IGCSE History (9–1) 0977 · Topic 8

Depth study D: The United States, 1919–41: past paper questions

12 real questionsasked in 2 of the last 6 exam series2025–2025usually: Explain, Describe

Real questions on depth study d: the united states, 1919–41

The newest 12 of 12 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q15a[4]
Describe the state of agriculture in the 1920s.
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q15b[6]
Why was mass production important for US industry?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q15c[10]
‘The lives of American women were transformed by the boom.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q16a[4]
What happened on ‘Black Thursday’, 24 October 1929?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q16b[6]
Why did the Crash cause hardship for many Americans?
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0977/11 · October/November 2025 · Q16c[10]
How far do you agree that the most important cause of the Crash was ‘buying on the margin’? Explain your answer. Depth study E: The Second World War in Europe and the Asia–Pacific, 1939–c.1945
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q15a[4]
Which industries did not benefit from the boom in the 1920s?
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q15b[6]
Why did developments outside the United States affect American farming in the 1920s?
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q15c[10]
‘Credit was more important than Republican policies in causing the boom of the 1920s.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q16a[4]
What were the main measures of the Second New Deal?
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q16b[6]
Why were the first hundred days of Roosevelt’s presidency important?
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0977/12 · May/June 2025 · Q16c[10]
‘The New Deal was an effective response to the Depression.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. Depth study E: The Second World War in Europe and the Asia–Pacific, 1939–c.1945
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What examiners said

This question was very well answered, and most candidates were very familiar with the industries which did not benefit from the boom in the 1920s. Many included details such as the coal industry did not benefit because they suffered from competition from new industries like oil and electricity; the traditional textile industries of cotton and wool suffered from new materials such as rayon. Referen...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0977/12 Q15(a) (Cambridge)

Knowledge and understanding of why the developments outside the United States affected American farming in the 1920s was varied; some wrote about problems inside the United States, rather than outside. Strong responses identified and explained two reasons. The two most common reasons identified were the competition from the highly efficient Canadian wheat producers and the lack of European markets...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0977/12 Q15(b) (Cambridge)

There were many strong, well organised responses to this question, in which candidates were able to demonstrate whether credit was more important than Republican policies in causing the boom of the 1920s. The best responses explained that the widespread availability of credit fuelled a consumer boom, allowing Americans to purchase goods like cars, vacuum cleaners, radios and washing machines on hi...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0977/12 Q15(c) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

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In the syllabus

1 0470.8.1.01 — On what factors was the economic boom based?.

On what factors was the economic boom based?.
Why did some industries prosper while others did not?.
Why did agriculture not share in the prosperity?.
Did all Americans benefit from the boom?.

2 0470.8.1.02 — Why did some industries prosper while others did not?.

Why did some industries prosper while others did not?.

3 0470.8.1.03 — Why did agriculture not share in the prosperity?.

Why did agriculture not share in the prosperity?.

4 0470.8.1.04 — Did all Americans benefit from the boom?.

Did all Americans benefit from the boom?.

5 0470.8.2.01 — What were the ‘Roaring Twenties’?.

What were the ‘Roaring Twenties’?.
How widespread was intolerance in US society?.
Why was Prohibition introduced, and then later repealed?.
How far did the roles of women change during the 1920s?.

6 0470.8.2.02 — How widespread was intolerance in US society?.

How widespread was intolerance in US society?.

7 0470.8.2.03 — Why was Prohibition introduced, and then later repealed?.

Why was Prohibition introduced, and then later repealed?.

8 0470.8.2.04 — How far did the roles of women change during the 1920s?.

How far did the roles of women change during the 1920s?.

9 0470.8.3.01 — How far was speculation responsible for the Wall Street Crash?.

How far was speculation responsible for the Wall Street Crash?.
What impact did the Crash have on the economy?.
What were the social consequences of the Crash?.
Why did Roosevelt win the election of 1932?.

10 0470.8.3.02 — What impact did the Crash have on the economy?.

What impact did the Crash have on the economy?.

