2025 AQA A-LEVEL HISTORY Component 1L The Quest for
Political Stability: Germany, 1871–1991 Question Paper & Mark
Scheme (Merged) Friday 23 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
A-level
HISTORY
Component 1L The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991
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
7042/1L.
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/G4007/V6 7042/1LR
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Extract A not reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions.
The extract is adapted from pages 131 – 133 of A History of Germany 1815–1985 by
William Carr, printed by Edward Arnold in 1987, ISBN 0713164956.
Adapted from W Carr, A History of Germany 1815–1985, 1987
Extract B
Extract B not reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions.
The extract is adapted from pages 50, 53, 56 and 57 of Bismarck and Germany 1862–
1890 by DG Williamson, printed by Longman in 1986, ISBN 0582354137.
Adapted from DG Williamson, Bismarck and Germany 1862–1890, 1986
IB/M/Jun25/7042/1LR
, 3
Extract C
It is necessary to ask why the parties of the Reichstag did not realise that Bismarck was
dependent upon them, and why they did not use the tactic of stubborn resistance to
increase their influence in the state. The Reichstag’s rights to debate laws and to vote on
them were important powers. Furthermore, under the constitution, the Reichstag could
not be closed indefinitely and new elections had to follow promptly upon its dissolution. 5
However, there was limited use by the parties of the Reichstag’s constitutional powers to
obstruct legislation, and they were ineffective when they tried. This is to be explained in
large part by the nature of the parties’ membership and their attitude towards the role of
parliament in the state. Parties within the Reichstag never acquired the self-confidence
to challenge the government in matters of political importance. Even though there was 10
an increasing number of professional politicians, the parties only tended to serve
particular economic and sectional interests.
Adapted from GA Craig, Germany 1866–1945, 1981
0 1 Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the
arguments in these three extracts are in relation to German political parties in the years
1871 to 1890.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/1LR Turn over ►
Political Stability: Germany, 1871–1991 Question Paper & Mark
Scheme (Merged) Friday 23 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
A-level
HISTORY
Component 1L The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991
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
7042/1L.
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/G4007/V6 7042/1LR
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Extract A not reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions.
The extract is adapted from pages 131 – 133 of A History of Germany 1815–1985 by
William Carr, printed by Edward Arnold in 1987, ISBN 0713164956.
Adapted from W Carr, A History of Germany 1815–1985, 1987
Extract B
Extract B not reproduced here due to third-party copyright restrictions.
The extract is adapted from pages 50, 53, 56 and 57 of Bismarck and Germany 1862–
1890 by DG Williamson, printed by Longman in 1986, ISBN 0582354137.
Adapted from DG Williamson, Bismarck and Germany 1862–1890, 1986
IB/M/Jun25/7042/1LR
, 3
Extract C
It is necessary to ask why the parties of the Reichstag did not realise that Bismarck was
dependent upon them, and why they did not use the tactic of stubborn resistance to
increase their influence in the state. The Reichstag’s rights to debate laws and to vote on
them were important powers. Furthermore, under the constitution, the Reichstag could
not be closed indefinitely and new elections had to follow promptly upon its dissolution. 5
However, there was limited use by the parties of the Reichstag’s constitutional powers to
obstruct legislation, and they were ineffective when they tried. This is to be explained in
large part by the nature of the parties’ membership and their attitude towards the role of
parliament in the state. Parties within the Reichstag never acquired the self-confidence
to challenge the government in matters of political importance. Even though there was 10
an increasing number of professional politicians, the parties only tended to serve
particular economic and sectional interests.
Adapted from GA Craig, Germany 1866–1945, 1981
0 1 Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the
arguments in these three extracts are in relation to German political parties in the years
1871 to 1890.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/1LR Turn over ►
