This exam focus covers Exam Connection within Intolerance and Prejudice for GCSE History. Revise Intolerance and Prejudice in America 1920-1973 for GCSE History with 10 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 12 of 14 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 12 of 14
Practice
10 questions
Recall
12 flashcards
🎯 Exam Connection
Frequency: This topic appeared in 4 out of 5 recent sittings (HIGH). Intolerance questions are closely linked to the economic boom topic — examiners often ask you to explain the contrast between prosperity and prejudice.
Typical questions:
- "Describe two features of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s" (4 marks)
- "Explain why there was an increase in intolerance in America in the 1920s" (8 marks)
- "Explain why the Sacco and Vanzetti case is significant" (8 marks)
- "How far do you agree that fear of communism was the main reason for the growth of intolerance in 1920s America?" (12+4 marks)
For Level 3+ (7-8 marks on the explain question): You need to explain how DIFFERENT fears connected and reinforced each other. Don't just list separate causes — show how the Red Scare, fear of immigration, and the KKK were all responses to the same underlying anxiety about change. Use specific evidence: Palmer Raids 1919-20, National Origins Act 1924, KKK membership figures 4-6 million, Sacco and Vanzetti 1927.
For Level 4 (10-12 marks on the essay): Argue that while fear of communism was significant, it was part of a broader fear of change — and make a clear judgement about which factor was MOST important. The strongest answers will note that all forms of intolerance shared a common root in WASP anxiety about losing cultural dominance.