AQA GCSE HISTORY FINAL PAPER
2026 SOLVED QUESTIONS GRADED A+
◉ THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. Answer: KING:
>>RULES the COUNTRY
>>GRANTS LAND to NOBLES
BARONS (NOBLES):
>>PROVIDE LOYALTY + SERVICE TO THE KING: MAINTAIN LAW +
ORDER in their |AREAS RAISE an ARMY for the KING when NEEDED
>>GRANT LAND to the KNIGHTS
KNIGHTS:
>>PROVIDE PROTECTION + MILITARY SERVICE to the BARONS
>>GRANT LAND to the PEASANTS (aka Serfs/Villeins)
PEASANTS/SERFS/VILLEINS:
>>PROVIDE FOOD + SERVICES to the KNIGHTS
>>ARE NOT FREEMEN (HAVE NO RIGHTS)
, ◉ 1215: MAGNA CARTA - ABOUT. Answer: 1199: KING JOHN
succeeds his brother (Richard I) + has to live up to HIGH
EXPECTATIONS
JOHN'S POOR KINGSHIP ANGERED THE BARONS + they FORM AN
ARMY to FIGHT HIM > JOHN had NO ARMY of his own so he was
FORCED TO NEGOTIATE
15 June 1215: the BARONS + KING JOHN meet at RUNNYMEDE where
the BARONS w/ the help of STEPHEN LANGTON draw up a LIST of
DEMANDS for the King known as the MAGNA CARTA
◉ 1215: MAGNA CARTA - LIST OF DEMANDS. Answer: Some
demands of the Magna Carta:
STOP UNFAIR TAXATION
Let the CHURCH make its OWN APPOINMENTS (i.e. Bishops) + have
"ITS LIBERTIES UNIMPAIRED"
Ensure a BARON'S HEIR INHERITED HIS LAND
PREVENT ARREST W/OUT TRIAL
PROTECT MERCHANTS
,ELECT a GROUP/COUNCIL of 25 BARONS to MONITOR THE KING
◉ 1215: MAGNA CARTA - CONSEQUENCES. Answer: The group of 25
BARONS TRIED to IMPLEMENT the TERMS of the MC + KING JOHN
REFUSED to ACCEPT THEIR DEMANDS
>>COVIL WAR BROKE OUT
The BARONS made an ALLIANCE w/ the KING of SCOTLAND + INVITED
PRINCE LOUIS of FRANCE (heir to the French throne) to BE CROWNED
KING of ENGLAND
>>May 1216: PRINCE LOUIS of FRANCE brought an ARMY to FIGHT
JOHN > JOHN initially had success (+ sacked the town of Berwick) but
LACKED the WEALTH/SUPPORT NEEDED to DEFEAT THE BARONS
October 1216: KING JOHN DIED > his SON (HENRY II) was ONLY 9 was
the RIGHTFUL KING + had the SUPPORT of MOST PEOPLE
>>October 1217 Prince Louis of France accepts Henry as king + leaves
England
◉ 1215: MAGNA CARTA - CAUSES. Answer: ECONOMY (TAXES):
>>JOHN OFTEN used (+ abused) the SCUTAGE TAX
>>Since 1199, John had CALLED IT 11 TIMES + EACH TIME: PRICE =
INCREASED
, >>1214: John CALLED IT AGAIN + people REFUSED TO PAY
>>The BARONS thought their MONEY = WASTED bc JOHN KEPT
LOSING + they DIDN'T THINK he had the POLITICAL WILL/MILITARY
MIGHT
RELIGION:
>>1207: the POPE appointed STEPHEN LANGTON as ARCHBISHOP OF
CANTERBURY + JOHN was DISPLEASED bc he wanted to APPOINT HIS
OWN MINISTERS
>>In response the Pope EXCOMMUNICATED KING JOHN (banned all
church services) + said it was NO LONGER A SIN to KILL THE KING
>>JOHN = INITIALLY HAPPY bc the CHURCH'S WEALTH WENT TO HIM
>>1213: JOHN/THE POPE REACH AN AGREEMENT to "restore the
laws of Edward the Confessor"
WAR:
>>1204: JOHN LOST HIS LAND NORMANDY to the FRENCH KING +
spent the rest of his reign trying to win it back
>>>This ANGERED many BARONS who ALSO LOST THEIR LAND
>>1214: JOHN LOSES TO FRANCE at the BATTLE of BOUVINES + the
BARONS RESIST his NEXT CALL for SCUTAGE (early 1215)
◉ SCUTAGE. Answer: A TAX that KNIGHTS + BARONS could PAY
INSTEAD OF FIGHTING for the KING
