History involves inquiry into human action in the past, to make meaning of the past using primary sources as evidence. As historians ask new questions, revise interpretations or discover new sources, fresh understandings come to light. Although history deals with the particular – specific individuals and key events – the potential scope of historical inquiry is vast and formed by the questions that historians pursue, the availability of sources and the capacity of historians to interpret those sources. VCE History reflects this range of inquiry by enabling students to engage with a range of times, people, places and ideas.
20th Century 1918-1939:
In this unit students explore the nature of political, social and cultural change in the period between the world wars. World War One is regarded by many as marking the beginning of twentieth century history since it represented such a complete departure from the past and heralded changes that were to have an impact for decades to come. The post-war treaties ushered in a period where the world was, to a large degree, reshaped with new borders, movements, ideologies and power structures.
Areas of Study:
1. Ideology and conflict
2. Social and cultural change
20th Century 1945-2000:
In this unit students explore the nature and impact of the Cold War and challenges and changes to existing political, economic and social arrangements in the second half of the twentieth century. The establishment of the United Nations in 1945 was intended to take an internationalist approach to avoiding warfare, resolving political tensions and addressing threats to human life and safety. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948 was the first global expression of human rights.
Areas of Study:
1. Causes, course, and consequences of the Cold War
2. Challenge and change
Revolutions are the great disjuncture of modern times and mark deliberate attempts at new directions. They share the common aim of breaking with the past by destroying the regimes and societies that engender them and embarking on a program of political and social transformation. As processes of dramatically accelerated social change, revolutions have a profound impact on the country in which they occur, as well as important international repercussions.
Because revolutions involve destruction and construction, dispossession and liberation, they polarise society and unleash civil war and counterrevolution, making the survival and consolidation of the revolution the principal concern of the revolutionary state. In defence of the revolution, under attack from within and without, revolutionary governments often deploy armed force and institute policies of terror and repression. The process of revolution concludes when a point of stability has been reached and a viable revolutionary settlement made.
Students study the French Revolution in Unit 3 and the Russian Revolution in Unit 4.
Areas of Study:
1. Causes of revolution
2. Consequences of revolution
Mr Kieren Prowse: kprowse@cmc.vic.edu.au