2023
Section B (Depth)
‘The power of the state was not significantly challenged by radical reformers in the years
c1790–1819.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Criteria: ‘significantly challenged’ - was significantly challenged. While the Terror in France made
many afraid of the radical reformer movement, the strong government response and the popularity of
the movement indicated a significant challenge, particularly in the earlier years of the radical
movement, the short term. In the long term, there was no challenge
1st paragraph: Wasn’t challenged, France
- There was an upsurge of nationalism and patriotism during the French Wars
- The Terror in France made radicals afraid of making large and weighted demands
- France led to people wanting mild reform, not extreme reform as people were fearful of
extreme reform
- Edmund Burke’s ‘Reflections on the French Revolution in France’ (1790) attacked radical
ideas and radicals during the Revolution, saying change was happening too fast
Development: despite the French Revolution, radical reformers still existed and while early on they
weren’t significant, the aspects of striving for a democracy were ideals that reformers tried to achieve
and by doing so, they did indeed pose a threat to the state's power
2nd paragraph: Was challenged, strong government response
- The government response was very strong, indicative of a significant challenge
- The Habeas Corpus was suspended in 1794, allowing unlawful imprisonment
- The Seditious Meetings and Treasonable Offences Act was passed in 1795, banning
meetings of more than 50 people
- The Six Acts were passed in 1819 which banned military-style training and sped up trials
- The Gagging Acts were passed in 1817 after a bullet/stone was thrown at the Prince Regent’s
carriage, making it high treason to try assassinate the Prince Regent
3rd paragraph: Was challenged, the movement was popular
- Thomas Paine’s ‘The Rights of Man’ sold 200,000 copies of Part I during the first half of 1792
- William Cobbet’s ‘The Political Register’ was very popular, attacking placemen and selling for
2d a week
- Cartwright established the Hampden Club in 1812, had strong support in Lancashire
- Henry Hunt (Orator Hunt) held 4 monster meetings, Spa Fields in 1816, the Pentridge Rising
in 1817, Peterloo Massacre in 1819
, 2022
How accurate is it to say that the role of government was the most significant factor in
causing the General Strike of 1926?
Criteria: ‘most significant factor’ - was the most significant factor. While the poor post-war
economy and the lack of decisions reached by the miners and owners contributed, ultimately the
government had the power to resolve this: instead, the government allowed short-term factors
that could be solved to fester into discontent and long-term factors which could not be ignored
1st paragraph: Disagree, was the poor economy
- The 1925 return to the Gold Standard caused deflation as money was backed by gold to
strengthen the economy, but caused discontent and miners dissatisfaction
- The post-war economy and overall economic situation was poor - hundreds of thousands
of working men returned to work, causing a labour surplus which exacerbated the
grievances of skilled miners (economic depression)
Development: the economy, while difficult to resolve, could have been resolved by the
government rather than allowing it descend into chaos - the government chose to implement the
Gold Standard on the Cunliffe Committee’s advice, and did nothing when a dilution of skilled
workers rose
2nd paragraph: Disagree, was the lack of agreement between miners and owners
- The 1925 Samuel Commission was appointed by Baldwin to find a solution to the
disagreements, decided to not nationalise which was rejected by both the miners and
owners (government wanted private ownership, miners didn’t due to improved wages
during the war)
- Mine owners locked out the miners on the 29th of April
Development: the government appointed the Samuel Commission out of their best interest as
the government didn’t want nationalisation. It did little to repair miner-owner relations
3rd paragraph: Agree
- ‘Red Friday’ (1925) saw Baldwin offer a 9 month government subsidy of £23 million to
support miners’ wages - a short-term solution that saw little hope for the future
- The government passed the 1920 Emergency Powers Act which replaced DORA =
preparing for a strike by allowing the government to declare a state of emergency
- After 1925 Red Friday the government began preparing for a strike
Section B (Depth)
‘The power of the state was not significantly challenged by radical reformers in the years
c1790–1819.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
Criteria: ‘significantly challenged’ - was significantly challenged. While the Terror in France made
many afraid of the radical reformer movement, the strong government response and the popularity of
the movement indicated a significant challenge, particularly in the earlier years of the radical
movement, the short term. In the long term, there was no challenge
1st paragraph: Wasn’t challenged, France
- There was an upsurge of nationalism and patriotism during the French Wars
- The Terror in France made radicals afraid of making large and weighted demands
- France led to people wanting mild reform, not extreme reform as people were fearful of
extreme reform
- Edmund Burke’s ‘Reflections on the French Revolution in France’ (1790) attacked radical
ideas and radicals during the Revolution, saying change was happening too fast
Development: despite the French Revolution, radical reformers still existed and while early on they
weren’t significant, the aspects of striving for a democracy were ideals that reformers tried to achieve
and by doing so, they did indeed pose a threat to the state's power
2nd paragraph: Was challenged, strong government response
- The government response was very strong, indicative of a significant challenge
- The Habeas Corpus was suspended in 1794, allowing unlawful imprisonment
- The Seditious Meetings and Treasonable Offences Act was passed in 1795, banning
meetings of more than 50 people
- The Six Acts were passed in 1819 which banned military-style training and sped up trials
- The Gagging Acts were passed in 1817 after a bullet/stone was thrown at the Prince Regent’s
carriage, making it high treason to try assassinate the Prince Regent
3rd paragraph: Was challenged, the movement was popular
- Thomas Paine’s ‘The Rights of Man’ sold 200,000 copies of Part I during the first half of 1792
- William Cobbet’s ‘The Political Register’ was very popular, attacking placemen and selling for
2d a week
- Cartwright established the Hampden Club in 1812, had strong support in Lancashire
- Henry Hunt (Orator Hunt) held 4 monster meetings, Spa Fields in 1816, the Pentridge Rising
in 1817, Peterloo Massacre in 1819
, 2022
How accurate is it to say that the role of government was the most significant factor in
causing the General Strike of 1926?
Criteria: ‘most significant factor’ - was the most significant factor. While the poor post-war
economy and the lack of decisions reached by the miners and owners contributed, ultimately the
government had the power to resolve this: instead, the government allowed short-term factors
that could be solved to fester into discontent and long-term factors which could not be ignored
1st paragraph: Disagree, was the poor economy
- The 1925 return to the Gold Standard caused deflation as money was backed by gold to
strengthen the economy, but caused discontent and miners dissatisfaction
- The post-war economy and overall economic situation was poor - hundreds of thousands
of working men returned to work, causing a labour surplus which exacerbated the
grievances of skilled miners (economic depression)
Development: the economy, while difficult to resolve, could have been resolved by the
government rather than allowing it descend into chaos - the government chose to implement the
Gold Standard on the Cunliffe Committee’s advice, and did nothing when a dilution of skilled
workers rose
2nd paragraph: Disagree, was the lack of agreement between miners and owners
- The 1925 Samuel Commission was appointed by Baldwin to find a solution to the
disagreements, decided to not nationalise which was rejected by both the miners and
owners (government wanted private ownership, miners didn’t due to improved wages
during the war)
- Mine owners locked out the miners on the 29th of April
Development: the government appointed the Samuel Commission out of their best interest as
the government didn’t want nationalisation. It did little to repair miner-owner relations
3rd paragraph: Agree
- ‘Red Friday’ (1925) saw Baldwin offer a 9 month government subsidy of £23 million to
support miners’ wages - a short-term solution that saw little hope for the future
- The government passed the 1920 Emergency Powers Act which replaced DORA =
preparing for a strike by allowing the government to declare a state of emergency
- After 1925 Red Friday the government began preparing for a strike
