OIB HISTORY SYLLABUS
Summary of themes
Theme 1: Relationships between society and its past
Theme 2: Ideologies, opinions and beliefs from the end of the 19th century to the present
Theme 3: Great powers and world tensions from 1918 to the present
Theme 4: Levels of government from 1945 to the present
Theme 5: Study of Britain from the second half of the 20th century to the present
HISTORY: Theme 1: Relationships between society and its past (10 hours)
French syllabus
Cambridge specification
Learning focus
Heritage; an historical
reading:
A study from one of the
following :
- The historical centre of Paris
- The historical centre of a city
of choice
Memory; an historical
reading:
A study of one of the following :
- Memories of the Second
World War
- A memorial theme relating to
the national history of the
section in the 20th century
Detailed framework
The representation of the past and national
identity through a study of three buildings
and/or monuments from one chosen city
centre.
Either
The French past and national identity as it is represented in three
Paris monuments; e.g. the Pantheon, Notre Dame, les Invalides, the
Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Sacré Coeur
or
The British past and national identity as it is represented in three
London monuments; e.g. the Houses of Parliament, the Cenotaph, St
Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar
Square
or
The past and national identity as it is represented in three
monuments in a city of your choice.
Study one of the following:
Study one of the following:
How World War I has been remembered in
either France or Britain.
The construction of the collective memory of the First World War centred
around notions of the futility, the loss, the glorification of World War I or
a study of war memorials and war cemeteries in either Britain or France.
How World War II has been remembered in
either Britain or France.
The construction of the collective memory of resistance and occupation
in France or memories of the “blitz” and Britain’s role in World War II.
How empire has been remembered in Britain
or France.
Debates around either the nature of imperial rule or decolonisation in
Algeria or India.
HISTORY
Theme 2: Ideologies, opinions and beliefs from the end of the 19th century to the present (10 hours)
French syllabus
Cambridge specification
Learning focus
Media and public opinion :
Media and public opinion during
the major political crises in
France and in the world from
the end of the 19th century to
the present.
Detailed framework
Teachers are advised to deal with this element
of the syllabus by integrating it with Themes 3,
4 & 5 as indicated below.
The role of the media and public opinion in
one or more political crisis of your choice.
Suggested case studies:
Vietnam War from the 1960s to 1975
(Theme 3 – USA)
Falklands War, 1982
(Theme 5 – UK)
The Miners’ strike, 1984–85
(Theme 5 – UK)
The events of May 1968 in France
(Theme 4 – France )
The Algerian War, 1954–62
(Theme 4 – France)
The impact of the media and public opinion in the United States about
the Vietnam War – first televised war, magazines, anti-war movement,
music.
The impact of the media and public opinion in Britain about the Falklands
war; tabloid press and TV coverage, debates around the sinking of the
Belgrano, the Falklands “factor” in the general election victory of
Margaret Thatcher in 1983.
The impact of the media and public opinion in France about the events
of May 1968.
The impact of the media and public opinion in France about the Algerian
conflict, 1954–62.
The impact of the media and public opinion in Britain about the Miners’
strike, 1984–85.
Religion and society :
Religion and society since 1900
in a country of your choice.
Teachers are advised to teach this element of
the syllabus by integrating it with Theme 5
The emergence of modern British society:
issues of equality and inequality, liberalisation
of attitudes in society, and changing patterns
of religious belief, 1945–2007.
Changing patterns in British society, 1945–2007
- The changing status of youth
- The changing status of women
- Social class, wealth and poverty
- The creation of a multicultural society
Changing attitudes in British society, 1945–2007
- The liberalisation of attitudes in society and their consequences
- The changing patterns of religious belief
HISTORY Theme 3: Great powers and world tensions from 1918 to the present (12 hours)
French syllabus
Cambridge specification
Learning focus
Pathways to power :
1. The United States and the
world since the “14 points” of
President Wilson (1918).
NB The purpose of this unit is
intended to be a study of foreign
policy and teaching should not
focus on domestic affairs.
The changing nature of US foreign policy from
Wilson’s 14 points to the end of World War II:
the rise to world power status:
- The role of the USA in the post-war peace
settlement
- The USA’s retreat into isolationism in the
1920s and 1930s
- The impact of WWII on the USA
The changing foreign policy of the USA as a
superpower,1945–2004
- During the Cold War (1945–1991)
- US foreign policy after the Cold War
Detailed framework
The changing nature of US foreign policy: rise to world power
status, 1918–1945
- The role of the USA in the post-war peace settlement
. Wilson’s role, the 14 points and the peace settlements
. War debts and reparations
- The retreat into isolationism (1920s and 30s)
. The Washington Conference and the Briand-Kellogg Pact
. Roosevelt’s ‘Good Neighbor’ policy, and policy in the Far East
. New Deal diplomacy : defending America with tariff barriers
. US neutrality at the beginning of World War II, Lend-Lease Act
- The impact of WWII on the USA as a world power
. The US contribution to the war effort
. From Atlantic Charter to the founding of the United Nations
. Conferences at Yalta and Potsdam
. The position of the USA in the world by 1945.
