History

Learning Area Leader: Ms McCormick

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 understanding. 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.

Students study Twentieth Century History in Units 1 and 2. At the Unit 3 and 4 level, students may choose to study either Australian History and/or Revolutions. In special circumstances, high achieving students may be permitted to study Units 3 and 4 Australian History in Year 11.

Twentieth century History examines the aftermath of the Great War as well as the causes and consequences of World War Two. Australian History investigates national history from colonial times to the end of the twentieth century and includes the histories of Indigenous Peoples. Revolutions explores the causes and consequences of revolution in France and Russia.

Career Paths / Future Directions:

Communications, Education, Historian, Journalism, Law, Marketing, Multimedia, Public policy, Publishing, Research

Unit 1 - Global Empires: Twentieth Century History 1900–1945 (Code: HIST11)

Description

In this area of study students explore the events, ideologies and movements of the period after World War One; the emergence of conflict; and the causes of World War Two. They investigate the impact of the treaties which ended the Great War and which redrew the map of Europe and broke up the former empires of the defeated nations. They consider the aims, achievements and limitations of the League of Nations. While democratic governments initially replaced the monarchies and authoritarian forms of government in European countries at the end of the war, new ideologies of socialism, communism and fascism gained popular support. Economic instability, territorial aggression and totalitarianism combined to draw the world into a second major conflict in 1939.

Outcomes

• Ideology and Conflict 1918-1939

• Social and Cultural change

Assessment

• Source Analysis

• Extended Responses

• Research Essay

Unit 2 – Global Empires: Twentieth Century History (1945-1989) (Code: HIST22)

Description

In this area of study students focus on the ways in which traditional ideas, values and political systems were challenged and changed by individuals and groups in a range of contexts during the period 1945 to 2000. Students explore the causes of significant political and social events and movements, and their consequences for nations and people. While the Cold War dominated the second half of the twentieth century, political and social challenge and change occurred within and between nations based on religion, nationalism, race, gender and human rights. Developments in mass communication including the internet and satellite television meant that many of the political and social movements transcended national boundaries and were exposed to a global audience. Independence movements led to the emergence of new nations.

Outcomes

• Explain the ideological divisions in the post-war period and analyse the nature, development and impact of the Cold War on nations and people, in relation to one or more particular Conflict in the period.

• On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain the causes and nature of challenge and change in relation to two selected contexts in the second half of the twentieth century and analyse the consequences for nations and people.

Assessment

• Source Analysis

• Extended Responses

• Research Essay

History: Unit 3 & 4 Options – Australian History and/or Revolutions

Career Paths / Future Directions:

Communications, Education, Historian, Journalism, Law, Marketing, Multimedia, Public policy, Publishing, Research, Tourism, Foreign Affairs

Australian History Unit 3 – Transformations: Colonial society to nation (Code: HISA33)

Description

In this unit students explore the transformation of the Port Phillip District (later Victoria) from the 1830s through to the end of the tumultuous gold rush decade in 1860. They examine transformations in the way of life of the Aboriginal peoples and to the environment as the European society consolidated itself. They also consider how new visions for the future created by the gold rush and the Eureka rebellion further transformed the new colony. Students explore the type of society Australians attempted to create in the early years of the newly federated nation. Students evaluate the effect that Australian involvement in World War One had on the country’s egalitarian and socially progressive aspirations.

Outcomes

• Analyse the nature of change in the Port Phillip District/Victoria in the period 1834-1860

• Analyse the visions and actions that shaped the new nation from 1890-1920, and the changes and continuities to these visions that resulted from participation in World War One

Assessment

• Source analysis

• Extended Responses

• Research Task

Australian History Unit 4 – Transformations: Old certainties and new visions (Code: HISA44)

Description

Students investigate the continuing development of the nation in the early part of the twentieth century and the dramatic changes that occurred in the latter part of the century. Students focus on one of the crises faced by the nation: The Great Depression OR World War Two.

Students explore social, economic and political changes in the latter part of the twentieth century that collectively challenged and/or overturned much of Australia’s earlier carefully constructed social and economic fabric. Students examine two changes drawn from: Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, Aboriginal land rights, equality for women, new patterns of immigration and/or a global economy.

Outcomes

• Analyse the social, economic and political consequences of a crisis on the nation

• Analyse and evaluate two key social, economic and political changes in late twentieth century Australia

Assessment

• Extended Responses

• Source analysis

• Historiographical Task

Unit 3 & 4 Assessment

Unit 3 Coursework 25%

Unit 4 Coursework 25%

Examination 50%

Revolutions Unit 3 – The French Revolution (Code: HISR33)

Description

In Unit 3 students study the French Revolution. Revolutions share the common aim of breaking with the past by destroying governments and societies and embarking on a program of profound political and social change. The unit examines the cause of the French Revolution, the role of leaders, ideas and movements in bringing about this change and the extent to which the ideas were achieved.

Outcomes

• Evaluate the role of ideas, leaders, movements and events in the development of the revolution.

• Analyse the challenges faced by the emerging new order and evaluate the nature of the new society created by the revolution.

Revolutions Unit 4 – The Russian Revolution (Code: HISR44)

In Unit 4 students study the Russian Revolution. Revolutions are violent events which have the aim of bringing about profound social and political change.

This unit examines the causes of the Russian Revolution, the role of leaders, ideas and movements in bringing about this change and the extent to which the ideals were achieved.

Outcomes

• Evaluate the role of ideas, leaders, movements and events in the development of the revolution.

• Analyse the challenges faced by the emerging new order and evaluate the nature of the new society created by the revolution.

Assessment

• An Essay and a Research Task

• A Document and Graphic Analysis

• An Historiographical Task

Unit 3 & 4 Assessment

Unit 3 Coursework 25%

Unit 4 Coursework 25%

Written Examination 50%