A LEVEL HISTORY A: Actual June 2025 PAST PAPER 1: From Pitt to Peel 1783–1853. All
Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR Y110/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The A Level History A June 2025 From Pitt to Peel 1783–1853 Paper (OCR Y110/01) integrates the full
official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to create a focused and comprehensive revision
resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding of Britain’s political, social, and economic
developments during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including key reforms, the impact of
industrialization, and the evolution of party politics under the leadership of Pitt, Liverpool, and Peel.
Candidates are required to analyse primary and secondary sources, evaluate differing historical
interpretations, and construct coherent, evidence-based arguments. By presenting each question alongside
its marking criteria, the resource offers clear guidance on examiner expectations, analytical depth, and the
structured responses required for high-band marks. This integrated format supports targeted revision,
strengthens source evaluation and essay-writing skills, and prepares students thoroughly for the May/June
2026 OCR A Level History A From Pitt to Peel 1783–1853 examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
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Section A
Peel and the Age of Reform 1832–1853
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘Economic reasons explain the emergence of Chartism.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: An independent Methodist minister speaking at the Kersal Moor meeting, near
Manchester.
This question of Universal Suffrage was a knife and fork question after all; this question was a
bread and cheese question, and if any man asked him what he meant by Universal Suffrage, he
would answer that every working man in the land had the right to have a good coat to his back, a
comfortable abode in which to shelter himself and his family, a good dinner upon his table and no
more work than was necessary for keeping him in health, and as much wages for that work as would
keep him in plenty, and afford him the blessings of life which a reasonable man could desire.
J. R. Stephens, Northern Star, 29 September 1838
Source B: A radical Chartist who writes about his views on the franchise.
What a farce the present system is! The present House of Commons does not represent the people.
Pawnbrokers are enfranchised, and two thousand brothel owners in London all have votes, but honest
folk have none. It is indeed disgusting to see how much of the ‘honey’ is taken by the ‘drones’*, and
what a pittance is left to the ‘worker bees’ and how the parliamentary franchise is monopolised by one
tenth of the population and that one tenth the worst tenth.
*drones – bees which do little work
Bronterre O’Brien, Charter, 14 April 1839
Source C: A handloom weaver, prominent in the Chartist movement and who campaigned
throughout his life against injustice, expresses his views to an audience in Clitheroe,
Lancashire.
For twenty years we have petitioned and implored, but in vain first, for a removal of the Corn Laws,
then for Boards of Trade, and a reduction of taxes. Our prospects are now gloomy in the extreme.
Nothing now presents itself but starving to death. We are now convinced that appeals to you are
useless; you have destroyed our confidence; the hopes for so long and fondly cherished are blasted.
Henceforth, on our own strength and the justice of our own cause, we shall rely; and look within
ourselves for the elements of another and better state of things.
R. Marsden, speech, July 1842
© OCR 2025 Y110/01 Jun25
, 3
Source D: A former supporter of Chartism states what he considered to be the objectives of
the Chartists.
The Chartists were called ugly names and unfairly. What the Chartists wanted was a voice in making
the laws they were called upon to obey. They believed that taxation without representation was
tyranny, and ought to be resisted. They took a leading part in agitating in favour of the ten hour
question, the repeal of the taxes on knowledge, education, co-operation, civil and religious liberties
and the land question. They were the true pioneers in all the great movements of their time.
B. Wilson, The Struggles of an Old Chartist, published in 1887
© OCR 2025 Y110/01 Jun25 Turn over
Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR Y110/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The A Level History A June 2025 From Pitt to Peel 1783–1853 Paper (OCR Y110/01) integrates the full
official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to create a focused and comprehensive revision
resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding of Britain’s political, social, and economic
developments during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including key reforms, the impact of
industrialization, and the evolution of party politics under the leadership of Pitt, Liverpool, and Peel.
Candidates are required to analyse primary and secondary sources, evaluate differing historical
interpretations, and construct coherent, evidence-based arguments. By presenting each question alongside
its marking criteria, the resource offers clear guidance on examiner expectations, analytical depth, and the
structured responses required for high-band marks. This integrated format supports targeted revision,
strengthens source evaluation and essay-writing skills, and prepares students thoroughly for the May/June
2026 OCR A Level History A From Pitt to Peel 1783–1853 examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Section A
Peel and the Age of Reform 1832–1853
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘Economic reasons explain the emergence of Chartism.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: An independent Methodist minister speaking at the Kersal Moor meeting, near
Manchester.
This question of Universal Suffrage was a knife and fork question after all; this question was a
bread and cheese question, and if any man asked him what he meant by Universal Suffrage, he
would answer that every working man in the land had the right to have a good coat to his back, a
comfortable abode in which to shelter himself and his family, a good dinner upon his table and no
more work than was necessary for keeping him in health, and as much wages for that work as would
keep him in plenty, and afford him the blessings of life which a reasonable man could desire.
J. R. Stephens, Northern Star, 29 September 1838
Source B: A radical Chartist who writes about his views on the franchise.
What a farce the present system is! The present House of Commons does not represent the people.
Pawnbrokers are enfranchised, and two thousand brothel owners in London all have votes, but honest
folk have none. It is indeed disgusting to see how much of the ‘honey’ is taken by the ‘drones’*, and
what a pittance is left to the ‘worker bees’ and how the parliamentary franchise is monopolised by one
tenth of the population and that one tenth the worst tenth.
*drones – bees which do little work
Bronterre O’Brien, Charter, 14 April 1839
Source C: A handloom weaver, prominent in the Chartist movement and who campaigned
throughout his life against injustice, expresses his views to an audience in Clitheroe,
Lancashire.
For twenty years we have petitioned and implored, but in vain first, for a removal of the Corn Laws,
then for Boards of Trade, and a reduction of taxes. Our prospects are now gloomy in the extreme.
Nothing now presents itself but starving to death. We are now convinced that appeals to you are
useless; you have destroyed our confidence; the hopes for so long and fondly cherished are blasted.
Henceforth, on our own strength and the justice of our own cause, we shall rely; and look within
ourselves for the elements of another and better state of things.
R. Marsden, speech, July 1842
© OCR 2025 Y110/01 Jun25
, 3
Source D: A former supporter of Chartism states what he considered to be the objectives of
the Chartists.
The Chartists were called ugly names and unfairly. What the Chartists wanted was a voice in making
the laws they were called upon to obey. They believed that taxation without representation was
tyranny, and ought to be resisted. They took a leading part in agitating in favour of the ten hour
question, the repeal of the taxes on knowledge, education, co-operation, civil and religious liberties
and the land question. They were the true pioneers in all the great movements of their time.
B. Wilson, The Struggles of an Old Chartist, published in 1887
© OCR 2025 Y110/01 Jun25 Turn over
