TEACHERS: For inquiries speak to: Ms Elise Clarke

Rationale

The study of VCE History assists students to understand themselves, others and their world, and broadens their perspective by examining people, groups, events, ideas and movements. Through studying VCE History, students develop social, political, economic and cultural understandings. They also explore continuity and change: the world is not as it has always been, and it will be subject to change in the future. In this sense, history is relevant to contemporary issues. It fosters an understanding of human agency and informs decision making in the present.

The study of history fosters the ability to ask searching questions, to engage in independent research, and to construct arguments about the past based on evidence. Historical comprehension enables a source to be understood in relation to its context; that is, students make links between the source and the world in which it was produced.

We can never know the whole past. Historical knowledge rests on the interpretation of sources that are used as evidence. Furthermore, judgments of historical significance made by historians are central to the discipline. Historians do not always agree about the meaning that is taken from the past: historical interpretations are often subject to academic and public debate. The study of history equips students to take an informed position on such matters, helping them develop as individuals and citizens.

Structure

Year 11

Modern History

Unit 1: Ideology and conflict

Unit 2: Social & Cultural Change

Year 12

Revolutions

Unit 3: The American Revolution (1754-1776)

Unit 4: The Russian Revolution (1896-1917)

Unit 1: Change and conflict

World War I or 'The War to end all wars' had a devastating effect on the world, but Europe in particular. Villages were completely destroyed and many countries had lost a generation of men. The 1920's was a period of significant social and cultrual change. The Roaring Twenties saw an increase in consumerism, however the Great Depression saw many people struggling to feed themselves and their families. 

The 1920's also saw changes to political ideologies, with new governments in Italy, Germany and Japan. Initially many countries replaced monarchies with democracies, however, growing unrest in many of these countries lead to the rise of socialism, communism and fascism.

Hitler was able to use many of the problems in the Weimar Republic to rise to power and the Nazi Party grew to persecute certain groups, most especially the Jewish community. 

Unit 2: The changing world order

In this unit students investigate the nature and impact of the Cold War and challenges and changes to social, political and economic structures and systems of power from 1945 onwards.  

Ultimately, students analyse the significant contribution of events, ideologies and individuals, and the consequences for nations and people in the period 1945–1991. While the USA and the USSR never engaged in direct armed conflict, they opposed each other in a range of international conflicts and proxy wars such as those in Berlin, Korea, Angola, Cuba and Vietnam 

What is History: Revolutions?

In Units 3 and 4 Revolutions students investigate the significant historical causes and consequences of political revolution. Revolutions represent great ruptures in time and are a major turning point in the collapse and destruction of an existing political order which results in extensive changes to societies. Revolutions are caused by the interplay of events, ideas, individuals and popular movements, and the interplay between the political, social, cultural, economic and environmental conditions. Their consequences have a profound effect on the political and social structures of the post-revolutionary society. Revolution is a dramatically accelerated process whereby the new regime attempts to create political, social, cultural and economic change and transformation based on the regime’s ideology.

Change in a post-revolutionary society is not guaranteed or inevitable and continuities can remain from the pre-revolutionary society. The implementation of revolutionary ideology was often challenged internally by civil war and externally by foreign threats. These challenges can result in a compromise of revolutionary ideals and extreme measures of violence, oppression and terror.

In these units, students construct an argument about the past using historical sources (primary sources and historical interpretations) as evidence to analyse the complexity and multiplicity of the causes and consequences of revolution and to evaluate the extent to which the revolution brought change to the lives of people. Students analyse the different perspectives and experiences of people who lived through dramatic revolutionary moments, and how society changed and/or remained the same. Students use historical interpretations to evaluate the causes and consequences of revolution and the extent of change instigated by the new regime.

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”  - Buckminster Fuller

Unit 3: American Revolution

In Unit 3, students will explore the causes and consequences of the American Revolution (1754- 1789). Within this unit, students will be exploring the events that led to the outbreak of the Revolution; including but not limited to colonial experience, enlightenment ideals, key individuals and the contribution of popular movements. They will then move on to explore the challenges the new regime faced whilst attempting to consolidate power. They'll explore the political, social and economic changes and consequences that impacted the Revolution. Lastly, they'll explore key individuals and their roles and impact on American society. Overall, students will finish this unit with a deeper understanding of the American Revolution, its impact on the modern world and a deeper understanding of continuity and change.

“ What a glorious morning for America! ” - Samuel Adams, on hearing of the battle at Lexington, 1775

Unit 4: Russian Revolution

In Unit 4, students will move on to exploring the Russian Revolution (1896- 1917). Within this unit, students will explore the conditions and events that led to the outbreak of war within Russia; looking at the impact of Tsarist Russia, and socio-economic inequalities. Students will explore many key events such as The Russo-Japanese War, Bloody Sunday and the October Manifesto to name a few. Students will explore how these events created a feeling of unease within the Russian population. Within this timeline, students also explore key individuals to the revolution, like Tsar Nicholas II, Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky.  Students then move into exploring the consequences of the revolution; here they begin discussing the problems that came with a new regime, and the political, social and economic changes and challenges that come with new leaders and new power. Overall, students will finish this unit with a deeper understanding of the Russian Revolution, its impact on the modern world and a deeper understanding of continuity and change.

Let us not forget that revolutions are accomplished through people, although they be nameless. - Leon Trotsky

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