Paper 2 Section B/D: Restoration England, 1660–1685

June 2022

Q1: How convincing is Interpretation A about conflict with the Dutch?

Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretation A.

Answer:

For example, the Dutch war contributed to Parliament’s dissatisfaction with Charles II. Parliament was suspicious that Charles was too close to the French Catholic King Louis who was allowing the English to do most of the fighting against the Dutch, who were Protestant. The problem was that the Dutch were commercial rivals but also co-religionists. more than one aspect of the interpretation. For example, it is convincing because Charles had to go back to Parliament to ask for money. The Dutch wars caused the government to run out of money. Early in 1667 Pepys asked the king for £100,000 to be able send the fleet to sea, and as a result King had to negotiate with the Dutch. He had to sign the humiliating Treaty of Breda. For example, the second Anglo Dutch War broke out in 1665. It was because of rivalry between the English and the Dutch over trade and colonies. The English had attacked the Dutch slave trade ports in West Africa in 1663. Answers may show understanding/support for interpretation, but the case is For example, in the Dutch wars the English Navy used new tactics like the, ‘line ahead’ this allowed the ships fire broadsides which caused a lot of damage.

Q2: Explain what was important about Charles II’s court.

Answer:

the consequences of the stated development (the Royal Court during the reign of Charles II) in the broader historical context (Restoration England). This is For example, the Royal Court was the centre of government. Here the King’s ministers, such as the Lord Chancellor, and Lord Treasurer met in the Privy Council to advise the King. But unlike the French court of Louis which Charles admired, he was not an absolute monarch. Parliament controlled the purse strings. However, the King’s great power was of patronage. Samuel Pepys rose to be in charge of the Admiralty in 1684 through patronage. For example, the Royal Court was the centre of Restoration fashion. It was heavily influenced by Charles’s cousin, King Louis of France and his court. At court all the latest fashions and trends in clothing, decoration and hobbies were displayed for people to copy, the royal apartments were decorated in a Baroque style with many French and Japanese furnishings. At court the king had many mistresses such as Nell Gwyn and Lady Castlemaine. the identified consequences, supporting by factual knowledge and For example, the Royal Court was where Charles governed the country together with his Privy Council. Anyone who wanted to impress the King tried to gain access to the court. The court was where the King and his mistresses could set out the current fashions. For example, the Royal Court was where Charles II’s public and private life came together. It was also the centre of government.

Q3: Write an account of how the Great Fire of London affected Restoration England.

Answer:

reasoning supported by a range of accurate and detailed factual knowledge and understanding. For example, an explanation of different impacts/ consequences of change in the broader historical context. For example, after the fire people wanted someone to blame and they blamed England’s enemies, the Dutch and the French. There was also more anti- Catholic feeling which contributed to the Exclusion Crisis. In the 1680s there was much talk about a Popish conspiracy that had started the fire. However, the cost of the Fire made Charles and Parliament less able to fight the Second Anglo Dutch War and forced them into peace negotiations and eventually the fall of Clarendon. For example, the Great Fire of London damaged London which was the heart of the economy. There was only a slow recovery. Although many houses were rebuilt by 1673 only about half of them were occupied. But the insurance business grew from the Great Fire. As the fire had destroyed more than 13,000 homes, a fire court was set up to settle property disputes. simple understanding of consequence(s) with supported with factual For example, the destruction of the fire showed how unsafe and inflammable the old city of London was. The fire meant that the trend to building in brick accelerated throughout England. Old wooden buildings were replaced with brick and many new designs appeared. London became safer as they rebuilt in brick not wood which would not catch light so easily. For example, the fire burnt down large parts of London.

Q4: ‘The plays were the main reason for the popularity of the theatre in Restoration

England.’ How far does a study of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London support this statement? Explain your answer. You should refer to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London and your contextual knowledge. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. Ifyou have any queries please contact the Copyright Team.

Answer:

understanding of the site. For example, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane was a brand-new theatre where Killigrew’s King’s company performed, and the King attended. The aristocracy were keen to mix with actors and actresses who were the celebrities of the time. The Restoration Theatre was at the centre of fashionable life because of Charles II’s keen patronage of the art and his interest in those who performed. The ‘Comedy of Manners’ often made fun of the behaviour of the upper class through the characters of the ‘fop’ and the ‘rake’. The plays were entertaining but different groups of people took different things from the plays. Although audiences were from all classes, the Restoration theatre was very much aimed at the upper classes rather than having the broader appeal that the Elizabethan Answers may suggest that one factor has greater merit. For example, the plays of the Restoration were popular for the messages they could send about who was favoured or powerful or what was fashionable. They could be savagely critical of the aristocracy and people at the court. Sir William Coventry’s career was destroyed by the rumour of a critical play, called ‘The Country Gentlemen’ to be performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1669. The play ridiculed him but Charles, who wanted Coventry out of the government allowed plans for the play to go ahead. Coventry’s protests and threats saw him imprisoned. However, the play and others criticised the greed and secrecy of different factions at court. Charles went to the theatre a lot less in the last years of his reign as the Exclusion crisis grew and some of the plays became more critical of his government. For example, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane was a brand-new theatre, rebuilt in 1672 after a fire, where Killigrew’s Kings company performed, and the King attended. His support was the main reason for the popularity of the theatre as everyone knew that it had royal approval and was fashionable. Going to the theatre was a social occasion where people could see and be seen. If you wish to be seen and be fashionable you sat near the stage, as part of the visible audience but many people did not wish to be noticed. However, the closeness of upper and lower classes, and men and women together, in the theatre contributed to social mixing. consequences by simple reasoning supported with factual knowledge and understanding of the site. For example, women like Elizabeth Barry, and Nell Gwynn could perform in Restoration comedies. They gained some fame and then more through becoming the mistresses of the nobles or the King at court. The plays were entertaining because female parts were no longer played by men or boys but by women, though they often dressed as men so that they could behave For example, before Charles II theatres in England were banned because the Puritans thought they were immoral. The Restoration Theatre provided entertainment because when Charles came back he gave permission for the theatre to start. The plays were funny and witty and had women actresses.