Historian A: John Smith – Economic Perspective "John Smith argues that the fall of the Berlin Wall was primarily driven by economic factors. He emphasizes the economic decline of East Germany and the Soviet Union, which made the continuation of the Cold War unsustainable. Smith suggests that economic pressures forced the East German government to open the borders to access Western prosperity, viewing the Wall’s fall as a result of economic collapse rather than political or social change. He highlights the importance of economic hardship in shaping political decisions during 1989."

Historian B: Maria Lopez – Social Perspective "Maria Lopez contends that the fall of the Berlin Wall was mainly due to social factors. She points to the growing dissatisfaction among East Germans, increased protests, and the desire for freedom as key drivers. Lopez argues that the social movement for democracy and human rights created a climate that made the Wall's fall inevitable. She stresses that grassroots activism and the collapse of social control played a crucial role in ending the division."

Questions:

1. Summarize each historian’s view on why the Berlin Wall fell. (3 marks)

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