HISTORY A LEVEL

‘History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.’

David C. McCullough. Historian.

Ashbourne’s Humanities Department

The department is led by Dennis Fulcher. Dennis has vast experience, spanning more than twenty years and has a strong command of several subject areas. Taking responsibility for History tuition is Joanna Budden who holds a BA (Hons) from Leeds and is currently studying for her Masters, also in History with the Open University. Joanna also has a PGCE from Manchester Metropolitan. Joanna’s special areas of interest include early modern History and British social and cultural history. She is also an examiner for Edexcel. Also teaching history is Roderick Gordon who holds a BA (Hons) from Swansea, an MA from the LSE and a PGCE from Reading. Rob Crumpton, an Oxford History and English graduate, who coincidentally is a fluent French speaker, also contributes to teaching in the department.

Examination Board:

Ashbourne follows the Edexcel Specification for History. This specification has been approved by the QCA for first teaching from September 2008.

Overview

In Unit 1: Historical Themes in Breadth, students will study two topics in order to gain a broad overview of a particular theme, and will assess the historical significance of events, ideas, attitudes and beliefs and how these influenced behaviours and action.

In Unit 2: British History Depth Studies, students will study a period of British history in order to develop an in-depth understanding of attitudes, beliefs and structures of society.

In Unit 3: Depth Studies and Associated Historical Controversies, students will undertake a depth study to explore the nature of challenges and conflict relating to societies and/or political system in the period studied, and to explore an issue of historical debate.

In Unit 4: Historical Enquiry, students will carry out an enquiry which will address the aspects of a chosen theme over a period of at least 100 years. They will examine both the short-term significance of an individual, movement or event, as well as the factors affecting change throughout the whole period.

Unit One Content

There are six option papers, A-F, in this unit. Each option will include seven topics, except for Option E which consists of six topics. Each student is required to study two topics from one option paper.

Option A: England in the Middle Ages and the Transition to the Early Modern World

Option B: Power, Belief and Conflict in Early Modern Europe

Option C: The British Empire: Colonisation and Decolonisation

Option D: A World Divided: Communism and Democracy in the 20th Century

Option E*: The Expansion and Challenge of Nationalism

Option F*: The Expansion and Challenge of Nationalism

Ashbourne has selected option D: A World Divided: Communism and Democracy in the 20th Century

The two topics to be studies are: Russia In Revolution and Pursuing Life, Liberty and Equality in the USA.

D3 Russia in Revolution, 1881-1924:

From Autocracy to Dictatorship

The challenges to the Tsarist state, 1881-1906: nature of the regime; economic and social changes; opposition parties; the 1905 revolution.

Tsarism’s last chance, 1906-1917: the Dumas; Stolypin; the impact of War; the downfall of the Romanovs.

February to October 1917: the Provisional Government and the Bolshevik coup.

Holding on to and consolidating power, 1918-24: civil war; changing economic policies; creating the Soviet state.

D5 Pursuing Life and Liberty: Equality in the USA, 1945-68

The social and economic position of black citizens in the USA in the 1940s and early 1950s: the nature and extent of discrimination and segregation; signs of change by 1955.

Martin Luther King and peaceful protest. Black power and the use of violence; the extent to which equality had been achieved by 1968. The changing economic and social environment of the 1960s: the position of other ethnic minorities.

Unit Two Content

There are five option papers, A-E, in this unit. Each option includes two topics. Students are required to study one topic from one option paper.

Option A: Early Modern British History: Crown and Authority

Option B: British Political History in the 19th Century

Option C: Conflict and Change in 19th and 20th Century Britain

Option D: The British Empire Challenged

Option E: Britain in the Later 20th Century: Responding to Change

The Option selected for teaching from September 2008 is Option D: The British Empire Challenged. The topic chosen for study is Britain and the Nationalist Challenge in India

D2: Britain and the Nationalist Challenge in India, 1900-47

The importance of the Indian Empire to Britain: politically, commercially and culturally. British rule in India, c1900-14 and its impact on Indians and the British living in India; the Morley-Minto reforms. The significance of the First World War on the relationship between Britain and India: the impact of the Rowlatt Acts and the Amritsar Massacre on Britain and India; consultation and conflict in the 1920s and 1930s. The rise of nationalism in India: development of Congress and growing importance of the Muslim League; Gandhi, Nehru and Jinnah to 1939; attitudes towards nationalist ideas and independence both among the British in India and the indigenous populations. The impact of the Second World War; economic and political imperatives in Britain and India driving independence; the role of Mountbatten; the decision to partition and the immediate consequences of that decision.

Unit Three Content

There are five option papers, A-E, in this unit. Each option includes two topics. Students are required to study one topic from one option paper.

