History 7041 Paper 2L June 2023, AQA AS-Level Past Papers with Mark Schemes

This exam paper focuses on Italy and Fascism, c1900–1945, emphasizing The Crisis of Liberal Italy and the Rise of Mussolini, c1900–1926. Section A evaluates the role of Giolitti in Italian politics before 1914, exploring themes of transformismo, corruption, and political reforms. Section B examines the post-World War I period, analyzing the economic weaknesses as the most significant consequence (1919–1922) and Mussolini’s use of terror and violence in consolidating power between 1922 and 1926. The questions highlight political instability, economic challenges, and the rise of authoritarianism in early 20th-century Italy.