# History Grade 12 P1 NSC November 2015 Question Paper (Eng)

> Grade 12 History Paper 1 question paper from the NSC November Exam 2015 (English), 9 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.

- Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/history-p1-nov-2015-eng/cec041e2-cbde-450d-905d-ea926c9c7ef6
- Updated: 2026-09-27
- Subject: History
- Grade: Grade 12
- Document type: Question paper
- Year: 2015
- Exam period: NSC November Exam
- Paper: 1
- Curriculum: CAPS
- Pages: 9

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## About this document

History · Grade 12 · NSC November Exam · 2015. Question paper, 9 pages. Read online or download the PDF.

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## Document text

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                                  NATIONAL
                             SENIOR CERTIFICATE

                                    GRADE 12

                                   HISTORY P1

                                NOVEMBER 2015

MARKS: 150

TIME: 3 hours

       This question paper consists of 9 pages and an addendum of 14 pages.

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History/P1                                  2                             DBE/November 2015
                                           NSC

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: CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

             SECTION B: ESSAY QUESTIONS

             QUESTION 4: EXTENSION OF THE COLD WAR: CASE STUDY – VIETNAM

             QUESTION 5: INDEPENDENT AFRICA: COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY –
                         THE CONGO AND TANZANIA

             QUESTION 6: CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS FROM THE 1950s TO THE
                         1970s: BLACK POWER MOVEMENT

2.           SECTION A consists of THREE source-based questions. Source material that
             is required to answer these questions will 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 at least ONE hour per question.

6.           When answering questions you should apply your knowledge, skills and
             insight.

7.           You will be disadvantaged by merely rewriting of the sources as answers.

8.           Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this
             question paper.

9.           Write clearly and legibly.

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History/P1                                 3                              DBE/November 2015
                                          NSC

SECTION A: SOURCE-BASED QUESTIONS

Answer at least ONE question, but not more than TWO questions, in this section.
Source material to be used to answer these questions is contained in the ADDENDUM.

QUESTION 1:          HOW DID EAST AND WEST BERLINERS RESPOND TO THE
                     CONSTRUCTION OF THE BERLIN WALL IN 1961?

Study Sources 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D and answer the questions that follow.

1.1          Refer to Source 1A.

             1.1.1    Why, according to the source, did the overall population of East
                      Germany decline between 1949 and 1961?                    (1 x 2)           (2)

             1.1.2    Define the term communism in your own words.                 (1 x 2)        (2)

             1.1.3    Explain why the Soviet Vice-Premier stated that the situation in
                      East Germany was a 'crisis for communism'.               (2 x 2)            (4)

             1.1.4    State TWO factors that motivated Khrushchev to order the building
                      of the Berlin Wall in 1961.                               (2 x 1)           (2)

             1.1.5    Comment on President Kennedy's statement, 'but a wall is a lot
                      better than a war', in the context of the construction of the Berlin
                      Wall in 1961.                                                (2 x 2)        (4)

1.2          Consult Source 1B.

             1.2.1    Describe the atmosphere in West Berlin before the Wall was built.
                                                                                 (2 x 1)          (2)

             1.2.2    Explain what was implied by the statement, 'East Germans knew
                      they had to act fast if they wanted to get out'.        (1 x 2)             (2)

             1.2.3    Quote THREE ways, from the source, in which East Berliners
                      attempted to escape after the Soviet government built the Berlin
                      Wall.                                                    (3 x 1)            (3)

             1.2.4    Using the information in the source and your own knowledge,
                      explain why Peter Fechter was left to die after he was shot while
                      trying to climb over the Berlin Wall in 1961.             (2 x 2)           (4)

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History/P1                                   4                              DBE/November 2015
                                            NSC

1.3          Study Source 1C.

             1.3.1     What messages do you think the cartoonist intended to convey
                       regarding the rights of people who lived under communist rule in
                       East Berlin? Use the visual clues in the source to support your
                       answer.                                                  (2 x 2)            (4)

             1.3.2     Explain why you would regard the cartoonist's portrayal of events
                       in the source as biased. Support your answer with relevant
                       reasons.                                                   (2 x 2)          (4)

1.4          Use Source 1D.

             1.4.1     Identify THREE pieces of evidence in the source that show that
                       West Berliners were unhappy about the Allied powers' response to
                       the construction of the Berlin Wall.                      (3 x 1)           (3)

             1.4.2     Why do you think the journalist referred to the Soviet zone in Berlin
                       as a 'concentration camp'?                                    (1 x 2)       (2)

1.5          Refer to Sources 1A and 1D. Explain how the information in Source 1D
             supports the evidence in Source 1A regarding the Western powers' lack of
             action during the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961.        (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 both East
             and West Berliners responded to the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961.          (8)
                                                                                                   [50]

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                                          NSC

QUESTION 2:          WHY DID THE BATTLE OF CUITO CUANAVALE BECOME
                     THE FOCAL POINT OF THE COLD WAR IN ANGOLA IN 1987
                     AND 1988?

Study Sources 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D and answer the questions that follow.

