Practice essays - New Zealand forces in Asia 1948-1972 - NCEA Level 1 history

Achievement standard 1.5: describe a historical development, in an essay

Use the feature New Zealand forces in Asia 1948–72 and your own knowledge and ideas to help you complete the following practice essays. They are based on similar questions set in recent NCEA Level 1 exams. Also, examine achievement standard 1.5: describe a historical development, in an essay.

Ensure that your essay has:

• an introduction, which has an opening statement of two or three sentences that clearly state what the essay is about
• the main body, consisting of a series of sequenced and structured paragraphs that contain generalisations with supporting evidence
• a conclusion or brief statement that sums up your answer to both parts of the essay question.

Essay topic 1:

In what ways did New Zealand governments give military support to the United Nations and the Commonwealth between 1945 and 1960? For what reasons did New Zealand support these international organisations?

The ideas below are designed to help you, but it is important that you add your own knowledge as well.

Some ways that New Zealand gave military support to the United Nations and the Commonwealth were:

• helping establish the United Nations
• Kayforce
• ANZAM.

Reasons for New Zealand supporting the United Nations and the Commonwealth were:

• promoting collective security
• maintaining traditional ties and relationships
• countering the Cold War.

Essay topic 2:

What were the main security arrangements New Zealand made in the period 1945–55? Why did New Zealand enter into these new security arrangements?

The ideas below are designed to help you, but it is important that you add your own knowledge as well.

New security arrangements developed were:

• United Nations
• ANZUS
• Manila Pact
• SEATO.

Reasons for new security arrangements were:

• fear of Japan
• realisation that Britain could no longer be relied upon for security
• continued support for collective security
• threat from the Cold War and associated domino theory.