOLAN CIVIL WAR FROM 1975?
Study Sources 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D and answer the questions that follow.
2.1 Read Source 2A.
2.1.1 Which country, according to the source, did not want the MPLA to
gain control of Angola? (1 x 1) (1)
2.1.2 Name THREE provisions in the source for the Central Intelligence
Agency's (CIA) involvement in Africa. (3 x 1) (3)
2.1.3 Using the information in the source and your own knowledge,
explain why you think it was necessary for the CIA to covertly
support FNLA and UNITA in 1975. (2 x 2) (4)
2.1.4 Explain the limitations of this source to a researcher studying the role
of the MPLA in Angola. (2 x 2) (4)
2.2 Study Source 2B.
2.2.1 Quote evidence from the source that suggests Mobutu was
supported with millions of dollars. (1 x 1) (1)
2.2.2 What, according to the source, did Mobutu do when the world
copper prices plunged in early 1975? Give TWO responses. (2 x 1) (2)
2.2.3 Why, according to the source, was only $41,7 million and not
$100 million authorised by the National Security Council to ensure
that Holden Roberto won the Angolan Civil War? (1 x 1) (1)
2.2.4 Comment on what is implied by the statement, 'The CIA's task
seemingly was not to win but to prevent an easy victory for the
Soviet-backed forces.' (1 x 2) (2)
2.2.5 Define the term self-determination in your own words. (1 x 2) (2)
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History/P1 6 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
2.3 Use Source 2C.
2.3.1 Quote any TWO pieces of evidence mentioned in the source, that
explains why Hultslander was opposed to covert operation
programmes in Angola. (2 x 1) (2)
2.3.2 Explain the term covert action in the context of the CIA programme
in Angola. (1 x 2) (2)
2.3.3 Comment on what was implied by the statement, 'Kissinger feared
that an MPLA victory would have destabilising (disrupting) effects
throughout southern Africa', in the context of US involvement in
Angola. (2 x 2) (4)
2.3.4 What, according to the source, did Hultslander do during his
all-night session with [Senator] Clarke at Killoran's Luanda
residence? Give TWO responses. (2 x 1) (2)
2.4 Consult Source 2D.
2.4.1 Comment on why you would NOT agree with Kissinger's statement,
'… and my country as a party involved in the mediation of the conflict,
promises to do everything to bring it to a definitive end.' (2 x 2) (4)
2.4.2 What conclusion can be drawn from the cartoonist's portrayal of the
following liberation movements regarding their relations with the
USA:
(a) MPLA (1 x 2) (2)
(b) UNITA (1 x 2) (2)
2.5 Refer to Sources 2A and 2D. Comment on how the information in Source 2A
supports the evidence in Source 2D regarding the involvement of the USA in
the Angolan Civil War. (2 x 2) (4)
2.6 Using the information in the relevant sources and your own knowledge,
write a paragraph of about EIGHT lines (about 80 words) explaining why the
United States of America (USA) became involved in the Angolan Civil War
from 1975. (8)
[50]
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History/P1 7 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
QUESTION 3: HOW DID THE NON-VIOLENT APPROACH ADOPTED BY
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR CHARACTERISE THE CIVIL SOCIETY
PROTESTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) DURING
THE 1960s?
Study Sources 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D and answer the questions that follow.
3.1 Refer to Source 3A.
3.1.1 Who, according to the source, indirectly influenced King Jr to apply
the non-violent approach to the specific problems of African
Americans? (1 x 1) (1)
3.1.2 What, according to the source, did King Jr learn from a sermon by
the president of Howard University, Mordecai Johnson, regarding
the non-violent approach? (2 x 1) (2)
3.1.3 Define the term non-violent mass protests in your own words.
(1 x 2) (2)
3.1.4 Explain what King Jr implied by the statement, 'It (non-violence)
meant putting oneself in the face of violence …', in the context of the
civil society protests. (2 x 2) (4)
3.1.5 What, according to the source, did King Jr want to achieve by
organising thousands across the South in specific mass actions?
(1 x 1) (1)
3.2 Read Source 3B.
3.2.1 According to the source, why did King Jr believe that the point of
making a choice among militant, massive non-violence or riots
had arrived? Give TWO responses. (2 x 1) (2)
3.2.2 What did King Jr imply by the words, 'But I am convinced that if
rioting continues, it will strengthen the right wing of the country …'?
(2 x 2) (4)
3.2.3 Give any TWO reasons in the source suggesting that King Jr was
totally committed to the non-violent approach. (2 x 1) (2)
3.2.4 Explain the term racial justice in the context of the USA in the
1960s. (1 x 2) (2)
3.2.5 Comment on the usefulness of this source for a historian
researching non-violent protest in the USA in the 1960s. (2 x 2) (4)
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History/P1 8 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
3.3 Use Source 3C.
3.3.1 Explain what the following groups wanted to achieve in terms of
lunch counter sit-ins in the USA in the early 1960s:
(a) Students sitting at the lunch counter (1 x 2) (2)
(b) White group in the background (1 x 2) (2)
3.3.2 Why do you think students participating in the sit-ins did not hit
back against the intimidation by the white group? (1 x 2) (2)
3.4 Refer to Sources 3A and 3C. Comment on how the information in Source 3A
supports the evidence in Source 3C regarding King Jr's non-violent approach
to the protest actions in the USA in the 1960s. (2 x 2) (4)
3.5 Study Source 3D.
3.5.1 Quote TWO criticisms from the source that were levelled against
King Jr's non-violent approach by Malcolm X. (2 x 1) (2)
3.5.2 Give any TWO examples of protests in the source that King Jr
believed touched the conscience and established a sense of
shame amongst the white community. (2 x 1) (2)
3.5.3 Explain the implication of the following concern raised by
James Baldwin: '… whether it will be possible to contain the Negro
people within this framework of non-violence …' (2 x 2) (4)
3.6 Using the information in the relevant sources and your own knowledge,
write a paragraph of about EIGHT lines (about 80 words) explaining how the
non-violent approach adopted by Martin Luther King Jr characterised the civil
society protests in the United States of America (USA) during the 1960s. (8)
[50]
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History/P1 9 DBE/November 2025
NSC Confidential
SECTION B: ESSAY QUESTIONS
Answer at least ONE question, but NOT more than TWO questions, in this section.
Your essay should be about THREE pages long.
QUESTION 4: THE EXTENSION OF THE COLD WAR: CASE STUDY – VIETNAM
The military tactics and strategies used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War
between 1962 and 1975 proved to be successful in defeating the strong army of the
USA.
Do you agree with this statement? Support your line of argument with relevant
historical evidence. [50]
QUESTION 5: INDEPENDENT AFRICA: CASE STUDY – THE CONGO
The political, economic, social and cultural policies introduced by Mobutu Sese Seko
after gaining independence in the 1960s were a dismal failure.
Critically discuss the statement above by using relevant historical evidence to support
your line of argument. [50]
QUESTION 6: CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS FROM THE 1950s TO THE 1970s: THE
BLACK POWER MOVEMENT
Explain to what extent the Black Power Movement was successful in organising
African Americans to challenge racial discrimination and segregation in the USA during
the 1960s.
Substantiate your answer with relevant historical evidence. [50]
TOTAL: 150
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