OCR A Level History A Y109/01 The Making of Georgian
Britain 1678–c.1760 Combined Question paper &
Marking Scheme A+ June 2025
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 6 June 2025 – Afternoon
A Level History A
Y109/01 The Making of Georgian Britain 1678–c.1760
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer Question 1 in Section A. Answer either Question 2 or Question 3 in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
Turn over
, 2
Section A
The Glorious Revolution 1678–1689
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘It was James’ actions in the autumn of 1688 that led to the loss of his throne.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: In October 1688, the diarist John Evelyn gives an account of popular responses to the king’s
actions.
In the meantime, [the king] called over 5,000 Irish, and 4,000 Scots, and continued to remove Protestants
and put in Papists at Portsmouth and other places of trust, and retained the Jesuits about him, increasing the
universal discontent. It brought people to so desperate a pass, that they seemed passionately to long for and
desire the landing of that Prince, whom they looked on to be their deliverer from Popish tyranny, praying
incessantly for an east wind, which was said to be the only hindrance of his expedition with a numerous army
ready to make a descent. To such a strange temper, and unheard-of in former times, was this poor nation
reduced, and of which I was an
eye-witness.
John Evelyn, Diary, 7 October, 1688
Source B: The French Ambassador describes the situation at Court in London.
I can never forget the confusion the court was in. The king knew not whom to trust and the fright was so
great that they were apt to believe an impossible report just then brought in that the prince of Orange was
come with twelve thousand horses, between Warminster and Salisbury. Everybody in
this hurly-burly was thinking of himself and nobody minded the king, who came up to Dr Radcliffe and asked
him what was good for the bleeding of his nose.
The French Ambassador, letter to Louis XIV, December 1688
Source C: A Whig bishop remembers the king’s flight and considers the different contemporary opinions as
to why he did so.
It was strange that a great king, who had a good army and strong fleet, should choose rather to abandon all
than either try his fate with that part of the army that stood firm to him, or stay and see the issue of
Parliament. This was variously believed to be his lack of courage, his consciousness of guilt, or the advice of
those about him; but so it was that his deserting in this manner, and leaving them to be pillaged by an army
that he had ordered to be disbanded without pay, was thought the forfeiture of his right and the expiration of
his reign.
Gilbert Burnet, History of His Own Time, written before 1715
© OCR 2025 Y109/01 Jun25
, 3
Source D: A Tory MP reports the king’s explanation as to why he fled to France.
The king at his going away writ to the general officers of the army to this effect, that things being come to
extremity, and being forced to send away the queen and prince, he was forced to follow himself; that if he
could have trusted in his troops he would in the least have had one blow for it. But though there were some
loyal and brave men amongst them, yet it was their advice not to venture himself or to fight the prince of
Orange with them.
John Reresby, Memoirs, 12 December 1688
© OCR 2025 Y109/01 Jun25 Turn over
Britain 1678–c.1760 Combined Question paper &
Marking Scheme A+ June 2025
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Friday 6 June 2025 – Afternoon
A Level History A
Y109/01 The Making of Georgian Britain 1678–c.1760
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer Question 1 in Section A. Answer either Question 2 or Question 3 in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
Turn over
, 2
Section A
The Glorious Revolution 1678–1689
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘It was James’ actions in the autumn of 1688 that led to the loss of his throne.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: In October 1688, the diarist John Evelyn gives an account of popular responses to the king’s
actions.
In the meantime, [the king] called over 5,000 Irish, and 4,000 Scots, and continued to remove Protestants
and put in Papists at Portsmouth and other places of trust, and retained the Jesuits about him, increasing the
universal discontent. It brought people to so desperate a pass, that they seemed passionately to long for and
desire the landing of that Prince, whom they looked on to be their deliverer from Popish tyranny, praying
incessantly for an east wind, which was said to be the only hindrance of his expedition with a numerous army
ready to make a descent. To such a strange temper, and unheard-of in former times, was this poor nation
reduced, and of which I was an
eye-witness.
John Evelyn, Diary, 7 October, 1688
Source B: The French Ambassador describes the situation at Court in London.
I can never forget the confusion the court was in. The king knew not whom to trust and the fright was so
great that they were apt to believe an impossible report just then brought in that the prince of Orange was
come with twelve thousand horses, between Warminster and Salisbury. Everybody in
this hurly-burly was thinking of himself and nobody minded the king, who came up to Dr Radcliffe and asked
him what was good for the bleeding of his nose.
The French Ambassador, letter to Louis XIV, December 1688
Source C: A Whig bishop remembers the king’s flight and considers the different contemporary opinions as
to why he did so.
It was strange that a great king, who had a good army and strong fleet, should choose rather to abandon all
than either try his fate with that part of the army that stood firm to him, or stay and see the issue of
Parliament. This was variously believed to be his lack of courage, his consciousness of guilt, or the advice of
those about him; but so it was that his deserting in this manner, and leaving them to be pillaged by an army
that he had ordered to be disbanded without pay, was thought the forfeiture of his right and the expiration of
his reign.
Gilbert Burnet, History of His Own Time, written before 1715
© OCR 2025 Y109/01 Jun25
, 3
Source D: A Tory MP reports the king’s explanation as to why he fled to France.
The king at his going away writ to the general officers of the army to this effect, that things being come to
extremity, and being forced to send away the queen and prince, he was forced to follow himself; that if he
could have trusted in his troops he would in the least have had one blow for it. But though there were some
loyal and brave men amongst them, yet it was their advice not to venture himself or to fight the prince of
Orange with them.
John Reresby, Memoirs, 12 December 1688
© OCR 2025 Y109/01 Jun25 Turn over
