OCR A Level History A The Making of Georgian Britain
1678–c.1760 (Y109/01)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Afternoon
A Level History A
Y109/01 The Making of Georgian Britain 1678–c.1760
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
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 Question 1 in Section A. Answer either Question 2 or Question 3 in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• 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
The Glorious Revolution 1678–1689
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘It was James’ actions in the autumn of 1688 that led to the loss of his throne.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: In October 1688, the diarist John Evelyn gives an account of popular responses to
the king’s actions.
In the meantime, [the king] called over 5,000 Irish, and 4,000 Scots, and continued to remove
Protestants and put in Papists at Portsmouth and other places of trust, and retained the Jesuits
about him, increasing the universal discontent. It brought people to so desperate a pass, that they
seemed passionately to long for and desire the landing of that Prince, whom they looked on to be
their deliverer from Popish tyranny, praying incessantly for an east wind, which was said to be the
only hindrance of his expedition with a numerous army ready to make a descent. To such a strange
temper, and unheard-of in former times, was this poor nation reduced, and of which I was an
eye-witness.
John Evelyn, Diary, 7 October, 1688
Source B: The French Ambassador describes the situation at Court in London.
I can never forget the confusion the court was in. The king knew not whom to trust and the fright
was so great that they were apt to believe an impossible report just then brought in that the prince of
Orange was come with twelve thousand horses, between Warminster and Salisbury. Everybody in
this hurly-burly was thinking of himself and nobody minded the king, who came up to Dr Radcliffe and
asked him what was good for the bleeding of his nose.
The French Ambassador, letter to Louis XIV, December 1688
Source C: A Whig bishop remembers the king’s flight and considers the different
contemporary opinions as to why he did so.
It was strange that a great king, who had a good army and strong fleet, should choose rather to
abandon all than either try his fate with that part of the army that stood firm to him, or stay and see the
issue of Parliament. This was variously believed to be his lack of courage, his consciousness of guilt,
or the advice of those about him; but so it was that his deserting in this manner, and leaving them to
be pillaged by an army that he had ordered to be disbanded without pay, was thought the forfeiture of
his right and the expiration of his reign.
Gilbert Burnet, History of His Own Time, written before 1715
1678–c.1760 (Y109/01)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Afternoon
A Level History A
Y109/01 The Making of Georgian Britain 1678–c.1760
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
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 Question 1 in Section A. Answer either Question 2 or Question 3 in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• 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
The Glorious Revolution 1678–1689
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘It was James’ actions in the autumn of 1688 that led to the loss of his throne.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: In October 1688, the diarist John Evelyn gives an account of popular responses to
the king’s actions.
In the meantime, [the king] called over 5,000 Irish, and 4,000 Scots, and continued to remove
Protestants and put in Papists at Portsmouth and other places of trust, and retained the Jesuits
about him, increasing the universal discontent. It brought people to so desperate a pass, that they
seemed passionately to long for and desire the landing of that Prince, whom they looked on to be
their deliverer from Popish tyranny, praying incessantly for an east wind, which was said to be the
only hindrance of his expedition with a numerous army ready to make a descent. To such a strange
temper, and unheard-of in former times, was this poor nation reduced, and of which I was an
eye-witness.
John Evelyn, Diary, 7 October, 1688
Source B: The French Ambassador describes the situation at Court in London.
I can never forget the confusion the court was in. The king knew not whom to trust and the fright
was so great that they were apt to believe an impossible report just then brought in that the prince of
Orange was come with twelve thousand horses, between Warminster and Salisbury. Everybody in
this hurly-burly was thinking of himself and nobody minded the king, who came up to Dr Radcliffe and
asked him what was good for the bleeding of his nose.
The French Ambassador, letter to Louis XIV, December 1688
Source C: A Whig bishop remembers the king’s flight and considers the different
contemporary opinions as to why he did so.
It was strange that a great king, who had a good army and strong fleet, should choose rather to
abandon all than either try his fate with that part of the army that stood firm to him, or stay and see the
issue of Parliament. This was variously believed to be his lack of courage, his consciousness of guilt,
or the advice of those about him; but so it was that his deserting in this manner, and leaving them to
be pillaged by an army that he had ordered to be disbanded without pay, was thought the forfeiture of
his right and the expiration of his reign.
Gilbert Burnet, History of His Own Time, written before 1715
