A-level
HISTORY
AQA A-level History Component 2L Italy and Fascism,
c1900–1945 (7042/2L) Study Guide 2026
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/2L.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
7042/2L
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From ‘Modern Italy as seen by an English woman’, a book by Cicely Hamilton, published
1932. Hamilton was a journalist and writer who had travelled extensively in Europe.
The last election took place in 1929, known as Year VII of the Fascist Revolution.
Italians had to register agreement or disagreement with the list of national candidates put
forward, which meant approval or disapproval of the works and ways of the government.
90% of the electorate voted, and 8.5 million answered with a satisfied ‘yes’. A meagre
136 000 cast in the disapproving ‘No’. This result was displayed in proud letters on one 5
of the municipal buildings in Florence, and probably through the whole of Italy. I stared at
the figures. This was the election affected by the Lateran Treaty, signed in the preceding
month. One of the results of this treaty was that good Catholics, instead of abstaining as
they did before, were urged by their priests to the poll! Even allowing for this, the figures
were outstanding. If election results can be taken at face value, Fascism appears to be 10
attaining its goal of uniting the political conscience. Fascism is creating a nation of
people who think alike!
Source B
From a speech to the Italian Senate by Giovanni Gentile, 1930. Gentile was described
as ‘the philosopher of Fascism’, and co-wrote the ‘Doctrine of Fascism’ with Mussolini.
The important thing is not to confuse faith in Fascism with a membership card. The great
mass of Italians today, if we only take account of simple loyalty to the regime, is Fascist.
But one is not Fascist when one merely limits oneself to belonging formally to the regime
and to move in its orbit. It is too evident that the Fascist out of fear, since there are also
some of these, is not Fascist except with his lips. Fascism is courage, daring, discipline 5
– yes, iron military discipline. It is necessary that the Fascist should think, and desire,
and educate himself, and form himself, and collaborate for his part in the construction of
the new powerful Fatherland. This cannot be just a phrase, even when spoken in a loud
voice, but it must be a reality. It can only be born of the sacrifice of men who give
themselves to an ideal. 10
, 3
Source C
From an essay about life as a youth in Northern Italy in the late 1920s and early 1930s by
Davide Lajolo, published 1962. Lajolo joined the Communist Resistance in 1943.
Source C cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source C argues that Fascist propaganda was wide-ranging and all-encompassing
at this time.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying the support for
Fascism in Italy in c1930.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
Turn over ►
HISTORY
AQA A-level History Component 2L Italy and Fascism,
c1900–1945 (7042/2L) Study Guide 2026
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is
7042/2L.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01.
In Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
7042/2L
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From ‘Modern Italy as seen by an English woman’, a book by Cicely Hamilton, published
1932. Hamilton was a journalist and writer who had travelled extensively in Europe.
The last election took place in 1929, known as Year VII of the Fascist Revolution.
Italians had to register agreement or disagreement with the list of national candidates put
forward, which meant approval or disapproval of the works and ways of the government.
90% of the electorate voted, and 8.5 million answered with a satisfied ‘yes’. A meagre
136 000 cast in the disapproving ‘No’. This result was displayed in proud letters on one 5
of the municipal buildings in Florence, and probably through the whole of Italy. I stared at
the figures. This was the election affected by the Lateran Treaty, signed in the preceding
month. One of the results of this treaty was that good Catholics, instead of abstaining as
they did before, were urged by their priests to the poll! Even allowing for this, the figures
were outstanding. If election results can be taken at face value, Fascism appears to be 10
attaining its goal of uniting the political conscience. Fascism is creating a nation of
people who think alike!
Source B
From a speech to the Italian Senate by Giovanni Gentile, 1930. Gentile was described
as ‘the philosopher of Fascism’, and co-wrote the ‘Doctrine of Fascism’ with Mussolini.
The important thing is not to confuse faith in Fascism with a membership card. The great
mass of Italians today, if we only take account of simple loyalty to the regime, is Fascist.
But one is not Fascist when one merely limits oneself to belonging formally to the regime
and to move in its orbit. It is too evident that the Fascist out of fear, since there are also
some of these, is not Fascist except with his lips. Fascism is courage, daring, discipline 5
– yes, iron military discipline. It is necessary that the Fascist should think, and desire,
and educate himself, and form himself, and collaborate for his part in the construction of
the new powerful Fatherland. This cannot be just a phrase, even when spoken in a loud
voice, but it must be a reality. It can only be born of the sacrifice of men who give
themselves to an ideal. 10
, 3
Source C
From an essay about life as a youth in Northern Italy in the late 1920s and early 1930s by
Davide Lajolo, published 1962. Lajolo joined the Communist Resistance in 1943.
Source C cannot be reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions
Source C argues that Fascist propaganda was wide-ranging and all-encompassing
at this time.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying the support for
Fascism in Italy in c1930.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
Turn over ►
