Modern History Unit 1: Change & Conflict
Elective Unit
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this unit.
Course Description
In this unit, students investigate the nature of social, political, economic and cultural change in the later part of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Modern History provides students with an opportunity to explore the significant events, ideas, individuals and movements that shaped the social, political, economic and technological conditions and developments that have defined the modern world.
Areas of Study
Area of Study 1
Ideology and conflict
In this area of study students focus on the events, ideologies, individuals and movements of the period that led to the end of empires and the emergence of new nation states before and after World War One; the consequences of World War One; the emergence of conflict; and the causes of World War Two. They investigate the impact of the treaties which ended the Great War and which redrew the maps of Europe and its colonies, they consider the aims, achievements and limitations of the League of Nations.
While democratic governments initially replaced the monarchies and authoritarian forms of government in European countries at the end of the war, new ideologies of socialism, communism and fascism gained popular support. In 1933, Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi) gained power in Germany. The 1930s saw considerable suffering as a result of the Great Depression, a global economic event that challenged and changed societies such as Germany and Australia.
As a result of the post-World War One treaties and despite the establishment of the League of Nations, the world became increasingly hostile and unstable. Widespread economic instability, failure of diplomacy, growing militarism and territorial aggression in Europe, Africa and Asia, along with totalitarianism, combined in 1939 to draw the world into a second major conflict.
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain how significant events, ideologies and individuals contributed to political and economic changes in the first half of the 20th century, and analyse how these contributed to the causes of World War Two.
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area
of Study 1.
Area of Study 2
Social and cultural change
In this area of study students focus on the social life and cultural expression in the late nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, and their relation to the technological, political and economic changes of the period. Students explore particular forms of cultural expression from the period.
The period between the wars was characterised by significant social and cultural change. While the 1920s, a time in Western society known as the Roaring Twenties, was largely marked by optimism and material prosperity in the West, by contrast the thirties was a period of severe economic hardship for many, dominated by the impact of the Great Depression.
At the end of World War One, a new government in, Germany led to the emergence of societies driven by new ideologies and, in some countries, the oppression and persecution of certain groups, most especially the Jewish community in Nazi Germany.
The creative arts both reflected and challenged social and political life and change in this period. Mass entertainment and information by means of radio and film became widespread.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain patterns of social and cultural change in everyday life in the first half of the twentieth century and analyse the conditions which influenced these changes.
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area
of Study 2.
Assessment
The award of satisfactory completion for a unit is based on whether the student has demonstrated the set of outcomes specified for the unit. Teachers should use a variety of learning activities and assessment tasks that provide a range of opportunities for students to demonstrate the key knowledge and key skills in the outcomes.
All assessments at Units 1 and 2 are school-based.
