History

Course summary

Year 12 Unit 1: Communist States - Russia 1917-1991 The Communist revolution of 1917 was arguably the most significant event in Twentieth Century history with far reaching consequences in Russia, Europe and beyond which can still be felt today. What was the nature of the Communist state under Lenin, Stalin and their successors? How did the modernisation of the Soviet Union impact ordinary Russians? And, how and why did the USSR dramatically collapse in 1991? Unit 2: Mao’s China An investigation into China from 1949 provides a fascinating comparison with Russia and focuses on the development of Communism under Mao and the CCP, covering topics such as China’s role in the Korean War, the Great Famine, the modernisation of China in the Great Leap Forward and the nature of the Maoist state. A great chance to understand the background to China’s role in today’s global politics Year 13 Unit 3: The Wars of the Roses Civil and foreign war, social unrest, dynastic conflict and massive political upheaval dominate this unique period of history. In no other era was the British crown so unstable or changed hands so many times. What can we learn about the political, social and economic factors that underpinned this chaotic time in our history, and when, why and how was stability finally restored? Unit 4:Civil Rights in the USA This Coursework Unit provides you with the opportunity to work independently on a topic of your interest within this broad area of historical study. Using primary sources, and resources from Kingston University and the National Archives, you will formulate your own question and research and produce a response of roughly 4000 words, under the supervision and guidance of your teacher. You may choose to focus on the role of an individual or group, or a wider factor such as the role of war or women in Civil Rights.