‘Lord Mansfield’s ruling in the Somerset v. Stewart case of 1772 was the most important turning-point in this period, leading to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1838.’ Assess the validity of this view in regard to the period, 1730-1838
This question requires you to analyse change: the reasons for change and the extent of change [leading to a specific outcome] over a period. You will need to consider continuity: the forces operating to prevent change and how these were overcome.You must clearly demonstrate that you have considered the whole period.
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Winter Term 2023
[Taught course of four weeks in F6 Summer Term with preliminary research]
Week 3 [Monday] – 18th September: First Draft of Core Essay [2000 words] submitted.
Week 5 [Monday] – 2nd October: Polished Draft of the Core Essay submitted [footnoted]
Week 11 [Monday] – 13th November: Interpretations Evaluation [1000 words] submitted.
Week 14 [Monday] – 4th December: Primary Sources Evaluation [1000 words] submitted.
Spring Term 2024
Week 7 [Friday] – 23rd February : Completed CW Essay – First Submission.
Week 11 [Friday] – 22nd March: Final Submission of CW [for final assessment].
Key points to remember
You must ensure that you demonstrate that you have considered the whole period in your essay. It is therefore important that you have a turning-point near the start of the period. You need to consider the significance of your turning-points in the context of the period as a whole, not just as short-term agencies of change with certain, short-term outcomes.
You need to ensure that you select sources written from different perspectives and of a different type or nature. Your teacher can advise you on this. You need to select an extract from the original source for evaluation [about the same length as an examination source for Paper 2].
The key here is to ensure that you choose two sharply contrasting interpretations of why slavery was abolished [or an important aspect of why slavery was abolished] written at different times [in a very different context]. You need to be able explain how the context of the period in which the historian was writing affected their perspective on the topic. You may also consider it relevant to consider how previous interpretations of the same topic and issues may have influenced a historian’s writing [historians do set out to counter an argument with which they strongly disagree or because new evidence has come to light].
Your essay will be read and checked by an AQA moderator. It is important that it is entirely your own work and that your essay is clearly authenticated by accurate and regular referencing from the research materials you have used. You will find guidance on citing and referencing on the Using Sources in Your Work tab.
The important information about Component 3
What is the point of Component 3?
An electronic copy of your coursework guide to use when you don't have yours with you. Please DO NOT print this out. You already have a print copy.
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