DBQ Context and Complexity Practice

APUSH DBQ questions always have a time frame that is chosen for a specific reason. 

If you understand the time frame, you can pick up the context and complexity points.  In this "quiz," you are going to breakdown the generic questions as depicted in the example below:

**Remember, your exam only goes up to 1945, there will be no questions like the one below**

Generic Question on the the beginning of the Cold War  Years 1945-1991

Why these years?  AND How can you earn context and complexity?  

Sample Answer

1. 1945 - end of WWII
2. 1991 - collapse of USSR
3. Context - US and USSR worked together during WWII despite being ideological enemies
4. Complexity -  In the 1990s, the US was the lone "superpower" left and its foreign policy did not have a focus like it did during the Cold War.  However, with the rise of Putin, the US had to readjust its policy

-Notice context and complexity were both based off these years.  I went before 1945 and then after 1991. 

-As I have stated in class, there are many ways to get complexity but it is still a hard point to earn.  For this question, instead of moving after 1991, you could have instead brought in another perspective.  So for example, you could include a paragraph covering the "third world," the non-alligned nations during the Cold War.  Of it the question was based on the skill of causation, who was more responsible for causing the Cold War, you could also focus on the effects of the Cold War as well.