2025 AQA AS HISTORY Component 1D Stuart Britain and the
Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 – Absolutism Challenged:
Britain, 1603–1649 Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged)
Wednesday 14 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
AS
HISTORY
Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702
Component 1D Absolutism challenged: Britain, 1603–1649
Wednesday 14 May 2025 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
7041/1D.
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.
IB/M/Jun25/G400A/E3 7041/1D
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Political power and social influence, in the early seventeenth century, were still defined by
land ownership and thus power remained firmly with the aristocracy and richest gentry.
Traditionally, the population was divided into two categories: ‘the better sort’ and ‘the
meaner sort’, with only the ‘better sort’ having access to political power. However, in the
early seventeenth century, as a result of economic development, this established order 5
was challenged as a ‘middling sort’ started slowly to emerge. This was the beginning of
change in early modern society, although its extent should not be exaggerated. Social,
economic, cultural and political influence was still dominated by the aristocracy and the
richest gentry, the ‘better sort’.
Adapted from D Hirst, England in Conflict, 1999
Extract B
The early seventeenth century saw the consolidation of those in the middle of society at
the expense of those at the bottom and those at the top. There was a redistribution of
wealth away from the rich and poor towards those in the middle. The richest derived most
of their income from rents on land. However, inflation meant that this income decreased.
At the same time a rising population and declining wages made it hard for the poor. In 5
contrast, those in the middle, the prosperous merchants or craftsmen, may have had a
larger income than many gentlemen. The wealthy merchant or lawyer had some prospect
of buying a manor and becoming a gentleman in this period of significant change.
Adapted from J Morrill, The Stuarts, 1992
0 1 With reference to these extracts and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two extracts provides the more convincing interpretation of social change in
the years 1603 to 1640?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun25/7041/1D
Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702 – Absolutism Challenged:
Britain, 1603–1649 Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged)
Wednesday 14 May 2025 [VERIFIED]
AS
HISTORY
Stuart Britain and the Crisis of Monarchy, 1603–1702
Component 1D Absolutism challenged: Britain, 1603–1649
Wednesday 14 May 2025 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
7041/1D.
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.
IB/M/Jun25/G400A/E3 7041/1D
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Extract A
Political power and social influence, in the early seventeenth century, were still defined by
land ownership and thus power remained firmly with the aristocracy and richest gentry.
Traditionally, the population was divided into two categories: ‘the better sort’ and ‘the
meaner sort’, with only the ‘better sort’ having access to political power. However, in the
early seventeenth century, as a result of economic development, this established order 5
was challenged as a ‘middling sort’ started slowly to emerge. This was the beginning of
change in early modern society, although its extent should not be exaggerated. Social,
economic, cultural and political influence was still dominated by the aristocracy and the
richest gentry, the ‘better sort’.
Adapted from D Hirst, England in Conflict, 1999
Extract B
The early seventeenth century saw the consolidation of those in the middle of society at
the expense of those at the bottom and those at the top. There was a redistribution of
wealth away from the rich and poor towards those in the middle. The richest derived most
of their income from rents on land. However, inflation meant that this income decreased.
At the same time a rising population and declining wages made it hard for the poor. In 5
contrast, those in the middle, the prosperous merchants or craftsmen, may have had a
larger income than many gentlemen. The wealthy merchant or lawyer had some prospect
of buying a manor and becoming a gentleman in this period of significant change.
Adapted from J Morrill, The Stuarts, 1992
0 1 With reference to these extracts and your understanding of the historical context, which
of these two extracts provides the more convincing interpretation of social change in
the years 1603 to 1640?
[25 marks]
IB/M/Jun25/7041/1D
