History Past Questions For WAEC | Available Here
Below Are History Past Questions;
Further observation: This question was very straightforward but not really popular with the candidates. Moreover, very few candidates that attempted it scored low marks because they could not expatiate fully on the relevant points identified. However, the candidates were expected to highlight the following points:
(i) Decentralization of the kingdom by Atta in favour of his sons and relatives which separated them from the central government and led to ineffective communication and decision making;
(ii) Preoccupation of the Atta with court rituals at the detriment of his administrative duties;
(iii) Refusal of vassal states to pay tributes;
(iv) Division within Igala mela which led to power contest in the state.
Question 2: Outline any five factors which contributed to the fame of Benin kingdom during the pre- colonial period.
Further observations: This question was popular and some candidates who attempted it answered it brilliantly. Such candidates were able to bring out the factors and explained them properly. The factors stated and explained were not limited to, but included, the following:
(i) Able and strong leadership;
(ii) different sources of revenue;
(iii) trade connections with the Europeans along the Coast;
(iv) the skills of the craftsmen in the production of bronze human heads and other figures.
Question 3: (a) Mention the process of pottery making in pre-colonial times.
(b) Outline any four uses of pottery in pre-colonial times.
Further observations: This question was very direct and popular among the candidates. They demonstrated proper understanding of the question and some of those who attempted it performed excellently. The process of pot making in pre-colonial times was adequately explained by the candidates but some jumbled the points together. The second aspect of the question was also brilliantly answered as candidates properly explained the uses of pottery in pre-colonial times. Candidates were expected to explain the following points in order to score good marks:
(a)
(i) collect clay
(ii) break the clay into pieces;
(iii) add water to the clay;
(iv) soak the mixture for a day;
(v) sieve to remove impurities and drain the water;
(vi) kneed and model the shape;
(vii) allow to dry and then fire.
(b)
(i) pots were used for fetching water;
(ii) pots were used for storage;
(iii) for cooking;
(iv) used as plates and bowls;
(v) they were used for ritual purposes.
Question 4: Describe how Islam was introduced into Northern Nigeria.
Further observations: This was a very popular question and most candidates attempted it. However, some of them did not have much knowledge of the issue and therefore scored low marks in this question. Instead of stating how Islam was introduced, some candidates emphasized the influence of Uthman dan Fodio jihad of 1804. Generally, the candidates were expected to explain the influence of the following factors:
The roles of the trans-Saharan Muslim traders from North Africa;
- Marriage between traders and women in the communities;
- The prosperity and the riches of the Muslim traders;
- The building of koranic schools;
- The mystical powers of Muslim clerics and their popularity.
Question 5: Outline any five contributions of Bishop Ajayi Crowther to the promotion of Christianity in Nigeria.
Further observations: This question popular question but most candidates that attempted this question did not perform well because they failed to provide the required answers to it. They did not
interpret the question appropriately, hence they emphasized the Christian missionary
activities generally instead of the contributions made by Bishop Ajayi Crowther to the
promotion of Christianity in Nigeria. However, few candidates were able to list the
contributions but were not fully explained. Generally, the candidates were expected to
explain the following points:
He led the Niger expedition to the Niger Delta and founded two preaching stations at Onitsha and Gbegbe;
- He translated the Bible into Yoruba Language;
- He headed the C.M.S Niger mission;
- He compiled a grammar and dictionary of Yoruba and other languages e.g. Nupe and Igbo languages so that the people could read and understand the bible;
- He discouraged idol worshiping, social vices and converted people to Christianity.
Question 6: (a) List any three emirates that made up the Caliphate under Muhammad Bello.
(b) Highlight any four contributions of Muhammad Bello to the development of Sokoto Caliphate.
Further observations: This was a quite popular and straightforward question and was attempted by many candidates. The first part of the question was properly answered and the emirates were sufficiently listed. However, some candidates who attempted this question could not explain the identified points in part ‘b’ satisfactorily. In order to score good marks in this question, the candidates were expected to explain the following in the second part of the question:
(i) He united the emirates in the field of religion, culture, and politics;
(ii) Allowed the emirates to enjoy their internal autonomy;
(iii) Ensured political cooperation with his government and also enforced annual pilgrimage to Sokoto;
(iv) Confirmed appointments of emirs in the emirates;
(v) Through correspondence, he gave advice to the emirs in all matters according to Islamic code.
Question 7: Outline any five reasons why the British acquired Nigeria as a colony in the 19th century.
Further observations: This question was fairly popular and was well handled by the candidates. Some candidates who attempted it scored good marks because they were able to outline the reasons for the acquisition of Nigeria by the British as a colony. However, few candidates misinterpreted the question and stated the reasons for the conquest of Nigeria by the Europeans which was question number eight (8).This robbed them of substantial marks. Candidates were expected to explain the following points in order to score good marks:
(i)To obtain raw materials for their industries back home in Britain;
(ii) To counter French interest in Nigeria;
(iii) To use Nigeria in its effort to suppress the Atlantic slave trade;
(iv) To create employment for some of their unemployed youths in Britain;
(v) To use Nigeria as a market where their surplus manufactured goods could be sold.
