A-level
HISTORY
Component 2H France in Revolution, 1774–1815
Friday 7 June 2024 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 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
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/G4006/E4 7042/2H
, 2
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 5
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 10
man of influence, I was laughed at.
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. 5
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 10
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.
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2H
, 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, 5
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 10
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!’
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 ►
HISTORY
Component 2H France in Revolution, 1774–1815
Friday 7 June 2024 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 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
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/G4006/E4 7042/2H
, 2
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 5
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 10
man of influence, I was laughed at.
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. 5
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 10
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.
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2H
, 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, 5
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 10
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!’
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 ►