Option A: Revolution and Conflict in England

Option B: Politics, Protest and Revolution

Option C: The United States: Challenged and Transformed

Option D: The Challenge of Fascism

Option E: War and Peace: 20th Century International Relations

Ashbourne has selected Option E: War and Peace: 20th Century International Relations

A World Divided: Superpower Relations, 1944-90

The post-Stalin thaw and the bid for peaceful coexistence: Khrushchev and the responses of Dulles, Eisenhower and Kennedy.

The arms race, 1949-1963: nuclear technology; delivery systems; the Cuban missile crisis; the Test Ban Treaty. Sino-Soviet relations, 1949-76: alliance to confrontation in Asia and its impact on US policy.

Détente, 1969-1980: the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and agreements; Helsinki Accords; the impact of economic realities.

Associated controversies

a) Why did the Cold War between the superpowers emerge in the years to 1953?

b) Why did the Cold War come to an end in the 1980s?

Unit Four Content: Compulsory Coursework Assessment: Historical Inquiry

In this unit students will address key aspects of a chosen theme over a period of at least 100 years in order to develop their understanding of the process of change over a long period of time. They will investigate issues relating to the long- and short term causes and consequences of change and will demonstrate an understanding of the factors that may accelerate, consolidate or delay the process of change. Students should follow a short introductory taught course that provides an overview of the key strands of development in the chosen topic over a period of at least 100 years. The course should provide the context for students’ enquiries. Students are required to complete a programme in two parts. Each part will be equally weighted within the marks allocated. In Part A, students will complete an in-depth enquiry into the short-term significance of a key event, individual, development or movement within the period of study.

In Part B, students will set their chosen event or individual in a broader context, exploring the process of change within the wider timeframe. For example, a student following course CW19: Representation and Democracy in Britain, c.1830-1931 may choose for Part A of the programme to enquire into the significance of the Bristol Riots of 1831 in bringing about reform in 1832. For Part B, they may then choose to explore the role and significance of popular pressure in the process of change in representation and democracy in England over the whole period.

Possible Coursework Options Include:

Modern British history programmes

CW11: Crown, Parliament and People in Britain, 1714-1815*

CW12: British Foreign Policy, 1763-1879*

CW13: The Impact of Industrialisation in Britain, c1780-1914*

CW14: Challenging Authority: From Corresponding Societies to Trade Unions, 1789-1889*

CW15: Defending Great Power Status: British Foreign Policy, 1814-1914*

CW16: Ireland and the Union, 1815-1922*

CW17: The Conservative Party, 1815-1922*

CW18: The State and the Poor, c1815-1939*

CW19: Representation and Democracy in Britain, c1830-1931*

CW20: Crime and Punishment in Britain, c1830-1965

CW21: Britain and India, 1845-1947*

CW22: The Changing Role of Women, c1850-c1950*

CW23: Colonisation and Decolonisation in Africa, c1870-c1981*

CW24: Medicine in Britain, c1870-c1990*

CW25: Protest, Challenge and Reform in Britain, 1880-1992*

Extended programmes

CW26: Riot, Protest and Organisation: Challenges to Authority, 1780-1939*

CW27: Challenging Authority: From Corresponding Societies to the Poll Tax, 1789-1992*

CW28: The State and the Poor: Public Health, Welfare and the Relief of Poverty, c1800-1990

CW29: Ireland and the Union, 1815-1998

Modern European and world modern history programmes

CW30: Autocracy, Expansion and Enlightenment? Russia, 1682-1796

CW31: Autocracy and Enlightenment in Europe, c1700-c1800

CW32: India: From Mughal Empire to the British Raj, c1700-1857*

CW33: Tsarist Russia, 1762-1881: An Age of Reform?

CW34: The Making of Modern Germany, c1800-c1900*

CW35: The Making of Modern Italy, c1800-c1900*

CW36: The USA: The Making of a Nation, 1815-1917*

CW37: The Changing Nature of Warfare, c1845-1991*

CW38: The Making of Modern Russia, 1856-1964*

CW39: The USA: From Reconstruction to Civil Rights, c1877-1981*

CW40: 20th Century International Relations, 1879-1980*

CW41: Germany United and Divided, 1890-1991*

CW42: The Making of Modern China, c1900-2000*

CW43: The Middle East and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, c1900-2001*

Extended programmes

CW44: Expansion, Conflict and Civil Rights in the USA, 1820-1981*

CW45: Dictatorship and Revolution in Russia and the Soviet Union, 1825-2000

Possible University Degree Programmes and Careers Suited to A-level History

History is a very well regarded A level that may lead to numerous possible areas of undergraduate study besides the obvious choice of history. These include Law, English, International Relations, Politics, Journalism, Sociology and a range of other Humanities subjects. It is also an interesting empirical fourth choice for those studying with a view to entering Medical School. The careers options for History graduates are equally varied, ranging from academia to law, civil service entry, journalism, librarianship, museum work and even the commercial sector.