AQA_2024: A-level History - Component 2H France in Revolution, 1774–1815 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)

AQA_2024: A-level History - Component 2H France in Revolution, 1774–1815 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme) A-level HISTORY Component 2H France in Revolution, 1774–1815 Friday 7 June 2024 Materials For this paper you must have:  an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions Afternoon  Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes  Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7042/2H.  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/Jun24/7042/2H 3 IB/M/Jun24/G4006/E4 Key areas: 1. The Old Regime and Causes of Revolution (1774–1789): 7042/2H  Economic Problems: France's debt from wars (e.g., the American Revolution) and lavish spending by the monarchy, coupled with poor harvests, led to widespread poverty and discontent.  Social Inequality: The Estates System divided society into the privileged clergy and nobility (First and Second Estates) and the Third Estate (commoners), who faced heavy taxation and had no political power. 2. The National Assembly and Early Revolutionary Events (1789–1792):  Estates-General and the Tennis Court Oath: In 1789, the Estates-General convened to address the financial crisis, but tensions led to the Third Estate proclaiming itself the National Assembly and vowing to create a new constitution.  Storming of the Bastille (1789): A symbol of royal tyranny, the storming of the Bastille marked the start of the French Revolution. 3. The Radical Phase and the Rise of Robespierre (1792–1794):  The Republic and the Execution of Louis XVI (1792): The monarchy was abolished, and Louis XVI was executed, signaling the rise of the First French Republic.  The Reign of Terror (1793–1794): Led by Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety, this period saw thousands executed, including key political figures, due to fear of counter revolution.  Law of Suspects: A law that allowed anyone suspected of being an enemy of the revolution to be arrested and executed. 4. Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory (1794–1799):  Fall of Robespierre: The Thermidorian Reaction in 1794 led to Robespierre’s execution and a loosening of revolutionary policies.  The Directory: A five-member executive body took control, but it was marked by corruption, political instability, and economic difficulties, leading to widespread discontent. 5. The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte (1799–1815):  Coup of 18 Brumaire (1799): Napoleon Bonaparte seized power, ending the Directory and establishing the Consulate with himself as First Consul.  Napoleon's Reforms: He centralized power, reformed the legal system with the Napoleonic Code, and stabilized the economy, gaining popular support. 6. Impact of the Revolution:  Political and Social Change: The Revolution abolished feudalism, ended the monarchy, and promoted the idea of citizenship and rights, though it led to political instability.  Napoleon’s Legacy: While he established the Napoleonic Code and spread revolutionary ideals, his imperial ambitions led to war and eventual downfall.   IB/M/Jun24/7042/2H Turn over ► 4 IB/M/Jun24/7042/2H Section A Answer Question 01. Source A From a letter to the British government from William Miles, 1791. Miles was an English writer living in Paris and acting as a spy for Britain at this time. Robespierre is cool, measured and resolved. He is truly a republican. He does not support republicanism simply to win support from the multitude, but from the opinion that it is the very best and, indeed, the only form of government by which men should be ruled. He is a stern man, rigid in his principles, plain, unaffected in his manners and with no extravagance or vanity in his dress. He is certainly above corruption, despising wealth and with nothing of the usual excitability of a Frenchman in his character. I watch him very closely every night. I examine his face and features with my eyes steadily fixed on him. He is really a character to be contemplated. He is growing in confidence every hour but, surprisingly, the whole National Assembly consider him as insignificant. When I mentioned my feelings about him to one of the deputies and said he would soon be the man of influence, I was laughed at. 5 10 Source B From an address to the National Convention by Maximilien Robespierre, 5 February 1794. Our revolution must bring liberty, equality and a love of justice. The country must secure the well-being of each individual and each individual must take pride in his country. In your political conduct you should establish measures that lead towards the public good, and reject those that encourage selfishness. I am not justifying any excess, but we have more to fear from an excess of weakness, than an excess of energy. Happily, virtue is natural in the people. Having overthrown despotism, if the people do not reach the heights of their destiny, it can only be the fault of those who govern them. Government during a revolution must combine virtue with terror. Terror is a natural consequence of the principle of democracy. It has been said that terror grows from absolute government, but government in a revolution upholds the absolute power of liberty against tyranny. Internal plotters and traitors are the allies of enemies abroad. Death to the villain who dares abuse the sacred name of liberty. 5 10 3 Source C From a description of the June 1794 Festival of the Supreme Being, by Joachim Vilate, published 1795. Vilate, a member of the Revolutionary Tribunal, wrote while in prison after Thermidor. With what joyful pride Robespierre walked at the head of the National Convention. He was surrounded by an immense throng of people, who had responded to the clear and shining brilliance of such a beautiful day in the elegance of their dress. Robespierre marched along wearing the tricolor scarf of the representatives of the people, his head shaded by flowing feather plumes. Everyone observed his exhilaration and the crowd, carried away, uttered resounding cries of ‘Vive Robespierre!’ However, his colleagues, alarmed at his bold pretensions, embarrassed him – as he complained later – with sarcastic comments and cutting remarks. ‘Do you see all that applause? Who is playing God? Look at the high priest of the Supreme Being!’ It was not only members of the National Convention who mocked his pose and manner. There was a vigorous response from one genuine sans-culotte, reported by someone who heard it at the Tuileries. ‘Look at him! It’s not enough to be master; he wants to be God as well!’ 5 10 0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying Robespierre. [30 marks] Turn over for Section B IB/M/Jun24/7042/2H Turn over ► 6 IB/M/Jun24/7042/2H Section B Answer two questions. 0 2 ‘The urban workers and peasants were responsible for the political changes in France in 1789.’ Assess the validity of this view. [25 marks] 0 3 ‘Most people in France benefited from Napoleonic rule in the years 1799 to 1808.’ Assess the validity of this view. [25 marks] 0 4 How significant was the 1812 Russian campaign to the collapse of the Napoleonic Empire? [25 marks] END OF QUESTIONS Copyright information For confidentiality purposes, all acknowledgements of third-party copyright material are published in a separate booklet. This booklet is published after each live examination series and is available for free download from Permission to reproduce all copyright material has been applied for. In some cases, efforts to contact copyright-holders may have been unsuccessful and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team. Copyright © 2024 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. A-level HISTORY 7042/2H Component 2H France in Revolution, 1774–1815 Mark scheme June 2024 Version: 1.0 Final