Manifest Destiny and early expansion, 1830–1880 — IGCSE History - American (0409) questions by topic
Source-based questions on Manifest Destiny and early expansion ask why two sources differ on the California Gold Rush, how useful or reliable a given source is as evidence of Lincoln's attitude to Western settlement, and whether gold discovery was the main cause of westward migration across all sources, worth between 6 and 15 marks.
Evaluate, explain, to what extent, describe and assess require close source analysis rather than recalled narrative alone: how reliable and how useful ask different things about a source's evidentiary value. Drawn from 15 questions across 2023 to 2025 papers, this page's instant marking is well matched to source evaluation, showing how the mark scheme rewards analysis of a source's origin and purpose over simply restating its content.
May–June 2025, Paper 02
Study Source A. What can you learn from this source about westward expansion? Explain your answer using details from the source and your knowledge.
Answer this question and get it marked →Study Source B. How useful is this source to a historian studying the settlement of Salt Lake City? Explain your answer using details from the source and your knowledge.
Answer this question and get it marked →Study Source C. How reliable is this source as evidence of the effectiveness of the Homestead Act of 1862? Explain your answer using details from the source and your knowledge.
Answer this question and get it marked →Study Sources D and E. Why do these sources differ in their views of the California Gold Rush? Explain your answer using details from the sources and your knowledge.
Answer this question and get it marked →Study all the sources (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G). "The discovery of gold in California was the major cause of people migrating west." To what extent do you agree? Explain your…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 02
Study Source A. What can you learn from this source about law and order in the American West? Explain your answer.
Answer this question and get it marked →Study Source B. How useful is this source as evidence of attempts to control law and order in the American West? Explain your answer using details from the source and your…
Answer this question and get it marked →Study Source C. How accurately does this source reflect the problems of law and order in the American West? Explain your answer using details from the source and your knowledge.
Answer this question and get it marked →Study Sources D and E. Why do these sources differ in their views about law and order in the American West? Explain your answer using details from the sources and your knowledge.
Answer this question and get it marked →Study all the sources (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G). "The American West was a lawless place where law and order could never be established." To what extent do you agree? Explain your…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 02
Study Source A. What can you learn from this source about the migration of people to California in 1849? Explain your answer using details from the source and your knowledge.
Answer this question and get it marked →Study Source B. How useful is this source to a historian studying the idea of Manifest Destiny? Explain your answer using details from the source and your knowledge.
Answer this question and get it marked →Study Source C. How reliable is this source as evidence of Lincoln's attitude towards the settlement of the West? Explain your answer using details from the source and your…
Answer this question and get it marked →Study Sources D and E. Why do these sources disagree over the reasons why tension developed between the Mormons and the authorities in Missouri in 1838? Explain your answer using…
Answer this question and get it marked →Study all the sources. 'The belief in Manifest Destiny was the main reason for Westward expansion after 1830.' To what extent do you agree? Explain your answer using details from…
Answer this question and get it marked →