VCE History: 20th Century &
Global Empires
Notice to
students:
This study of History (Unit 2 20th Century) is part
of a 2 unit sequence with Unit 2 Global Empires
offered in Semester 2 for History. Students
intending on completing History Revolutions Russia
and France in Units 3 & 4 are advised that these two
Year 11 Units of History ( Unit 2 - 20th Century and
Unit 2 - Global Empires) are pre-requisites
for Revolutions History. Unit 2 Global
Empires is a pre-requisite for Revolutions History
in Year 12.
Unit 2: Twentieth Century
History (1945 – 2000) Offered in Semester 1 only.
In Unit 2 students explore the nature and impact of the Cold War and challenges and changes to existing political,
economic and social arrangements in the second half of the Twentieth Century (20th Century).
The establishment of the United Nations in 1945 was intended to take an internationalist approach to avoiding
warfare, resolving political tensions and addressing threats to human life and safety. The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights adopted in 1948 was the first global expression of human rights. Despite internationalist moves, the second half of the twentieth century was dominated by the competing ideologies of democracy and communism, setting the backdrop for the Cold War.
The period also saw challenge and change to the established order in many countries. Old conflicts also continued and terrorism became increasingly global. The second half of the twentieth century also saw the rise of social movements that challenged existing values and traditions, such as the civil rights movement, feminism and environmental movements.
Area of Study 1: Competing ideologies
In this Area of Study students focus on causes and consequences of the Cold War; the competing ideologies that underpinned events, the effects on people, groups and nations, and the reasons for the end of this sustained period of ideological conflict. Students explore the causes of the Cold War in the aftermath of World War Two. They investigate significant events and developments and the consequences for nations and people in the period 1945 –1991. While the USA and the USSR never engaged in direct armed conflict, they opposed each other in a range of international conflicts such as those in Berlin, Korea, Cuba and Vietnam. They both tried to exert their influence through aid and propaganda in Africa, Asia and the Americas and engaged in an arms race and a space race with competition also extending to sport and the arts. Students consider the reasons for the end of this long-running period of ideological conflict and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Area of Study 2: Challenge and change
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. Students explore 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 investigate 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. While terrorism was not a new historical phenomenon, it took on new dimensions and became increasingly globalised. Other conflicts continued in the second half of the Century. These included the Arab–Israeli conflict, the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa and conflict in Northern Ireland. In the Western world groups emerged to challenge the ways that power structures were organised, distributed and used. Traditional attitudes to race, war, gender, sexuality, religion, the environment and human rights were questioned.
Students study challenge and change in relation to two of the following:
-
conflicts such as the Arab–Israeli dispute, the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa, the Irish ‘troubles’
-
social and political movements such as civil rights campaigns in the USA, feminism, environmentalism and the
peace movement.
Unit 2 Global Empires: Empires at Work (1600 - 1776) (offered in Semester 2 as prerequisite for Revolutions History 3 & 4)
In this unit students explore the operation of European colonies and the challenges they faced from within and without. In the Early Modern period, 1400 –1775, new empires began to establish colonies and to trade on a global scale. Students investigate how the British settled the 13 Colonies of America (USA) and the manner in which the internal relationships between Indigenous Native Americans, slaves and colonial settlers developed and ‘fractured’ over time. External factors cause problems in the colonies as rival powers France and Spain jostled for advantage, alliances and resources on this continent culminating in all-out global warfare in the Seven Years’ War (1754– 63). Britain’s success in this war led to a period of dominance which lasted well into the Twentieth Century.
Area of Study 1: New colonies, new profits.
In this area of study students investigate how and why new colonies were established by the British Empire and the significance of new global systems of exchange. They explore how imperialism expressed itself in a variety of strategic, commercial, religious and cultural ways, studying in depth how England colonised the east coast of North America establishing the 13 American colonies (east coast of USA).
Students investigate the clash of cultures and interests between English colonists and Native Americans. As colonists quickly set about maximising profit from the human and natural resources available, indigenous peoples struggled to survive and maintain their culture. The rise of plantations gave impetus to the ‘triangular trade’ as slaves, raw materials and manufactured goods were exchanged between Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe. This lucrative trade had profound human costs and prompted a few localised rebellions and the first petitions to abolish slavery.
Area of Study 2: Challenges of Empire – Britain versus the 13 Colonies
In this area of study students investigate the difficulties faced by England in maintaining her colonies and their effectiveness at dealing with these challenges.
Once European empires had gained control over new colonies from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries, they faced the on-going challenge of maintaining and protecting them. Relations with indigenous people also proved difficult, with outright warfare in some cases and more indirect tensions in others. In the instance of Native American nations, trade relationships and alliances with competing European powers added to tensions between empires and played a part in the first global war, the Seven Years’ War (c. 1756 – 63).
The costs of this war on Great Britain became the catalyst for the strain on her relationship with her American colonies. Taxation, ongoing costs of keeping up supplies and military protection, drove settlers to create an independent identity and break away from the mother country entirely, as occurred when the American War of Independence began in 1775. Students investigate the oncoming causes of ‘revolution’ in the American Colonies which led to the War for Independence.
This Unit 2 study is essential for students who wish to undertake VCE Units 3 & 4 History Revolutions. The course is designed to enhance and reinforce history literacy and writing skills. Knowledge and content in this course is important background knowledge for Revolutions France studies in Units 3 & 4.
VCAA Information
VCAA VCE History Index - the official VCAA
webpage for this course
Relevant Staff
Ms E. Marcuccio - Faculty Leader of Humanities
Suggested Combinations
The following subjects are suggested combinations
with VCE History Units 1 & 2:
