Level 3 History

Level 3 History - The Rise and Fall of the American Empire

Teacher in Charge:  Mr Craig Harmon
charmon@wdsg.school.nz

Course description:
The aim of this year’s topic is to help students understand recent world history and to provide an alternative, and possibly confrontational, viewpoint to that espoused by the mainstream media, as well as provide a lens through which to view future events. The focus will be on the rise of American Imperialism in the wake of the Second World War and the influence America has had on world events in the name of protecting its global interests. We will also consider whether its influence is waning in the 21st Century and look at recent world events through this particular lens. This is a controversial and hotly debated topic and we will also explore the different ways in which this history has been presented.

Course of study:
The course may include:

• American Foreign policy – “American exceptionalism”, the idea that America is the only truly democratic society and that its interests should hold sway globally. How has this idea influenced American foreign policy between 1945 and now, and what impact has this had globally?

• Key global events – The Cold War and specific events within it, such as the Vietnam War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the ‘war against terror’ in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the conflict in Syria. What are the causes and consequences of at least one of these events?

• The influence of American foreign policy in New Zealand, in particular the anti-nuclear debate.