Modern History WACE 2015-6
Year 11 and Year 12 Modern History
Is Modern History for me?
Studying Modern History enables you to become a critical thinker and helps you to make informed judgements in a rapidly changing world. Through the process of historical inquiry, you will question and evaluate historical sources; identify various representations and versions of history; use evidence to formulate and support your own interpretations; and communicate your findings in a variety of ways.
If you have enjoyed History during Lower School that is a good indication. If you like to question why things happened and have an interest in the subjects studied here, that is a great place to start.
Ask your Humanities and Social Sciences (S&E) teacher whether they think you will comfortably cope with the demands of a TEE subject. Another good source of information are students in Year 11 and 12 at the moment. Ask them about Modern History—what is it like? They’ll give you a honest answer.
Watch the clip below for some more reasons why studying History is great!
Hopefully we’ll see you in February 2015!
Year 11 Subject Content
Unit 1 - Understanding the Modern World
Capitalism – the American experience (1907–1941)
- the main causes of the rise of capitalism in the USA, including the expansion of the railways
- post-Civil War reconstruction; immigrant labour & mass production
- role and impact of significant individuals e.g. Henry Ford
- key ideas eg theories of capitalism & the American Dream
- impact of WWI, film and fashion, prohibition and the ‘Jazz Age’
- causes and consequences of the Great Depression and the New Deal
- impact of capitalism on different groups e.g. African Americans, urban workers, rural workers, immigrants, industrialists, and members of Indian Nations; and the consequences of divisions
Click the clip below
- a trailer of The Untouchables movie - about prohibition in the USA
Unit 2 - Movements for change in the 20th century
Nazism in Germany
· the economic, political and military circumstances in Germany at the end of WWI and how those circumstances contributed to the rise of Nazism
· Weimar Government and reasons for its failure
· reasons for the Nazi Party’s rise to power
· the nature and effects of key aspects of the Nazi state, including propaganda, terror, the Hitler Youth, women and the nature of opposition to the Nazis
· Nazi policies of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust
· the role and impact of significant individuals in Weimar and Nazi Germany, for example, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels and Hermann Göring
· the legacy of Nazism after WWII
Click the clip below - a trailer for the drama/documentary Hitler - The Rise of Evil
Type of Assessment in Year 11
- Historical Inquiry
- Explanation essay
- Source analysis
- End of unit examination
The exam is worth 30% of your unit mark
Year 12 Subject Content
Modern nations in the 20th Century
· an overview of Russia in 1914
· the significant ideas of the period, Marxism, Leninism and Stalinism
· impact of World War I; the causes, events and outcomes of the February and October Revolutions in 1917
· opposition to the Bolsheviks and the civil war
· changes that transformed Russia,and how they contributed to state control
· social/cultural impact of Bolshevism and Stalin’s Cultural Revolution to 1945, including women, nationalities, youth and education
· the impact of World War II and the methods that enabled the USSR to secure victory
· the role and impact of significant individuals in the period
The clip below looks at the February 1917 Revolution
The modern world since 1945
· impact of World War II on Australia and Asia, including the impact of the war with Japan
· Australia’s response to key developments in international relations, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Cambodia and East Timor
· formation of formal alliances and forums, including ANZUS
· significance of Australia’s immigration policies including the White Australia Policy, refugees from Asia; family reunions and asylum seekers
· influence of cultural ties with Asia, including travel, education, religion
· an overview of the changing nature and ongoing importance of Australia’s trade with Asia; a case study of the trade relations between Australia and EITHER China OR Japan
· the role of significant individuals during the period
The clip below explores the Australian involvement in the Vietnam War
Type of Assessment in Year 12
- Historical Inquiry
- Explanation essay
- Source analysis
- End of unit examination
The exam is worth 40% of your unit mark
Humanities and Social Sciences
Email: sarah.day@education.wa.edu.au
Website: http://esperanceshs.wa.edu.au/index.php?q=node/97
Location: Esperance Senior High School, Esperance, Western Australia, Australia
Phone: 08 9071 9555