History
In Year 12 History, we cover the communist states in the 20th century, with a focus on Soviet Russia (1917-1985) and Communist China (1949-1976). This focusses on two of the most significant events of the 20th century: the Marxist revolutions in Russia and China. These events had profound consequences for the entire world, shaping the modern world in a myriad of ways.
Programme of Study:
Year 12:
- Thematic Study 1: Bolshevik Russia, 1917-1991
- Thematic Study 2: Communist China, 1949-1976
Term 1 |
Bolshevik Russia (1917-1985):
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Term 2 |
Bolshevik Russia:
Communist China (1949-1976):
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Term 3 |
Assessment practice and revision |
Year 13:
- Personal Study
- The British Empire
Term 1 |
Personal Study British Empire Topics 1 & 2 |
Term 2 |
British Empire: Topics 3 - 5 |
Term 3 |
Assessment practice and revision |
THEMATIC STUDY 1 : BOLSHEVIK RUSSIA (1917-1991)
Rationale
Paper 1 covers the whole history of communist rule in Russia and the Soviet Union, from the Bolshevik seizure of power in November 1917 to the collapse of communist rule and the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. In studying this topic, we build upon the foundations established in GCSE History through the study of the Cold War and the themes of Power, Control and Political & Economic Management that are consistently studied throughout the KS3 curriculum. This ensures that History students in the Sixth Form have a fantastic grounding in the topics and the skills required to study this effectively.
Skills |
Learners will acquire a wide variety of skills during their course. They will:
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Knowledge |
The four themes identified in this module require students to have an overview of political, social and economic change in the USSR over the period. Learners need to have knowledge of the specified themes. Topic 1: Communist Governments in the USSR: the nature of the communist government created by Lenin, Stalin, investigate de-Stalinisation under Khrushchev, and the reluctance of Brezhnev to tamper with the system. Topic 2: Industrial and Agricultural Change: the aims and methods of the first three Five-Year Plans, where the dramatic transformation of Soviet industry & agriculture took place. Topic 3: Control of the People: the ways in which the communist authorities imposed conformity on the Soviet people by force and by other methods of control such as propaganda. Topic 4: Social Developments: examines the ways in which communist rule improved the lives of the Soviet people, and also considers the failures of government policy. Historical Interpretations: What explains the fall of the USSR, c1985–91? This topic focusses on the conditional and contingent factors which influenced the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. |
THEMATIC STUDY 2: COMMUNIST CHINA (1949-1976)
Rationale
Paper 2 covers the period of Mao Zedong’s rule in China, from the proclamation of the People’s Republic in October 1949 until Mao’s death in 1976. The focus of this unit is on the key changes in the domestic history of China from the formation of the People’s Republic in October 1949, through establishing communist rule and promoting revolutionary changes in the political, economic and social aspects of life in China till 1976. Learners will be required to place documentary extracts in their historical context, but the knowledge they will need to have will be central to that specified in the topics.
Skills |
Learners will acquire a wide variety of skills during their course. They will:
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Knowledge |
Topic 1: Establishing Communist Rule: covers the establishment of communist rule in the aftermath of the civil war and the development of the political system within China in 1949, the challenges these posed to the new communist government, the roles played by the CCP, the government, the bureaucracy and the PLA in the establishment of communist rule as well as the dominance of Mao. The Hundred Flowers campaign and the military campaigns in Korea in the years 1950–53 are also a key component of this topic. Topic 2: Agriculture and Industry (1949–65): is about the agricultural and industrial changes from the early years of communist control until the Cultural Revolution. As well as learning about the economic reforms introduced by Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping after the failure of the Great Leap Forward. Topic 3: The Cultural Revolution and its Aftermath (1966–76): covers the years of the Cultural Revolution from the destructive anarchy of its early years, through the restoration of order within the country, to the death of Mao in 1976. Topic 4: Social and Cultural Changes (1949–76): is about the social and cultural changes which occurred alongside the political and economic developments and the government’s attempts to impose ideological uniformity on the Chinese people. |