OCR A Level History A The Origins and Growth of the British
Empire 1558–1783 (Y311/01)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
May 2026 – Morning
A Level History A
Y311/01 The Origins and Growth of the British Empire 1558–1783
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
*1408999594*
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer the question in Section A and any two questions in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and answer Question 1.
1 Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages.
Explain which you think is more convincing as an explanation of the consequences of rebellions
in the American colonies in the late seventeenth century. [30]
Passage A
© Alan Taylor, Colonial America, Oxford University Press, 2013. From first line "In Bacon’s rebellion and the Crown intervention," to last line "the colonies and mother country became more closely intertwined in a shared empire." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
Passage B
© Richard Middleton; Anne Lombard, Colonial America: A History to 1763, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. From first line "As a populist uprising, Bacon’s Rebellion was not successful since Virginia’s government became even less responsive to the concerns of ordinary farmers after the rebellion ended." to last line "After 16
Empire 1558–1783 (Y311/01)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
May 2026 – Morning
A Level History A
Y311/01 The Origins and Growth of the British Empire 1558–1783
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
*1408999594*
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer the question in Section A and any two questions in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
Section A
Read the two passages and answer Question 1.
1 Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages.
Explain which you think is more convincing as an explanation of the consequences of rebellions
in the American colonies in the late seventeenth century. [30]
Passage A
© Alan Taylor, Colonial America, Oxford University Press, 2013. From first line "In Bacon’s rebellion and the Crown intervention," to last line "the colonies and mother country became more closely intertwined in a shared empire." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
Passage B
© Richard Middleton; Anne Lombard, Colonial America: A History to 1763, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. From first line "As a populist uprising, Bacon’s Rebellion was not successful since Virginia’s government became even less responsive to the concerns of ordinary farmers after the rebellion ended." to last line "After 16
