2025 AQA A-LEVEL HISTORY Component 1D Stuart Britain
and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 Question Paper & Mark
Scheme (Merged) Friday 23 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
A-level
HISTORY
Component 1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702
Friday 23 May 2025 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
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
7042/1D.
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.
IB/M/Jun25/G4002/E5 7042/1D
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Charles II, having spent the Interregnum consumed with a desire to become king, lacked
the drive to pursue any systematic programme throughout his reign. It was satisfaction
enough for him to enjoy the exercise of power and a lavish lifestyle. He did not seek to
implement a particular vision of Britain. He pursued neither long-term strategies nor a
coherent agenda. He did have preferred attitudes or lines of policy, most notably 5
religious toleration and an accommodation with France, but he would not push these
beyond what was politically possible. Nor did he allow his own popularity to suffer by
defending an unpopular minister. Charles was conscious that politics was the art of the
possible. He knew how to make tactical concessions, and although he was never pro-
active, he reacted to changing political circumstances with great skill. In his preference 10
for consensus over conviction, his readiness to govern with Parliament and his desire for
a broad church, Charles II was like his grandfather.
Adapted from DL Smith, A History of the Modern British Isles, 1603–1707, 1998
Extract B
Charles II was a complex character. Quick-witted and intelligent but his misconceptions
and his flaws of character led him into exactly the sort of political crises that he tried to
avoid. He believed that the English were a disaffected people and there was a real
danger of another ‘great rebellion’. Acting on this misconception, that he faced more
danger from his enemies than from his friends, he tried to appease the former. Charles 5
was also unwilling to trust in loyalty. He was suspicious of human nature and reluctant to
trust anyone. His ministers could therefore not rely on him to back them up. Charles
hated routine and paperwork. Although he prided himself on his ability to make up his
own mind, he was easily led by those close to him and found it difficult to say no to those
who pressed for favours. Ultimately Charles’ main concern throughout his reign was to 10
look after himself.
Adapted from J Miller, The Stuarts, 2004
IB/M/Jun25/7042/1D
, 3
Extract C
Charles II was a lazy king. He was the only one of the Stuarts not to be a visionary, not
to have long-term goals, apart from a vague aim of improving the position of Catholics.
This made it easy for him to back down when his policies were opposed. But while he
lacked vision, he did not lack prejudices or preferences. He was a man with a strong
rationalist streak and had a belief that he possessed divine powers. While he could be 5
good humoured, which made him accessible to many, he was only really close to his
family. This was part of the reason why he was also strongly drawn to Catholicism, but
he was much too sensible politically to declare himself until on his deathbed. It did lead
him to make a clear commitment to toleration. Both this and his obvious admiration for
Louis XIV caused growing alarm in England, especially after 1670. 10
Adapted from J Morrill, The Stuarts, 1988
0 1 Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the
arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Charles II.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/1D Turn over ►
and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 Question Paper & Mark
Scheme (Merged) Friday 23 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
A-level
HISTORY
Component 1D Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702
Friday 23 May 2025 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
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
7042/1D.
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.
IB/M/Jun25/G4002/E5 7042/1D
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Charles II, having spent the Interregnum consumed with a desire to become king, lacked
the drive to pursue any systematic programme throughout his reign. It was satisfaction
enough for him to enjoy the exercise of power and a lavish lifestyle. He did not seek to
implement a particular vision of Britain. He pursued neither long-term strategies nor a
coherent agenda. He did have preferred attitudes or lines of policy, most notably 5
religious toleration and an accommodation with France, but he would not push these
beyond what was politically possible. Nor did he allow his own popularity to suffer by
defending an unpopular minister. Charles was conscious that politics was the art of the
possible. He knew how to make tactical concessions, and although he was never pro-
active, he reacted to changing political circumstances with great skill. In his preference 10
for consensus over conviction, his readiness to govern with Parliament and his desire for
a broad church, Charles II was like his grandfather.
Adapted from DL Smith, A History of the Modern British Isles, 1603–1707, 1998
Extract B
Charles II was a complex character. Quick-witted and intelligent but his misconceptions
and his flaws of character led him into exactly the sort of political crises that he tried to
avoid. He believed that the English were a disaffected people and there was a real
danger of another ‘great rebellion’. Acting on this misconception, that he faced more
danger from his enemies than from his friends, he tried to appease the former. Charles 5
was also unwilling to trust in loyalty. He was suspicious of human nature and reluctant to
trust anyone. His ministers could therefore not rely on him to back them up. Charles
hated routine and paperwork. Although he prided himself on his ability to make up his
own mind, he was easily led by those close to him and found it difficult to say no to those
who pressed for favours. Ultimately Charles’ main concern throughout his reign was to 10
look after himself.
Adapted from J Miller, The Stuarts, 2004
IB/M/Jun25/7042/1D
, 3
Extract C
Charles II was a lazy king. He was the only one of the Stuarts not to be a visionary, not
to have long-term goals, apart from a vague aim of improving the position of Catholics.
This made it easy for him to back down when his policies were opposed. But while he
lacked vision, he did not lack prejudices or preferences. He was a man with a strong
rationalist streak and had a belief that he possessed divine powers. While he could be 5
good humoured, which made him accessible to many, he was only really close to his
family. This was part of the reason why he was also strongly drawn to Catholicism, but
he was much too sensible politically to declare himself until on his deathbed. It did lead
him to make a clear commitment to toleration. Both this and his obvious admiration for
Louis XIV caused growing alarm in England, especially after 1670. 10
Adapted from J Morrill, The Stuarts, 1988
0 1 Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the
arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Charles II.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/1D Turn over ►