The role of the USA as a superpower, 1945–2004
Changing US policy during the Cold War
- The role of the US in the origins of the Cold War
- Containment
- Détente
- Reagan, New Cold War and end of the Cold War
Changing US foreign policy after the Cold War
The role of the USA as single superpower.
The significance of the Gulf War, 1991
The impact of neo conservatism
The consequences of the terrorist threat and its aftermath: Al
Qaeda, the impact of the events of 9/11, war in Iraq and Afghanistan
Pathways to power :
2. China and the world since
the “movement of 4th May” 1919
The response of China to foreign dominance in
the period 1919 to 1949.
Nationalist China under foreign dominance, 1919–49
- Chinese reactions to the peace settlements and foreign control in the
1920s
- The impact of Japanese imperialism to 1945
- Significance of communist victory in the Civil war
- The break with the USA : the establishment of the Nationalist
government in Taiwan, 1949, international isolation
The role of communist China in the Cold War,
from the Korean War to détente (1950s to
1970s).
Communist China: the slow rise to superpower status, 1949–2002
NB The purpose of this unit is
intended to be a study of foreign
policy and teaching should not
focus on domestic affairs.
China’s changing role in the world from the
1970s.
3. A region of conflict :
A century of tensions in the
Near and Middle East (1918 to
the 1990s)
NB 3. is only for oral
examination.
What were the causes and consequences of
conflict in the Near and Middle East in the
period from the 1918 to the 1990s?
Mao’s China: from Soviet influence to isolation (1949–72)
- The Soviet alliance
- Involvement in the Korean War (1950–53),
- The Sino-Soviet split
- Relations with the world in the 1960s – China’s role in the NonAligned Movement, clashes with India, significance of development
of nuclear capacity.
China: a new superpower? (1972–2002)
- The significance of the period of détente (1972–76)
- Persisting tensions with USSR : Chinese involvement in South East
Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam) (1975–79)
- The significance of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy on foreign
relations. Improved relations with Taiwan, Hong Kong settlement
(1997), regional policy with ASEAN and Japan and with former
USSR.
The region in 1918: the Ottoman empire, European influence, Zionism
and Arab nationalism.
The region in the interwar years.
The creation of the state of Israel and Arab responses: conflict from
1947 to Camp David (1978).
The changing nature of conflict in the Near and Middle East since 1979.
HISTORY
Theme 4: Levels of government from 1945 to the present (12 hours)
French syllabus
Cambridge specification
Learning focus
National level :
Governing France since 1946:
State, government and
administration.
Detailed framework
The nature and dynamics of change in French
government and institutions from the IVth to
the Vth Republics (1946 to the end of
cohabitation 2002):
- Executive power
- Legislative power
- Balance of power between Paris and the
provinces
- The nature of the IVth Republic, strengths and weaknesses of the
constitution and the consequences on government
- The 1958 Crisis, De Gaulle and the creation of the Vth Republic
- The nature of the Vth Republic, the constitution
- Government and change since 1958, presidential powers,
decentralisation
European integration from 1948 to 2007.
- The origins of European integration
. From ECSC to EEC & Euratom (1951–57)
- The building of an economically integrated Europe
. Common Agricultural Policy 1962, European Monetary System
1979, Schengen 1985, Single European Act 1986, Maastricht to
Lisbon (1992–2007)
Britain’s changing attitudes towards European
integration between 1948 and 2007.
- Britain stays out of Europe, 1948–1960
- Britain attempts to join Europe, 1961–73
- Britain in Europe, 1973–2007
International economic policies and institutions
since 1944.
World economic institutions
- The significance of Bretton Woods, IMF, GATT, World Bank
- Reactions and opposition to global economic governance
Continental level :
European integration since the
Hague conference, 1948.
World level :
World economic governance
since 1944.
HISTORY Theme 5: Study of Britain from the second half of the 20th century to the present (12 hours)
French syllabus
Cambridge specification
Learning focus
Britain – politics and
economy, 1945–97
Detailed framework
British politics
The significance of the Labour governments of
1945–51 on domestic affairs.
The creation of the welfare state, nationalisation, housing policy and
town planning and the origins of political consensus.
The nature of the political consensus in the
period 1951–79.
The reasons for consensus in this period and why it broke down in the
1970s.
The nature of political consensus and debates about to what extent
consensus existed.
The ‘Thatcher revolution’, 1979–90.
The significance of Thatcherism and the impact of government policies.
Politics after Thatcher – the emergence of a
new consensus to 1997.
The nature of the new consensus and the emergence of New Labour.
British economy
Britain’s economy between 1945 and 1997.
The changing nature of the British economy.
The nature and impact of government economic policies in this period.
/ end
Approved for use for teaching from September 2012
CJS
Cambridge Inspector for History-Geography
Version 1 16 June 2012
Version 2 (with 3. added to Theme 3) 11 September 2012