History Exam Preparation PDF

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History exam prep concerning the cold war...

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Essays:  Origins  Leadership o Stalin o Gorbachev o Truman o Khrushchev  Détente  Ideas o Communism  Perestroika/Glasnost (close to identical to Gorb essay)  Post Cold War (Yugoslavia, EU etc)  End of Communism  End of Cold War  EU Essay Skeleton: End of Communism Essay Reference Introduction 1. Interesting sentence that sets the scene o “Emerging from the Cold War divide and tension that existed throughout the region since the conclusion of World War 2, the European region was hopeful of change”

2. Sum up points o “For the four decades of Communist rule in Eastern Europe, the presence of rising discontent in the region towards Soviet style communism and the economic strains that communism brought to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe ultimately played crucial roles in developing the cracks in communism…..”

3. Relate back to questions o “As such, the collapse of communism in the region at the end of the Cold War resulted from the buildup of several different forces that had been building for the entire Cold War period but was provoked by Gorbachev’s assumption to power in 1985.” Notes: 1. Take a stand if the question wants you to (ie. If analysing what factors were most significant “the discontent in the region and the economic strains…. Ultimately played crucial roles. Yet, the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev was detrimental….” 2. Try not to just list ideas, work them into a statement/standpoint that fits with thesis of question. Readers want to hear your argument, not a regurgitation of information. Body Paragraphs 1. Topic statement that directly relates to your thesis/argument a. “The leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev was arguably the most significant force in contributing to the end of communism in the region.”

2. Set the context (if necessary) – don’t want to directly jump into points, assume reader has limited knowledge a. “Upon his assumption to power on 11th March 1985, he inherited a nation that was, as Kenneth Branagh described, “sick with social breakdown, corruption in the Communist Party and alcoholism”. 3. Make a direct point/piece of information (does not necessarily need to address question) a. Politically, Gorbachev’s reforms sought to bring a sense of political freedom to the Soviet Union. 4. Back it up with facts (if relevant) or quote a. “His reforms included multi-candidate elections, secret ballots, an independent judicial system as well as the establishment of the Congress of People’s Deputies in July 1988, which saw, for the first-time, Soviet citizens elect members to the national legislative body.” 5. Link directly back to the question plus good spot for a quote to support your thesis a. “As such, Gorbachev’s political reforms aimed to eliminate apathy towards the Soviet political system and shape the USSR into a functioning democratic state as well as maintaining the socialist model, in how Gorbachev described it to be, “based on the principle of more socialism and more democracy”. 6. Repeat steps 3-5 for each point. 7. Linking sentence back to thesis, good to try include something interesting not just a plain restatement a. “In this way, the leadership of Gorbachev causing the inevitable collapse of the Soviet Union was the final factor that symbolized the end of communism in the region.” Notes: - Best to work in chronological order – exception is when there are different subideas (ie. Economic, political, social etc.)

Conclusion 1. Try for an interesting sentence at start again a. “The entirety of the Cold War had been a collision of beliefs between the USSR and the USA, in what was Communism v Capitalism.” 2. Restate thesis and body paragraphs a. “However, the conclusion of Cold War tension in the European region brought about the collapse of communism, through rising discontent in Eastern Europe and the constant economic strains that communism placed on the USSR. Furthermore, the leadership of Gorbachev was decisive in provoking the disintegration of the USSR that proved to be the final factor that caused the end of communism in the region.” 3. Sentence to wrap it up a. “This brought to an end a repressive ideology that played a significant role in developing tension that lasted the entire Cold War and symbolizing the conclusion of European and superpower tension”

Notes: - Try and leave the reader interested with an interesting sentence or point. Will stand out...