The Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730 (J410/11) - English expansion and its impact on the British Isles c.1688–c.1730 — OCR GCSE History
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The Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730 (J410/11) - English expansion and its impact on the British Isles c.1688–c.1730 explained
This topic asks how the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the later Hanoverian succession reshaped England's place among the kingdoms of the British Isles.
Read the full explanation
You need to know that William of Orange's landing and James II's flight triggered the Williamite campaigns in Ireland between 1688 and 1691, ending with the settlement that confirmed Protestant control there. You should trace the strained relationship between England and Scotland after 1688, including Jacobite opposition and the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692, then the Darien Scheme's failure and the Act of Union of 1707. The Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 tested the new Hanoverian order. Finally, study emigration, including forced emigration, from the British Isles to the Americas. In multiple-choice questions, match each event to its date, cause and consequence rather than guessing from a single keyword.
Your focus
- Identify the key events and dates from 1688 to 1715 affecting England's position in the British Isles.
- Explain the connection between the Darien Scheme and the Act of Union of 1707.
- Distinguish voluntary from forced emigration from the British Isles to the Americas.
The Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730 (J410/11) - English expansion and its impact on the British Isles c.1688–c.1730 exam tips
Marking Points
- Identifies the Glorious Revolution of 1688 as the removal of James II and the accession of William and Mary.
- Links the military campaigns in Ireland between 1688 and 1691 to the Williamite settlement that followed.
- Explains that the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692 damaged trust between England and Scotland amid Jacobite opposition.
- Connects the failure of the Darien Scheme to the passing of the Act of Union in 1707.
- Recognises the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 as a challenge to the Hanoverian succession.
- Distinguishes voluntary emigration from forced emigration from the British Isles to the Americas.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Read the whole stem before looking at the options, because distractors often reuse a correct date with the wrong event.
- 💡Match each named event to its date first, then check the cause-and-effect wording in the options.
- 💡Eliminate options that mix up the 1688 revolution, the 1707 union and the 1715 rebellion.
- 💡When two options seem plausible, choose the one that fits the specific clause of the statement being tested.
Common Mistakes
- Confuses the Glorious Revolution of 1688 with the Hanoverian succession of 1714; keep the two dates and events separate.
- Places the Massacre of Glencoe in the wrong year; remember it occurred in 1692.
- Treats the Act of Union of 1707 as unrelated to the Darien Scheme; link the financial failure to the push for union.
- Assumes all emigration to the Americas was voluntary; recognise that forced emigration also occurred.