AQA A-LEVEL HISTORY Component 2E: The English
Revolution, 1625–1660 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES/ GRADED A+/2026\2027 UPDATE
/100%CORRECT
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials: Pen, paper, source booklet (not included here – sources are summarised for question
purposes)
Instructions
• Answer all questions in Section A (30 marks).
• Answer two questions from Section B (45 marks each).
• Answer one question from Section C (45 marks).
• Total marks: 165 (approx. 150+ individual question parts).
SECTION A – SOURCE ANALYSIS
Answer all parts of Question 01. (30 marks)
Read Sources A, B, C and D (summarised below) and answer Question 01.
Source A (1642, Royalist pamphlet): “The King’s person is sacred. Parliament seeks to strip him of his just
authority. Those who take up arms against him rebel against God.”
Source B (1647, Leveller manifesto): “All power is originally in the people. The current Parliament is
corrupt. We demand a written constitution, manhood suffrage, and biennial Parliaments.”
Source C (1654, Cromwell speech): “I called not myself to this place. God by providence has brought us
thus far. We need a settlement that preserves godliness and liberty.”
Source D (1659, Army Remonstrance): “The Good Old Cause was to secure the rights of the people. The
present rulers have betrayed it. We will not suffer another Charles or another tyranny.”
Question 01
, Using these sources and your own knowledge, evaluate the view that the main cause of political
instability in England between 1642 and 1659 was the failure to agree on where sovereignty should
lie.
*(You will write an essay – but here, 30 sub-questions test source analysis skills.)*
For each of the 30 statements below (1–30), tick the correct box: True, False, or Cannot be determined
from the sources alone.
1. Source A argues that royal authority is divinely ordained.
• True ✅ – Rationale: Source A explicitly says “The King’s person is sacred…rebels against God.”
• False – Rationale: It says the opposite.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: Not mentioned.
2. Source B supports the idea of popular sovereignty.
• True ✅ – Rationale: “All power is originally in the people” = popular sovereignty.
• False – Rationale: It argues for parliamentary sovereignty.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: No mention of people.
3. Source B explicitly condemns the monarchy as tyrannical.
• True – Rationale: It attacks Parliament, not monarchy directly.
• False ✅ – Rationale: It does not mention the monarchy; it attacks the current Parliament.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: Not enough info.
4. Source C suggests Cromwell believed he was called by God to rule.
• True ✅ – Rationale: “God by providence has brought us thus far.”
• False – Rationale: He denies any divine call.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: Not addressed.
5. Source D supports the restoration of the monarchy without conditions.
• True – Rationale: It says “will not suffer another Charles” = opposes restoration.
• False ✅ – Rationale: It explicitly rejects another Charles.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: Unclear.
6. Source A and Source B agree on the location of ultimate authority.
• True – Rationale: A supports king, B supports people – disagree.
Revolution, 1625–1660 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES/ GRADED A+/2026\2027 UPDATE
/100%CORRECT
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials: Pen, paper, source booklet (not included here – sources are summarised for question
purposes)
Instructions
• Answer all questions in Section A (30 marks).
• Answer two questions from Section B (45 marks each).
• Answer one question from Section C (45 marks).
• Total marks: 165 (approx. 150+ individual question parts).
SECTION A – SOURCE ANALYSIS
Answer all parts of Question 01. (30 marks)
Read Sources A, B, C and D (summarised below) and answer Question 01.
Source A (1642, Royalist pamphlet): “The King’s person is sacred. Parliament seeks to strip him of his just
authority. Those who take up arms against him rebel against God.”
Source B (1647, Leveller manifesto): “All power is originally in the people. The current Parliament is
corrupt. We demand a written constitution, manhood suffrage, and biennial Parliaments.”
Source C (1654, Cromwell speech): “I called not myself to this place. God by providence has brought us
thus far. We need a settlement that preserves godliness and liberty.”
Source D (1659, Army Remonstrance): “The Good Old Cause was to secure the rights of the people. The
present rulers have betrayed it. We will not suffer another Charles or another tyranny.”
Question 01
, Using these sources and your own knowledge, evaluate the view that the main cause of political
instability in England between 1642 and 1659 was the failure to agree on where sovereignty should
lie.
*(You will write an essay – but here, 30 sub-questions test source analysis skills.)*
For each of the 30 statements below (1–30), tick the correct box: True, False, or Cannot be determined
from the sources alone.
1. Source A argues that royal authority is divinely ordained.
• True ✅ – Rationale: Source A explicitly says “The King’s person is sacred…rebels against God.”
• False – Rationale: It says the opposite.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: Not mentioned.
2. Source B supports the idea of popular sovereignty.
• True ✅ – Rationale: “All power is originally in the people” = popular sovereignty.
• False – Rationale: It argues for parliamentary sovereignty.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: No mention of people.
3. Source B explicitly condemns the monarchy as tyrannical.
• True – Rationale: It attacks Parliament, not monarchy directly.
• False ✅ – Rationale: It does not mention the monarchy; it attacks the current Parliament.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: Not enough info.
4. Source C suggests Cromwell believed he was called by God to rule.
• True ✅ – Rationale: “God by providence has brought us thus far.”
• False – Rationale: He denies any divine call.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: Not addressed.
5. Source D supports the restoration of the monarchy without conditions.
• True – Rationale: It says “will not suffer another Charles” = opposes restoration.
• False ✅ – Rationale: It explicitly rejects another Charles.
• Cannot be determined – Rationale: Unclear.
6. Source A and Source B agree on the location of ultimate authority.
• True – Rationale: A supports king, B supports people – disagree.
