1. 1.1 The Origins of the First World War
Grade Studio 2: Source J suggests that the troubles in the Balkans
were threatening to plunge Europe into war. Do you agree with this
interpretation?
Target: EVALUATION OF SOURCE BY ITS CONTENT, PROVENANCE AND PURPOSE
MARK SCHEME Source J
Writes nothing of relevance which evaluates the 0
interpretation
Level 1 General response – simple statements about 1
whether the cartoon or artist is reliable
Level 2 Simple explanation 2–3
EITHER a simple explanation of how the content
is true or false
OR a simple explanation of how the provenance
makes it biased or trustworthy
Level 3 Developed evaluation 4–5
EITHER a detailed/specific explanation of how the
content matches the events
OR a sophisticated/specific explanation of how
the artist’s situation, motives and purpose make
his interpretation more or less reliable This cartoon was drawn by the British
Level 4 Evaluated conclusion 6 artist Leonard Raven-Hill in 1912. The great
Both aspects of Level 3 plus a reasoned and powers (from left to right, Russia, Britain,
balanced assessment of reliability Germany, France and Austria-Hungary)
are trying to balance on the lid of a boiling
What mark would you give the following answers? cauldron that represents the troubled Balkans.
The message of the cartoon is that the Balkans are destabilising international politics. All the
countries of Europe are falling off the pot, meaning they are going to war. They are all wearing
clothes which make them caricatures. Raven-Hill was a supporter of British imperialism.
The content is not true. Britain, Germany and France were not involved in the Balkans – from my
own knowledge I know that it was just Russia and Austria-Hungary in the Balkans troubles. And
the provenance is not right either, because the cartoon was drawn by Leonard Raven-Hill, who
was a great supporter of British imperialism, and would be biased towards Britain.
The cartoon is generally an accurate assessment of the Balkan troubles of 1908–09 and 1912–13.
It is a visual statement that the Balkan troubles were destabilising the international politics
of Europe. The artist understands that it was not just Austria and Russia who were involved
in the Balkans, but also Germany (who forced Russia to back down in 1909), and even Britain
and France were in danger of being dragged into war too because of their alliance in the Triple
Entente with Russia. In the end, this was what happened in 1914, so Raven-Hill was proved true.
Also, in this case, although he was a great supporter of British imperialism, the artist Raven-
Hill is a very trustworthy commentator. Because Britain was not directly involved, he could be
truly objective, and he could see that the Balkan troubles threatened to upset the whole peace of
Europe. Raven-Hill was not biased – he just wanted to show in picture form the danger to peace.
The artist wanted to make all the countries look stupid; he was British, so he was biased against
them, and he made the British look calm when all the others look scared.
The artist was British, so he was biased, and he made the British look calm when all the others
look scared, showing how they were unable to control the situation in the Balkans.
Although he was a great supporter of British imperialism, the artist Raven-Hill is a very
trustworthy commentator. Because Britain was not directly involved, he could be truly objective,
and he could see that the Balkan troubles threatened to upset the whole peace of Europe. Raven-
Hill was not biased – he just wanted to show in picture form the danger to peace.
© Pearson Education Ltd 2009 29
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