AS and A-Level History at Shelley College
Course overview
Exam Board: Edexcel
Y12 (AS Level)
Unit 1: Britain 1918-97 (60% of the AS Level) An exam lasting 2 hours 15 minutes.
Unit 2: The USA, 1920-55 (40% of the AS Level) An exam lasting 1 hour 30 minutes.
Y13 (A-Level)
Unit 1: Britain 1918-97 (30% of the A Level) An exam lasting 2 hours 15 minutes.
Unit 2: The USA, 1920-55 (20% of the A Level) An exam lasting 1 hour 30 minutes.
Unit 3: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII, 1399-1509 (30% of the A Level) An exam lasting 2 hours 15 minutes.
Unit 4: Centre designed coursework study: An enquiry on historical interpretations (20% of the A Level) One 30004000 word essay.
Unit overview
Unit 1: Britain Transformed, 1918-97
Unit 2: The USA, Boom, Bust and Recovery, 192055

Changing fortunes of the main political parties.

The economic boom of the 1920s.

Economic challenges, including the impact of the

Society in the 1920s: entertainment , crime,
two World Wars on the British economy.
prohibition, immigration and intolerance.

Living standards and the issue of class.

Causes of the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

Change and challenge in the workplace:

The Great Depression, its spread and
industrial relations, working conditions, new
government responses.
industries, disputes and unrest.

Roosevelt and the First and Second New Deal.

The foundation of the Welfare State.

The impact of the New Deal on the US

The establishment of the NHS.

Education and widening opportunities.

The impact of World War Two on the USA.

The changing role and status of women.

The growth of new industries and the consumer

The growth of youth culture.

Entertainment and leisure.

Cultural change and youth culture.

The issue of immigration.

McCarthyism and anti-Communism, the impact

Historical interpretations of Margaret Thatcher
and her impact on Britain.
economy, women, and ethnic minorities.
society.
of the Cold War.

Civil Rights and the changing status of ethnic
minorities.
Unit 3: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII, 13991509

The relationship between the monarch and the
nobility.

Conspiracy, plots and executions.

The power of the Church.

Royal finance.

Foreign policy.

Henry IV’s seizure of the crown.

Henry V and the conquest of France.

The reign of Henry VI.

The origins and development of the Wars of the
Roses.

Challenges to the rule of Edward IV.

The usurpation of the throne by Richard III.

The Battle of Bosworth and the death of Richard.

The reign of Henry VII.
Unit 4: Coursework
The purpose of this coursework is to enable students to
develop skills in the analysis and evaluation of
interpretations of history in a chosen question, problem
or issue as part of an independently researched
assignment.
The coursework programme is designed by the centre
and internally assessed. It will be set on a controversial
issue which has caused debate among historians.
Reading to prepare for units 1 and 2
Unit 1: Britain Transformed, 1918-97
Ian Cawood, Britain in the Twentieth Century (Routledge, 2004)
Michael Lynch, Britain 1900–51 (Hodder, 2008)
Michael Lynch, Britain 1945–2007 (Hodder, 2008)
Kenneth O Morgan (editor), The Oxford History of Britain (Oxford University Press, revised edition, 2010)
Robert Pearce, Contemporary Britain 1914–1979 (Longman, 2004)
Rex Pope, The British Economy since 1914: A Study in Decline? (Seminar Studies In History,
Routledge, 1998)
Chris Rowe and Sally Waller, Britain, 1906–1951 (Nelson Thornes, 2008)
Chris Rowe, Sally Waller, The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007 (Nelson Thornes, 2009)
Anthony Seldon and Daniel Collings, Britain under Thatcher (Seminar Studies In History, Routledge, 1999)
Unit 2: The USA: Boom, Bust and Recovery, 1920-55
Peter Clements, Prosperity, Depression and the New Deal: The USA 1890–1954 (Hodder, 2008)
Alan Farmer, An Introduction to American History, 1860–1990 (Access to History Context, Hodder, 2002)
Joanne de Pennington, Modern America, The USA, 1865 to the Present (Hodder Murray, 2005)
Geoff Stewart and Les Barker, The United States 1917–54: Boom Bust & Recovery (Pearson, 2010)
Summer research task
Choose one of the following two tasks to complete and bring your response with you in September.
Task 1: Produce a PowerPoint presentation exploring and explaining British society before the First World War,
covering issues such as ideas about class, the role and status of women, and living and working conditions.
Aim to make your work as detailed and informative as possible. Some of the presentations may be shown to the
groups as part of your introductory work in September. Completed presentations can be emailed.
Task 2: What, in your view, was the major impact of the First World War upon British society?
Aim to produce a response of around 1000 words. Include a bibliography at the end of your work to show your
sources of information. You could explore a range of possible impacts before finishing with a conclusion where you
explain what you feel was the major impact.
Contact details: Mrs Tanner (Head of History) [email protected]