The Modern History General course provides students with an understanding of the driving forces behind present local and global issues. Investigating the past helps students to understand why and how groups and/or societies changed or resisted change. The Modern History General course allows students to gain insights into their own society and its values. It helps them to understand why nations and people hold certain values, and why values and belief systems vary from one group to another. This knowledge is crucial to the development of active and informed citizens in any society.
Prerequisites:
Minimum is C grade in Year 10 Humanities and Social Sciences.
Syllabus:
The Year 12 syllabus is divided into two units, each of one semester duration, which are typically delivered as a pair. The notional time for each unit is 55 class contact hours.
Unit 3 – Societies and change
Students learn about the evolving nature of societies and the various forces for continuity and change that exist. Students learn that some values, beliefs and traditions are linked to the identity of a society. They also learn that, in any period of change, there are those individuals and institutions that support change, but others that oppose it, and that there are different interpretations of the resultant society.
Students will study: The USA between the Wars 1918-1941 with a focus on key people, events and ideas that led to continuity and change. They will also investigate the impact of this continuity and change upon society and the economy.
Unit 4 – Historical trends and movements
Students learn that, throughout history, there have been events, ideas, beliefs and values that have contributed to underlying historical trends and movements. Students learn that historical trends and movements have particular underlying ideas, that different methods and strategies are used to achieve change, and that there are consequences for continuity and change. Some perspectives are omitted and others emphasised, both during the period of the trend or movement and subsequent to the trend or movement.
Students will study: Nazism in Germany 1918-1945 with a focus on the development and impact of the Nazi movement, upon groups and individuals. They will also investigate the methods taken by the movement and key individuals to gain power and then consolidate their authority upon the society.
Assessments:
Historical Inquiry: 20%
Explanation: 25%
Source Analysis: 25%
Test: 15%
Externally Set Task: 15%