This course is for high achieving and passionate GCSE leavers, who have an interest in History and who wish to grow their written, critical thinking and evaluative judgement skills with a view to pursuing University education, degree apprenticeships or careers in Law, the Civil Service, Journalism etc. It often goes well with Politics, Law, Sociology or English courses, but many students study a broad range of additional subjects depending on their skillsets.
In Modern History a mix of traditional and more interactive teaching methods are used, such as class discussions, debates, presentations, independent research & investigations, use of media, group work and trips.
You’ll study two key periods in Britain and the USA, focusing on political, economic, social and foreign policy changes in an era of global transition.
The first taught unit covers the development of the USA (1865-1975) from the end of the Civil War through to the height of the Cold War, analysing how the USA developed into a world superpower, with a focus on broad change over time as this our breadth unit.
The second taught unit looks in-depth at Britain (1906- 1957) during a period immense change encompassing two world wars and a move to provide welfare to the worst-off in society. There is a focus on the impact of specific events as this our depth unit.
Modules:
Year 1:
1K Making of a Superpower: USA (1865-1920): Topics include…
- The Era of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865–1890: The weaknesses of Federal Government, the failure of Radical Reconstruction, The politics of the Gilded Age and the era of weak presidents, Social, regional and ethnic divisions, the position of African-Americans, Economic growth and the rise of corporations, Laissez-faire dominance and consequences, The limits of foreign engagement and continuation of isolationism: the continuation of the Monroe Doctrine
- Populism, progressivism and imperialism, 1890–1920: Political tensions and divisions, Populism, Progressivism and Wilson’s New Freedom, Economic change and developments, Social developments & mass immigration, the position of African-Americans, Foreign affairs & Imperialism, the Panama Canal, the First World War, neutrality and entry, The USA by 1920
- 2M Wars & Welfare: Britain (1906-1929): Topics include…
- The Liberal crisis, 1906–1914: the 1906 election, New Liberalism, The state of the economy, Social issues: class division, poverty & the ‘People’s Budget’, Liberal social and welfare reforms, Challenges and crises: the constitutional crisis, the Suffragettes, Irish Home Rule & Industrial Unrest
- The impact of war, 1914–1922: Politics in wartime, Liberal division, the 1918 election and the Lloyd George coalition, Lloyd George’s fall Economic issues: Britain’s wartime economy, Social and cultural impact of war: role of women, cultural change, issues of patriotism & conscientious objection, Ireland: the Easter Rising, the war of independence and the Anglo-Irish Treaty
- The search for stability, 1922–1929: Political developments, the first 1924 Labour government, the Conservative resurgence and government, Economic issues: post-war re-adjustment and return to Gold Standard, Industrial disputes and the General Strike, Social & cultural change including the post-war role of women & the growth of the media including newspapers and cinema, The 1929 election: the franchise extension and ‘flapper vote’
Year 2:
- 1K Making of a Superpower: USA (1920-1975): Topics include…
- Crisis of identity, 1920–1945: Domestic politics, Hoover and the Depression, FD Roosevelt and the New Deals, The economy: boom to bust and recovery; Impact of the the Second World War on economic recovery Social and cultural developments: ‘the Jazz Age’ in the 1920s, new social value, the role of women, the failure of prohibition, the social impact of the Depression and the Second World War, Social, regional and ethnic divisions: African-Americans and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, The USA and international relations: the extent of isolationism
- The Superpower, 1945–1975: Domestic politics: Truman, Eisenhower and post-war reconstruction, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, the Great Society, Economic change and developments, Ideological, social, regional and ethnic divisions, McCarthyism, Civil rights & Protest, the Cold War and relations with the USSR and China, the Vietnam War, The USA by 1975: its place as a Superpower
- 2M Wars & Welfare: Britain (1906-1929): Topics include…
- The ‘Hungry Thirties’, 1929–1939: Political developments & the Labour government, the reasons for and policies of the National Government, Economic issues: the Depression and financial crisis, Social & cultural impact of the Depression, Social & regional division, Social and cultural responses to international crises, Challenges to stability: the abdication crisis & radical political groups (the BUF & Communism)
- The People’s War and Peace, 1939–1951: Political developments: the fall of Chamberlain & Churchill as wartime leader, Reasons for Labour victory in 1945, Economic issues: mobilisation of resources in wartime & the post-war economic readjustment, Social & cultural impact of ‘total’ war on women, civil liberties, propaganda and the Blitz, Plans for reconstruction including Beveridge and the Butler Act, The creation of the NHS, Britain by 1951 including the Festival of Britain & continuing austerity, the elections of 1950 and 1951
- ‘Never had it so good’? 1951–1957: Conservative governments & political dominance, the Suez Crisis, Economic developments: post-war boom & stop-go policies, Social & cultural developments including rising living standards & the impact of affluence and consumerism, Britain by 1957 including issues relating to New Commonwealth migrants and race-relations and nuclear concerns
NEA Coursework Component on changing attitudes in Britain to Slavery (1760-1865): Enables students to develop an enhanced understanding of the nature and purpose of history as a discipline and how historians work, expanding on their research skills, and deploying primary source & evaluation of historians analytical skills honed in the first two components.