2026 SOLVED QUESTIONS GRADED A+
◉ THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. Answer: KING:
>>RULES the COUNTRY
>>GRANTS LAND to NOBLES
BARONS (NOBLES):
>>PROVIDE LOYALTY + SERVICE TO THE KING: MAINTAIN LAW +
ORDER in their |AREAS RAISE an ARMY for the KING when NEEDED
>>GRANT LAND to the KNIGHTS
KNIGHTS:
>>PROVIDE PROTECTION + MILITARY SERVICE to the BARONS
>>GRANT LAND to the PEASANTS (aka Serfs/Villeins)
PEASANTS/SERFS/VILLEINS:
>>PROVIDE FOOD + SERVICES to the KNIGHTS
>>ARE NOT FREEMEN (HAVE NO RIGHTS)
, ◉ 1215: MAGNA CARTA - ABOUT. Answer: 1199: KING JOHN
succeeds his brother (Richard I) + has to live up to HIGH
EXPECTATIONS
JOHN'S POOR KINGSHIP ANGERED THE BARONS + they FORM AN
ARMY to FIGHT HIM > JOHN had NO ARMY of his own so he was
FORCED TO NEGOTIATE
15 June 1215: the BARONS + KING JOHN meet at RUNNYMEDE where
the BARONS w/ the help of STEPHEN LANGTON draw up a LIST of
DEMANDS for the King known as the MAGNA CARTA
◉ 1215: MAGNA CARTA - LIST OF DEMANDS. Answer: Some
demands of the Magna Carta:
STOP UNFAIR TAXATION
Let the CHURCH make its OWN APPOINMENTS (i.e. Bishops) + have
"ITS LIBERTIES UNIMPAIRED"
Ensure a BARON'S HEIR INHERITED HIS LAND
PREVENT ARREST W/OUT TRIAL
PROTECT MERCHANTS
,ELECT a GROUP/COUNCIL of 25 BARONS to MONITOR THE KING
◉ 1215: MAGNA CARTA - CONSEQUENCES. Answer: The group of 25
BARONS TRIED to IMPLEMENT the TERMS of the MC + KING JOHN
REFUSED to ACCEPT THEIR DEMANDS
>>COVIL WAR BROKE OUT
The BARONS made an ALLIANCE w/ the KING of SCOTLAND + INVITED
PRINCE LOUIS of FRANCE (heir to the French throne) to BE CROWNED
KING of ENGLAND
>>May 1216: PRINCE LOUIS of FRANCE brought an ARMY to FIGHT
JOHN > JOHN initially had success (+ sacked the town of Berwick) but
LACKED the WEALTH/SUPPORT NEEDED to DEFEAT THE BARONS
October 1216: KING JOHN DIED > his SON (HENRY II) was ONLY 9 was
the RIGHTFUL KING + had the SUPPORT of MOST PEOPLE
>>October 1217 Prince Louis of France accepts Henry as king + leaves
England
◉ 1215: MAGNA CARTA - CAUSES. Answer: ECONOMY (TAXES):
>>JOHN OFTEN used (+ abused) the SCUTAGE TAX
>>Since 1199, John had CALLED IT 11 TIMES + EACH TIME: PRICE =
INCREASED
, >>1214: John CALLED IT AGAIN + people REFUSED TO PAY
>>The BARONS thought their MONEY = WASTED bc JOHN KEPT
LOSING + they DIDN'T THINK he had the POLITICAL WILL/MILITARY
MIGHT
RELIGION:
>>1207: the POPE appointed STEPHEN LANGTON as ARCHBISHOP OF
CANTERBURY + JOHN was DISPLEASED bc he wanted to APPOINT HIS
OWN MINISTERS
>>In response the Pope EXCOMMUNICATED KING JOHN (banned all
church services) + said it was NO LONGER A SIN to KILL THE KING
>>JOHN = INITIALLY HAPPY bc the CHURCH'S WEALTH WENT TO HIM
>>1213: JOHN/THE POPE REACH AN AGREEMENT to "restore the
laws of Edward the Confessor"
WAR:
>>1204: JOHN LOST HIS LAND NORMANDY to the FRENCH KING +
spent the rest of his reign trying to win it back
>>>This ANGERED many BARONS who ALSO LOST THEIR LAND
>>1214: JOHN LOSES TO FRANCE at the BATTLE of BOUVINES + the
BARONS RESIST his NEXT CALL for SCUTAGE (early 1215)
◉ SCUTAGE. Answer: A TAX that KNIGHTS + BARONS could PAY
INSTEAD OF FIGHTING for the KING
