AQA_2024: AS History - The Birth of the USA, 1760–1801 Component 2G: The Origins of the American Revolution, 1760–1776 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)

AQA_2024: AS History - The Birth of the USA, 1760–1801 Component 2G: The Origins of the American Revolution, 1760–1776 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme) AS HISTORY The Birth of the USA, 1760–1801 Component 2G The origins of the American Revolution, 1760–1776 Monday 20 May 2024 Materials For this paper you must have:  an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions Afternoon  Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes  Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7041/2G.  Answer two questions. In Section A answer Question 01. In Section B answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Information  The marks for questions are shown in brackets.  The maximum mark for this paper is 50.  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: – 50 minutes on Section A – 40 minutes on Section B. For AS History: The Birth of the USA, 1760–1801, Component 2G: The Origins of the American Revolution, 1760–1776, focus on these key areas: 1. British Colonial Policies and Control:  Salutary Neglect: Understand how Britain’s policy of salutary neglect (allowing the colonies self governance) had encouraged colonial independence, but after 1760, Britain began asserting more control, particularly with taxes and laws.  Revenue Generation: Britain sought to address debt from the French and Indian War (1754–1763) by enforcing taxes on the colonies, leading to tensions. This included the Sugar Act (1764) and Stamp Act (1765). 2. Colonial Resistance and Reactions:  Stamp Act Congress: The Stamp Act led to the first unified colonial resistance, with the Stamp Act Congress of 1765 drafting petitions against the act. The slogan “No taxation without representation” became a rallying cry.  Townshend Acts (1767): These imposed duties on glass, paper, paint, and tea. The colonial response included boycotts, protests, and the formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty.  Boston Massacre (1770): The killings of five colonists by British soldiers in Boston deepened anti British sentiment. 3. Escalating Conflict:  Boston Tea Party (1773): The Tea Act of 1773, which gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea, was met with the Boston Tea Party. Colonists, disguised as Native Americans, threw tea into Boston Harbor, leading to severe British reprisals.  Intolerable Acts (1774): In retaliation, Britain imposed the Coercive Acts (known in the colonies as the Intolerable Acts), closing Boston Harbor and limiting colonial self-government, which united the colonies in opposition. 4. Formation of Colonial Unity:  First Continental Congress (1774): In response to the Intolerable Acts, the colonies convened the First Continental Congress, where delegates from 12 colonies met to coordinate resistance, issuing the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and organizing a boycott of British goods.  Continued Tensions: By 1775, tensions were high with skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, marking the first military engagements of the Revolution. 5. Ideological Foundations:  Enlightenment Ideas: Understand how Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke influenced colonial political thought, particularly ideas of natural rights and the social contract, which justified resistance to perceived tyranny.  British Tyranny: Colonists increasingly saw British actions as violating their rights, and the rhetoric of liberty and resistance grew. 6. Economic Factors:  Economic Strain: The British taxes and trade restrictions placed economic strain on the colonies, especially the Navigation Acts, which restricted trade to British ships and goods. 7041/2G IB/M/Jun24/G400A/E6 2 Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From a speech by Thomas Jefferson, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, to the inhabitants of St Anne, Virginia, June 1774. Reverend Clay was a lifelong friend of Jefferson. The members of the House of Burgesses have considered the dangers facing colonial America from the hostile activities of our rulers. We request that you the people of St Anne set apart 23 July as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, to plead for divine intervention on behalf of our injured and oppressed people. We also demand that the people in this colony attend a sermon for this purpose, led by Reverend Clay, at the new church on Hardware River, to pray that the minds of King George, His Majesty, His Ministers, and Parliament, might be inspired by Godly wisdom to prevent the dangers which harm our civil rights and are likely to bring the evils of civil war. 5 Source B From the pamphlet, ‘Common Sense’, written by Thomas Paine, an English-born American, and published anonymously, January 1776. Paine addresses the common people of America. There is no advantage in reconciliation with Great Britain. Our corn will fetch its price anywhere in Europe. We have suffered many injuries and disadvantages from Great Britain. Thousands have been ruined by cruel British actions. Every attempt we have made to resolve our differences has been disregarded or rejected. Nothing flatters vanity or encourages stubbornness in Kings more than repeated pleas. Only independence can keep the peace and preserve us from civil wars. I dread reconciliation, as it will only end in revolt. Some are afraid of independence, fearing a civil war, but there is ten times more to fear from a compromise with Great Britain than from independence. The time has come to part. 5 0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, which of these two sources is more valuable in explaining colonial attitudes towards Britain in the years 1774 to 1776? [25 marks] IB/M/Jun24/7041/2G 3 Section B Answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Either 0 2 ‘In the years c1760 to 1763, the economic development of the colonies was held back by British control.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. [25 marks] or 0 3 ‘The colonial elites were more significant than movements from below in challenging British rule in the years 1765 to 1770.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. [25 marks] END OF QUESTIONS IB/M/Jun24/7041/2G 4