HISTORY

WHY STUDY HISTORY?

By studying history, you can understand the world around you. The 20th century saw some of the most extreme and unusual countries you could possibly imagine. Through looking at two of the most interesting examples (The USSR and East Germany), you will begin to understand how Europe and the wider world is the way it is today, why the USA and Russia have such a tense relationship, and why the politics of a country will have such a huge impact on the people living there.

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History A Level is very highly regarded by universities and employers as it gives you access to analytical skills not found in many other subjects. It teaches you how to use evidence, construct arguments, debate and decide on what you think.

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COURSE CONTENT

Paper 1 – The USSR

This unit looks at the themes of politics, economics and society across all of the communist rulers of the USSR. It will allow comparison of these leaders to see what it was like to live under one of the most repressive regimes in history.

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Paper 2 – East Germany 

This unit looks at the creation of two Germanys and what it was like to live in one of them, before turning to how it eventually collapsed and become one country again.

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Paper 3 – The British Empire

This unit starts with Britain losing the USA, the most important part of the Empire. It then turns to how Britain responded and continued to dominate the world until the end of World War 1 in 1914. You will look at case studies from all over the world including India and Australia.

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Paper 4 – Coursework

You will look at the causes of the Holocaust and, using a variety of historians, decide to what extent it was a long term plan.

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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

• The Communist Manifesto – Analysis by Roger Spalding

• The October Revolution – Graham Darby

• Berlin: The Flash-Point of the Cold War, 1948-1989 – David Williamson

• The Rise and Fall of the Big Three – Paul Dukes

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