Senior Modern History

Modern History provides opportunities for students to gain historical knowledge and understanding about some of the main forces that have contributed to the development of the Modern World and to think historically and form a historical consciousness in relation to these same forces. Modern History enables students to empathise with others and make meaningful connections between the past, present and possible futures. Students learn that the past is contestable and tentative. Through inquiry into ideas, movements, national experiences and international experiences, they discover how the past consists of various perspectives and interpretations. Students gain a range of transferable skills that will help them become empathetic and critically-literate citizens who are equipped to embrace a multicultural, pluralistic, inclusive, democratic, compassionate and sustainable future.



​Pathways 

​Objectives​

A course of study in Modern History can establish a basis for further education and employment in the fields of history, education, psychology, sociology, law, business, economics, politics, journalism, the media, writing, academia and strategic analysis.
​By the conclusion of the course of study, students will:
  • comprehend terms, issues and concepts
  • devise historical questions and conduct research 
  • analyse historical sources and evidence
  • synthesise information from historical sources and evidence 
  • evaluate historical interpretations
  • create responses that communicate meaning.

​

Structure

​Unit 1
​Unit 2
​Unit 3
​Unit 4

Ideas in the modern world

  • Australian Frontier Wars, 1788–1930s
  • Age of Enlightenment, 1750s–1789
  • Industrial Revolution, 1760s–1890s
  • American Revolution, 1763–1783
  • French Revolution, 1789–1799 ​
  •  Age of Imperialism, 1848–1914
  • Age of Imperialism, 1848-1914
  • Meiji Restoration, 1868–1912 
  • Boxer Rebellion, 1900–1901
  • Russian Revolution, 1905–1920s
  • Xinhai Revolution, 1911–1912 
  • Iranian Revolution, 1977–1979
  • Arab Spring since 2010
  • Alternative topic for Unit 1 

Movements in the modern world

  • Australian Indigenous rights movement since 1967
  • Independence movement in India, 1857–1947
  • Workers’ movement since the 1860s
  • Women’s movement since 1893
  • May Fourth Movement in China, 1919 
  • Independence movement in Algeria, 1945– 1962
  • Independence movement in Vietnam, 1945– 1975
  • Anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, 1948–1991 
  • AfricanAmerican civil rights movement, 1954–1968
  • Environmental movement since the 1960s
  • LGBTIQ civil rights movement since 1969
  • Pro-democracy movement in Myanmar (Burma) since 1988
  • Alternative topic for Unit 2

National experiences in the modern world

  • Australia, 1914– 1949
  • England, 1707– 1837
  • France, 1799– 1815
  • New Zealand, 1841–1934
  • Germany,1914– 1945
  • United States of America, 1917– 1945
  • Soviet Union, 1920s–1945  
  • Japan, 1931– 1967
  • China, 1931– 1976
  • Indonesia, 1942– 1975
  • India, 1947–1974 
  • Israel, 1948– 1993 
  •  South Korea, 1948–1972​


International experiences in the modern world

  • Australian engagement with Asia since 1945
  • Search for collective peace and security since 1815
  • Trade and commerce between nations since 1833
  • Mass migrations since 1848
  • Information Age since 1936 
  • Genocides and ethnic cleansings since 1941 
  • Genocides and ethnic cleansings since the 1930s 
  • Nuclear Age since 1945 
  • Cold War, 1945– 1991  
  • Struggle for peace in the Middle East since 1948 
  • Cultural globalisation since 1956
  • Space exploration since 1957
  • Rights and recognition of First Peoples since 1982
  • Terrorism, anti-terrorism and counter-terrorism since 1984


Assessment 

Schools devise assessments in Units 1 and 2 to suit their local context. In Units 3 and 4 students complete four summative assessments. The results from each of the assessments are added together to provide a subject score out of 100. Students will also receive an overall subject result (A–E).

Summative assessments​

​Unit 3
​Unit 4
Summative internal assessment 1 (IA1):
  • Examination — essay in response to historical sources 
​25%​
 Summative internal assessment 3 (IA3):
  • Investigation — historical essay based on research 
​25%
Summative internal assessment 2 (IA2):
 • Independent source investigation 
​25%
Summative external assessment (EA): ​
 • Examination — short responses to historical sources
​25%



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