AQA_2024: A-level History - Component 1J The British Empire, c1857–1967 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)

AQA_2024: A-level History - Component 1J The British Empire, c1857–1967 (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme) A-level HISTORY Component 1J The British Empire, c1857–1967 Thursday 23 May 2024 Materials For this paper you must have:  an AQA 16-page answer book. Instructions Morning  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 7042/1J.  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. To revise The British Empire, c.1857–1967, focus on these key areas: 1. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 and Its Aftermath:  The Indian Rebellion (1857) marked a significant turning point in British imperial history. After the rebellion, Britain moved from direct control through the East India Company to the Raj, with the British government taking direct control of India.  The aftermath saw reforms aimed at stabilizing British rule, such as the Indian Civil Service and policies to maintain British dominance in the subcontinent. 2. Imperial Expansion (Late 19th Century – Early 20th Century):  The Scramble for Africa led to the expansion of British control in Africa, including territories like Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria. British influence also grew in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.  Key policies, such as the Doctrine of Lapse in India, and imperial rivalries with European powers (e.g., Boer War, 1899–1902) shaped Britain’s imperial reach. 3. World War I and the Impact on the Empire (1914–1918):  The British Empire’s involvement in World War I saw troops from colonies and dominions fighting for the British cause. After the war, self-determination movements grew, leading to Mandates under the League of Nations.  The economic and political strain of the war weakened British control, increasing pressure for reform within the Empire. 4. Interwar Years and the Rise of Nationalism (1918–1939):  The Interwar period saw the growth of nationalist movements, particularly in India with leaders like Gandhi, advocating for independence through nonviolent resistance.  Ireland gained independence in 1922, signaling the beginning of the decline of Britain’s imperial control in some regions. 5. World War II and Decolonization (1939–1945):  The impact of World War II accelerated the decline of the British Empire. The war drained British resources, leading to growing independence movements in India, the Middle East, and Africa.  India gained independence in 1947, followed by other colonies like Ghana in 1957, marking the start of decolonization. 6. The Decline of the British Empire (1945–1967):  Post-WWII, Britain struggled to maintain its empire due to economic challenges and the rise of nationalist movements. Key moments include Suez Crisis (1956) and the independence of Kenya (1963) and Jamaica (1962).  The British Commonwealth emerged, shifting from an imperial focus to a more cooperative relationship among former colonies. IB/M/Jun24/G4006/E5 7042/1J 2 IB/M/Jun24/7042/1J Section A Answer Question 01. Extract A During the interwar period, the old arguments that Britain needed India no longer carried much weight. It was pointless to regard the Indian army as vital for British power in Asia. The economic ties between the two countries had been effectively severed between the wars. It was between the wars that India’s tentative steps towards self-government had been accompanied by an economic revolution. British investment in India fell and imports from Britain also declined. The Lancashire cotton industry was squeezed out of India which had previously been a captive and highly profitable market. British manufacturers who exported to India were also under pressure and conceded the Indian market to rivals. In the 1940s, the economic cost of India increased as Britain agreed to pay the bulk of the costs of India’s war effort. At the same time, Britain had become indebted to the United States and faced a spiralling balance of payment deficit. By 1947, India had ceased to be a commercial asset to Britain of any kind. Adapted from L James, Raj: The Making and Unmaking of British India, 1997 5 10 Extract B The First World War was clearly a turning-point in Indian politics and in the imperial connection. The crucial contribution that India played in the war, and the public assertion by Britain that the war was being fought to defend the rights of nations, raised Indian aspirations for appropriate recognition within the Empire. At the same time, the British became aware of the fragility of the Raj and recognised that some kind of political reform would be necessary. The Second World War was even more crucial for India than the First had been. It precipitated the ultimate crisis for British rule and for the identity of India as an independent nation. Despite Britain’s determination to hold India for the war effort, the British after 1945 calculated that an alliance with a free India within the Commonwealth was preferable to continued occupation. From 1945 to 1947, Britain’s aim was to quit India peacefully and honourably, leaving behind a strong and united country. Adapted from JM Brown, The Oxford History of the British Empire: The Twentieth Century, 1999 5 10 3 Extract C In 1918, the British government was already under intense pressure from an extremely vigorous nationalist movement, which was to grow even stronger in the years ahead. The end of war in 1918 also saw the emergence of Gandhi which meant that there was now a leader who could ensure Indian nationalism became a unified force. The mobilisation of masses of Indians to support Gandhi’s campaigns was extremely impressive and there could be no doubt that Indian nationalism became a popular force. The Indian people over the next two decades were asked by Gandhi to take non-violent action – strikes, protest marches and a refusal to cooperate with the government. As a result, the concessions Britain made between the two World Wars were ones forced upon them by nationalist pressure. However, it was the Second World War which created the conditions under which nationalism could be contained no longer and an independent India became inevitable. Adapted from PJ Marshall, British Empire, 1996 5 10 0 1 Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Britain and India in the years 1914 to 1947. [30 marks] Turn over for Section B IB/M/Jun24/7042/1J Turn over ► 4 IB/M/Jun24/7042/1J Section B Answer two questions. 0 2 ‘British expansion in southern Africa, in the years 1867 to 1890, was driven by economic interests.’ Assess the validity of this view. [25 marks] 0 3 In the years 1875 to 1898, to what extent was British involvement in Egypt and the Sudan motivated by a desire to protect the Suez Canal? [25 marks] 0 4 ‘The Empire and Commonwealth remained economically ve