11 0470.8.3.03 — What were the social consequences of the Crash?.

What were the social consequences of the Crash?.

12 0470.8.3.04 — Why did Roosevelt win the election of 1932?.

Why did Roosevelt win the election of 1932?.

13 0470.8.4.01 — What was the New Deal as introduced in 1933?.

What was the New Deal as introduced in 1933?.
How far did the character of the New Deal change after 1933?.
Why did the New Deal encounter opposition?.
Why did unemployment persist despite the New Deal?.
Did the fact that the New Deal did not solve unemployment mean that it was a failure?.
The expansion of the US economy during the 1920s:; government policies; mass production in industries for cars and other consumer goods; the fortunes of older industries; the development of credit and hire purchase; the decline of agriculture.
Weaknesses in the economy by the late 1920s.
Society in the 1920s:; the ‘Roaring Twenties’; film and other media; Prohibition and gangsterism; restrictions on immigration, the ‘Red Scare’, religious intolerance; discrimination against Black Americans; the Ku Klux Klan; the changing roles of women.
The Wall Street Crash and its financial, economic and social effects.
The reaction of President Hoover to the Crash.
The presidential election of 1932; Hoover’s and Roosevelt’s programmes.
Roosevelt’s inauguration and the ‘Hundred Days’.

14 0470.8.4.02 — How far did the character of the New Deal change after 1933?.

How far did the character of the New Deal change after 1933?.

15 0470.8.4.03 — Why did the New Deal encounter opposition?.

Why did the New Deal encounter opposition?.

16 0470.8.4.04 — Why did unemployment persist despite the New Deal?.

Why did unemployment persist despite the New Deal?.

17 0470.8.4.05 — Did the fact that the New Deal did not solve unemployment mean that it was a failure?.

Did the fact that the New Deal did not solve unemployment mean that it was a failure?.

18 0470.8.4.06 — The expansion of the US economy during the 1920s:; government policies; mass production in industries for cars and other consumer goods; the

The expansion of the US economy during the 1920s:; government policies; mass production in industries for cars and other consumer goods; the fortunes of older industries; the development of credit and hire purchase; the decline of agriculture.

19 0470.8.4.07 — Weaknesses in the economy by the late 1920s.

Weaknesses in the economy by the late 1920s.

20 0470.8.4.08 — Society in the 1920s:; the ‘Roaring Twenties’; film and other media; Prohibition and gangsterism; restrictions on immigration, the ‘Red Scar

Society in the 1920s:; the ‘Roaring Twenties’; film and other media; Prohibition and gangsterism; restrictions on immigration, the ‘Red Scare’, religious intolerance; discrimination against Black Americans; the Ku Klux Klan; the changing roles of women.

21 0470.8.4.09 — The Wall Street Crash and its financial, economic and social effects.

The Wall Street Crash and its financial, economic and social effects.

22 0470.8.4.10 — The reaction of President Hoover to the Crash.

The reaction of President Hoover to the Crash.

23 0470.8.4.11 — The presidential election of 1932; Hoover’s and Roosevelt’s programmes.

The presidential election of 1932; Hoover’s and Roosevelt’s programmes.

24 0470.8.4.12 — Roosevelt’s inauguration and the ‘Hundred Days’.

Roosevelt’s inauguration and the ‘Hundred Days’.

25 0470.8.4.13 — The New Deal legislation, the ‘alphabet agencies’ and their work, and the economic and social changes they caused.

The New Deal legislation, the ‘alphabet agencies’ and their work, and the economic and social changes they caused.

26 0470.8.4.14 — Opposition to the New Deal:; the Republicans; the rich; business interests; the Supreme Court; radical critics like Huey Long.

Opposition to the New Deal:; the Republicans; the rich; business interests; the Supreme Court; radical critics like Huey Long.

27 0470.8.4.15 — The strengths and weaknesses of the New Deal programme in dealing with unemployment and the Depression.

The strengths and weaknesses of the New Deal programme in dealing with unemployment and the Depression.

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