3.4 Contested Event

Full Title: Analyse different perspectives of a contested event of significance to New Zealanders

Full Achievement Standard:

http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/nqfdocs/ncea-resource/achievements/2013/as91437.pdf

This standard requires you to analyse the different sides of a historical event, both those who were there at the time and more modern historians.

You have a choice of which event you analyse. All you need to choose is an event that:

a) Is controversial / contested - people have different perspectives and opinions about it

b) The controversy existed at the time and has been commented on since (ie you can find primary and secondary sources providing perspectives on the controversy).

At present, this site includes specific resources for the following six topics:

- The execution of Mary, Queen of Scots: Did she deserve death?

- The Treaty of Waitangi: Were the British sincere in sharing power, or was the Treaty a trick to avoid an expensive war?

- The Nazi Holocaust: How willingly did ordinary German people participate in the killing of Jews?

- The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Were they necessary to end the Pacific War?

- The Partition of India and Creation of Pakistan: Could India have stayed united?

- The Trail of Tears and forced removal of Native Americans: To what extent are modern views different from those held at the time?

- The US invasion of Iraq in 2003: Was the attack on Iraq justified?

Whichever topic you choose, you need to:

a) become familiar with the background to that topic.

b) analyse at least three perspectives on the question associated with that topic.

Here's a slideshow with some more info: