Answer one question from one section only. Section A: European option France, 1774-1814 Read the sources and then answer both parts of the question. Source A The castles which dominate our provinces and swallow up large estates, possess misused rights of hunting, fishing and cutting wood. These castles still conceal the proud gentlemen who impose their own taxes in addition to those of the monarch, and who oppress all too easily the poor downtrodden peasant. The rest of the nobility surround the throne to beg eternally for pensions and positions. They want everything for themselves – favours, employments and privileges. They will not allow the common people to have either promotion or reward, whatever their ability or their services to their country. From a book published in France in 1788. Source B [Figure X.X] (A cartoon published in France in 1789. The words on the stone read ‘Taille, Impôts and Corvées' which were all types of taxation.) Source C The Estates-General shall meet at three-yearly intervals. Public opinion appears to have recognised the necessity for voting by head to compensate for the disadvantages of distinction of orders. All men are equal in rights. Law exists only to guarantee to each individual the ownership of his property and the safety of his person. No citizen may be arrested or punished except by legal judgement. No citizen, not even a soldier, may be dismissed without a trial. No citizen may be arrested, nor his home entered, as a consequence of lettres de cachet*. The civil and religious liberty of each man, his independence of every other authority except that of the law, prohibits all enquiry into his opinions, speech, writings and actions, provided they do not disturb public order and do not harm the rights of others. Any special tax, whether personal or on real estate, such as the poll tax, military service, forced labour or the billeting of troops, shall be replaced by general taxes paid equally by citizens of all classes. Customs duty shall only be charged at the point of admission to the Kingdom, and barriers shall be withdrawn. From the Cahier of the Third Estate of Paris, 1789. *Lettres de cachet were arrest warrants, signed by the King, which allowed immediate imprisonment of the suspect without trial. Source D Votes shall be cast in the Estates-General by order and not by head. Deputies shall call for the Estates-General to be regularly recalled, every five years at the latest. The liberty of the citizen being the most precious of all possessions and most sacred of all rights, all arbitrary commands and all lettres de cachet issued by the sovereign or his ministers shall be declared illegal and their use forbidden forever. As an integral part of civil liberty, every kind of writing may be printed and published, on condition that the author, publisher or printer puts his name to it and answers personally for anything that may be said in them contrary to religion, morality and the honour of the citizens. Deputies of the order shall work together to their utmost to promote the support of religion, the respect due to divine worship, the very needful restoration of morality and of national education. While waiting for better times which may permit the abolition of the salt tax, the deputies shall ask for a reduction in the price of salt. From the Cahier of the Second Estate of Roussillon, 1789.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [15] Both sources have strong opinions on liberty and the rights of men as citizens. Source C argues that 'all men are equal in rights' and goes on to describe what those rights should be. Source D argues that liberty is the most 'sacred of rights'.
2. [15] Both sources argue in favour of freedom of speech and expression. In Source D 'every kind of writing may be printed' and in Source C enquiries into a man's 'opinions, speech and writings' should be prohibited unless they would disturb public order.
3. [15] Both sources argue that personal liberty is important and that citizens should have their rights (for instance freedom from arbitrary arrest through lettres de cachet) protected.
4. [15] Source C is more radical in its opinions stating clearly that all men are equal and arguing in favour of voting by head. This supports their ideas of equality for all men. Source D is less radical, retaining more focus on the class system with voting by order.
5. [15] There is a difference of opinion on religion. Source C suggests that men should have freedom of religion while Source D implies that Catholicism should be strengthened, and that national religion is more important than the beliefs of an individual.
6. [15] Given that Source C comes from the Third Estate of Paris it is perhaps not surprising that the ideas listed are more radical than those in Source D. Paris was home to radical clubs and the Palais de Justice was an important meeting place for the discussion of radical ideas about equality and liberty. Discontent with inequality and taxation had been building over the previous years (made worse by poor harvests in the 1780s, food shortages and price rises). There is also a more legal focus in Source C which reflects that many of the Third Estate were lawyers. Source D, coming from the Second Estate, makes fewer radical demands as might be expected from the nobility. They would be unlikely to accept the Third Estate's demand for equality in taxation and might baulk at the idea of all men being equal. However, there are sufficient similarities to make it clear that the nobles were also keen on reform and greater individual liberty and elements of equality.
7. [15] Accept any other valid responses.
8. [25] Source A argues that the owners of the large estates misuse the taxation system and 'add their own taxes to those of the monarch'.
9. [25] Source B shows the Third Estate being crushed by different kinds of tax which must be paid, and which seem to benefit the First and Second Estates who are shown balancing on top of the rock which is crushing the Third Estate.
10. [25] Source C argues that taxes should be abolished and levied equally.
11. [25] Source A although taxation is an issue the author also argues that inequality is a problem with the nobles begging favours from the crown and the 'common people' going unrewarded for their service.
12. [25] Source C much of the cahier of the Third Estate is motivated by demands for equality and liberty and their complaints about taxation can be seen in this light. The Third Estate are not simply motivated by the financial benefit of changing taxation but are more concerned to remove the unfairness of the system.
13. [25] Source D argues that it would be too expensive to remove the salt tax. The source is more concerned with liberty and freedom than with economic issues.
14. [25] Source A: candidates can use their knowledge to assess the claims made in this source. For instance, it was common for landlords to charge their tenants for fishing, wood cutting, the use of the mill as well as charging high rents to be paid in grain and produce. There was much complaint about this by 1788 due to failed harvests and bankruptcy. Landowners were accused of hoarding grain to secure higher prices, and this made resentment of the nobility more bitter.
15. [25] Source B: Although this source might be said to have a clear propaganda purpose, candidates could explain the taxation system (such as the corvée) which is highlighted in the cartoon.
16. [25] Source C: Candidates can use their knowledge of the Three Estates and the meeting of the Estates-General in 1789 to explain the context and content of this source. However, while the Third Estate had most interest in having taxes distributed more fairly, their cahier contains many of the popular ideas about liberty which had been discussed in the coffee houses and pamphlets of Paris. The Third Estate was not represented by peasants and labourers but more well-off and well-educated men, many of whom were lawyers.
17. [25] Source D: Understanding of the Second Estate could help candidates to evaluate this source. Less numerous than the Third Estate in the Estates-General their demands were slightly more conservative. However, many nobles were frustrated by the financial state of France and wanted a more equal society where people (including themselves) could progress on merit and have some say in how the country was governed.
18. [25] Accept any other valid responses.