2.1          Read Source 2A.

             2.1.1    Identify the TWO countries whose brigades were involved in
                      launching an attack on UNITA in August 1987.        (2 x 1)                (2)

             2.1.2    Why, according to the source, did South Africa become involved in
                      the Angolan war in 1987?                                  (1 x 2)          (2)

             2.1.3    Quote evidence from the source that suggests that the SADF was
                      unsuccessful in capturing Cuito Cuanavale.               (2 x 1)           (2)

             2.1.4    Explain why the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale became a turning point
                      in the history of Southern Africa.                       (2 x 2)           (4)

             2.1.5    Why did it become necessary for peace to be restored in Angola
                      after the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale?                    (2 x 1)            (2)

2.2          Consult Source 2B.

             2.2.1    What evidence in the source suggests that the SADF did not want
                      to wage full-scale war in Angola?                        (2 x 1)           (2)

             2.2.2    Explain whether you agree with General Geldenhuys's viewpoint
                      that Cuito Cuanavale was not an 'objective of strategic importance'
                      to the SADF.                                                (2 x 2)        (4)

             2.2.3    Comment on the validity of General Geldenhuys's claim that the
                      SADF 'won the war for Africa'. Support your answer with TWO
                      reasons.                                                (2 x 2)            (4)

2.3          Study Source 2C.

             2.3.1    After analysing the statistics provided by General Geldenhuys, who
                      do you think won the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale? Support your
                      answer with evidence from the source.                       (2 x 2)        (4)

             2.3.2    Explain whether you would regard the statistics provided in the
                      source about the losses in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, as
                      reliable.                                               (2 x 2)            (4)

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History/P1                                   6                              DBE/November 2015
                                            NSC

2.4          Read Source 2D.

             2.4.1     Name TWO roles that the Cubans played during the Battle of Cuito
                       Cuanavale.                                               (2 x 1)            (2)

             2.4.2     Explain to what extent Ronnie Kasrils was justified in his claim that
                       27 June 1988 signalled the end for the SADF.                  (2 x 2)       (4)

             2.4.3     Give TWO reasons why the SADF decided to abandon its military
                       involvement in Angola.                               (2 x 1)                (2)

2.5          Consult Sources 2C and 2D and explain how the information in these sources
             differs regarding the SADF's role in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale. (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) evaluating why the Battle
             of Cuito Cuanavale became the focal point of the Cold War in Angola in 1987
             and 1988.                                                                             (8)
                                                                                                   [50]

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History/P1                                    7                            DBE/November 2015
                                             NSC

QUESTION 3:          HOW DID CONSERVATIVE WHITE AMERICANS RESPOND TO
                     THE INTEGRATION OF CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN LITTLE
                     ROCK, ARKANSAS, IN 1957?

Study Sources 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D and answer the questions that follow.

3.1          Read Source 3A.

             3.1.1     Name any TWO African-American students that attended Central
                       High School in 1957.                                 (2 x 1)                (2)

             3.1.2     Quote evidence from the source that suggests that Daisy Bates
                       was an influential leader in the African-American community. (2 x 1)        (2)

             3.1.3     Why did Daisy Bates and members of the NAACP decide to
                       expose (subject) the 'Little Rock Nine' to the following:

                       (a)   An evaluation                                          (1 x 2)        (2)

                       (b)   Counselling sessions                                   (1 x 2)        (2)

3.2          Refer to Source 3B.

             3.2.1     Define the term integration in your own words.               (1 x 2)        (2)

             3.2.2     Explain how Governor Faubus reacted to the integration of public
                       schools in Little Rock.                                  (1 x 2)            (2)

             3.2.3     What, according to Governor Faubus, would happen when
                       integration was allowed to occur in white American schools? (2 x 1)         (2)

             3.2.4     Governor Faubus made reference to 'time-honored principles of
                       democracy'. Explain why you would regard this statement
                       contradictory to (going against) his views about the desegregation
                       of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.            (2 x 2)         (4)

3.3          Study Source 3C.

             3.3.1     Why, according to evidence in the source, did Dr Fine not inform
                       Daisy Bates about what occurred on 4 September 1957?      (1 x 2)           (2)

             3.3.2     Why do you think the National Guardsmen made no effort to
                       protect Elizabeth Eckford?                        (2 x 2)                   (4)

             3.3.3     How did Elizabeth Eckford respond to the hostility that was shown
                       to her by the mob? Give TWO examples.                       (2 x 1)         (2)

             3.3.4     Explain why you would consider this piece of historical evidence
                       useful to a historian researching Elizabeth Eckford's first day at
                       Central High School.                                        (2 x 2)         (4)

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History/P1                                   8                              DBE/November 2015
                                            NSC

3.4          Consult Sources 3A and 3C. Comment on the ways in which the NAACP
             prepared Elizabeth Eckford (Source 3A) to cope with the intimidation tactics of
             the white American mob (Source 3C).                                    (2 x 2)         (4)

3.5          Refer to Source 3D.

             3.5.1     Explain the use of the words 'Brotherhood by Bayonet' in the
                       context of school desegregation at Central High School in 1957.
                                                                                   (2 x 2)          (4)

             3.5.2     Using the information in the source and your own knowledge,
                       explain what might have influenced the Capital Citizens Council
                       (CCC) to design this leaflet.                           (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) to explain how
             conservative white Americans responded to the integration of Central High
             School in 1957.                                                                        (8)
                                                                                                    [50]

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History/P1                                9                              DBE/November 2015
                                         NSC

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:          EXTENSION OF THE COLD WAR: CASE STUDY – VIETNAM

All the military might of the United States of America's army could not defeat a small
nation of Vietnamese peasants.

Critically discuss this statement in the context of the military strategies that both the
United States of America and the Vietcong used in Vietnam between 1963 and 1973.             [50]

QUESTION 5:          INDEPENDENT AFRICA: COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY – THE
                     CONGO AND TANZANIA

Evaluate the differences and similarities in leadership between Mobutu Sese Seko and
Julius Nyerere in transforming the political and economic policies of their countries
during the 1960s and 1970s.                                                                  [50]

QUESTION 6:          CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS FROM THE 1950s TO THE 1970s:
                     BLACK POWER MOVEMENT

Explain to what extent Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael were successful in instilling
'Black Pride' among African Americans in the 1960s.

Use relevant examples to support your answer.                                                [50]

                                                                                TOTAL:       150

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