Question 8: Highlight any five reasons for the conquest of Nigeria from 1851 to 1914 by the Europeans.
Further observations: This was not a popular question; the few candidates who attempted it performed very badly. They misinterpreted the question and this made them loss substantial marks. The question expected the candidates to state why it was easy for the Europeans to conquer Nigeria but most candidates stated the reasons for the British colonization of Nigeria. To score good marks, the candidates were expected to explain the following points:
(i)The Europeans possessed superior weapons (e.g. maxim guns) as against spears, bows and arrows and fire arms used by the indigenous people;
(ii) The Europeans had well trained standing army with their wing commanders who were war experts than the indigenous armies most of which were based on conscription;
(iii) Most of the territories in Nigeria were open fields or forest which made it easier for the European armies to move freely and made use of their weapons against the people;
(iv) Nigeria lacked enough resources to sustain her prolonged wars;
(v) The absence of clearly defined rules of succession to the throne had hampered unity. Europeans therefore took advantage of succession disputes to dabble into the affairs of the states in the country to conquer and annex it.
Question 9: Outline any five disadvantages of the colonial economic policy on Nigeria.
Further observations: This was a very good but likely not a popular question. While it was difficult for some candidates who attempted it to provide satisfactory answers, a few ones displayed a brilliant understanding of the question; they answered it intelligently and scored good marks. The following:
(i) Indigenous traders were displaced by European traders and their agents;
(ii) The trade relationship led to a situation in which Nigeria’s fiscal system became attached to that of Britain in that during the colonial rule, the worth of Nigeria’s money was measured in relation to that of Britain;
(iii) Indigenous system of technology was discouraged by the colonial authorities;
(iv) The colonial government encouraged production of cash crops at the expense of food crops;
(v) The British did not invest the large profits from the sale of Nigerian products in the country;
(vi) It promoted construction of railways from the north to the coast solely to convey raw materials for export.
Question 10: (a) State two reasons for the failure of Indirect Rule in Igboland.
(b) Outline any three outcomes of the Aba Women Riot of 1929.
Further observations: This was a very popular question. Some candidates performed well in the part (a) because they were apparently familiar with the demands of the question but a few of them got it wrong because they did not limit it to Igboland as was demanded by the question. However, many candidates did not answer the part (b) of the question very well and consequently performed poorly. The candidates were expected to outline the following points in order to get good marks:
(a)
(i) The units of Igbo society in Eastern Nigeria were too small to shoulder the responsibilities expected by the Indirect rule system;
(ii) Igboland operated village democracy;
(iii) There was an absence of traditional authorities to command the obedience of the people;
(iv) The people were already used to British system of direct administration because of their early contact with the British authority in the inland in 1893.
(b)
(i) A commission of inquiry was set up having two Nigerian barristers, Sir Akintoye Ajasa and Mr. Eric Moore as representatives to investigate the causes of the riot and made recommendations;
(ii) Re-organization of the system in line with the customs of the people;
(iii) Anthropological surveys of the area were conducted.
(iv) Warrant chiefs system remained, but with consequent reduction of their authority.
Question 11: Highlight any five steps taken by the Buhari administration in Nigeria to improve the economic and social life of the people between 1983 and 1984.
Further observations: This question was a very popular one and most of the candidates that attempted it performed very well. They were able to identify the contributions of Buhari administration to economic and social life of the people. However, some of them only wrote skimpy answers without explanation and this decreased their overall performance. In order to satisfy the demands of the question, the candidates were expected to highlight the following points:
(i) The regime banned the importation of some foreign goods. This was to improve the country’s foreign reserves;
(ii) The regime encouraged the production of goods using local resources;
(iii) The regime issued decrees against smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal oil bunkering. Drug pushers and illegal oil bunkerers were executed by firing squad;
(iv) The regime imprisoned corrupt politicians. Corrupt public officers were also probed and tried by special tribunals;
(v) The regime tried to solve the unemployment problem in the country by expelling illegal aliens who caused social and economic problems to the country.
Question 12: (a) List any three members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
(b) Highlight four benefits Nigeria has derived from her membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since 1975.
Further observations: This was a popular question and majority of the candidates did went for it. Those candidates who attempted it showed a very good mastery of the question and therefore scored high marks. Low scores were awarded to candidates who could not expatiate on the points listed. The following points were expected to be identified by candidates to get good scores in the part (b) of the question:
(i) ECOWAS has provided a forum for the president of Nigeria to meet with the Heads of other West African States to discuss common problems and find possible solutions;
(ii) Free movement of Nigerians to member countries without visas is guaranteed;
(iii) ECOWAS regional gatherings provided opportunities for Nigerians to meet with their counterparts from other member countries to share and promote ideas through sports;
(iv) Nigeria has participated in trade fairs through which her products were advertised;
(v) Nigeria has benefited from the free movement of goods and services; there is always a ready market for the sale of her produce.