AQA AS HISTORY The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007 Component 2S Building a new Britain, 1951–1979 Tuesday 23 May 2023

AQA AS HISTORY The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007 Component 2S Building a new Britain, 1951–1979 Tuesday 23 May 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 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 7041/2S. • 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. Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From a speech during a debate on the state of the British economy in the House of Commons, by George Brown, Minister for Economic Affairs, 4 November 1964. It is clearly apparent to the House and to the country that our first major task as a government must be to take urgent action to deal with the serious deterioration in our trading position and to prepare long-term measures to restore the health of the economy. As early as last year, Conservative ministers tried quite deliberately to mislead the electorate, presenting them with false information on the strength of our economic situation. Happily, the country saw through the half-truths and untruths. We now have to act decisively to deal with the gigantic economic mess the Conservative Party has left behind. There will be no more short-term panic measures. We have turned our back on stop-go. 5 Source B From ‘Anatomy of Britain Today’ by Anthony Sampson, 1965. Sampson, a writer and journalist, interviewed 200 prominent individuals for this bestselling book about changes in British social attitudes. Respect for authority is out of fashion. Now nearly everyone likes to think of himself as ‘anti-Establishment’, an attitude fuelled by television and the satire boom. A new post-war generation has emerged, more ambitious than their pre-war elders. The increase in the spending power of young people, together with the unexpected surge in the post-war birth rate, have contributed to a much bigger and more noticeable gulf between young and old. These changes of attitude have led to a change of government, the head of which is Harold Wilson, a man of great determination and professionalism, different from any previous prime minister. In this new social and political climate, few politicians dare suggest that Britain can survive without major change. 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 why the Conservatives lost the October 1964 election? [25 marks] Section B Answer either Question 02 or Question 03. Either 0 2 ‘The liberal reforming legislation, in the years 1964 to 1970, was the result of the Labour government’s determination to modernise Britain.’ Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. [25 marks]