Teachers
Subject Leader: Mr Allen
Course leader(s): Mr
Ruston and Mr Allen
Subject details: Studying history will help students understand the significance of historical events,
the role of individuals in history and the nature of change over time. History allows students to gain
a deeper understanding of the past through political, social, economic and cultural
perspectives. Students will examine breadth study and a depth study in addition to completing
an historical enquiry.
Subject: History
Qualification authority: AQA
Assessment method: AS Level: 2 x 1 Hour 30 minute examinations – (50% x 2)
A level: 2 x 2 hour 30 minute examinations (40% x 2) + 3000-5000 word historical investigation
(20%).
Homework / Independent study: Students are expected to be carrying out 4-5 hours a week of
independent study. This will include reading, note taking, project work, essay writing and other
tasks related to the subject content.
Career routes: History is a great choice for those wanting to keep their options open for the future.
It is a highly respected, academically rigorous course which both employers and universities hold in
high regard. History is an ideal subject for a wide range of careers such as politics and the civil
service, journalism, media, teaching, law, academia, broadcasting, consultancy and business and
intelligence. Historians demonstrate global awareness of social, economic and political factors and
are able to think critically and evaluate information effectively. These skills are all valued highly by
employers across a range of sectors.
Books required for
Other equipment needed:
Trips / activities: with
course:
approximate cost and timings
● Ring binder folder with
These will cover AS and A
dividers for breadth and depth
History conferences related to
Level courses – Additional
study.
the Breadth and Depth
reading will be supplied
● Hole punch and stapler.
studies at AS and A Level led
throughout course.
● Highlighter pens.
by university academics in
● Oxford AQA
● PC/tablet/netbook – for
the field of study. These are
History for A
writing essays and for access
optional and usually take
Level: The British
to Moodle.
place in London around
Empire c1857-1967
● Students provide on paper and Easter time.
● Access to History:
pens for work.
● Estimated cost £35
The American
per conference
Revolution and the
including travel.
Birth of the USA
1740-1801 Second
Edition
Term 1 & 2
Term 3 & 4
Term 5 & 6
Year 12
The British Empire - Part
The British Empire - Part one: the
The British Empire - Part
one: the High Water Mark
High Water Mark of the British
one: the High Water Mark of
of the British Empire,
Empire, c1857–1914
the British Empire, c1857–
c1857–1914
• Attitudes towards imperialism in
1914
The development of
Britain; the development of party
• The role and influence on
Imperialism, c1857–
political conflicts • Relations with
attitudes to empire of: Joseph
c1890 • The expansion of
indigenous peoples; the Indian
Chamberlain; Cecil Rhodes;
the British Empire in Africa; Mutiny and its impact; relations with
colonial administration
the Suez Canal and Egypt • Boers and Bantu peoples in southern
• Imperialism: supporters and
Imperial and colonial
Africa
critics; National Efficiency;
policy; India’s
Imperial consolidation and
the British Empire and
administration and
Liberal rule, c1890–1914 • The
popular culture;
defence; international
consolidation and expansion of the
relations, colonial policy
and the scramble for
Africa; informal empire •
Trade and commerce; the
chartered companies • The
role and influence on
attitudes to empire of
explorers, missionaries,
traders, colonial
administrators
The Birth of the USA Part one: the origins of the
American Revolution,
1760–1776
Britain and the American
Colonies, 1760–1763 •
Britain and North America
in 1760: British attitudes
towards the colonies; the
politics of Empire; rivalries
with France • The Thirteen
Colonies: social, economic
and political characteristics;
divisions and rivalries
within the colonies • The
price of victory: the impact
on relations between
Britain and the colonists of
the successful outcome of
the French and Indian War
and the Seven Years War •
The dream of westward
expansion: the
expectations of the
colonists; exploiting the
territories acquired from
French Canada
British Empire in Africa • Imperial and
colonial policy; the administration of
India and Egypt; ‘native policy’;
international relations and colonial
policy • Trade and commerce
The Birth of the USA - Part one: the
origins of the American Revolution,
1760–1776
Enforcing the Colonial
Relationship, 1763–1774
British government legislation and
policies towards the colonies;
including the Proclamation of 1763;
the Stamp Act and the Townshend
Acts • The reaction of the colonists:
the attitude of the colonial elites •
The reaction of the colonists:
pressure and reform movements from
below • Escalating tensions: the
Boston Tea Party; the ‘intolerable’
Five Acts; the organisation of colonial
opposition in Massachusetts
representations of empire •
Relations with indigenous
peoples; challenges to British
rule; the Sudan; the causes
and consequences of the Boer
War
The Birth of the USA - Part
one: the origins of the
American Revolution, 1760–
1776
Ending the Colonial
Relationship, 1774–1776
The hardening of colonial
opposition: the First
Continental Congress; the
creation of new state
constitutions • The ideology
of revolution: Paine’s
Common Sense; the influence
of ideas on colonial leaders
such as Samuel Adams and
Thomas Jefferson; divisions
between loyalists and rebels •
The escalation of conflict:
British actions to maintain
control including the Quebec
Act and the assertion of
military control under General
Gage; colonial militias and
the outbreak of hostilities in
1775 • The Declaration of
Independence: its political
origins and its impact on the
revolutionary cause
The British Empire - Part
two: Imperial retreat,
1914–1967
Imperialism challenged,
1914–1947 Expansion and
contraction of empire: the
impact of the First and
Second World Wars; the
Mandates; withdrawal from
India and the Middle East •
Colonial policy and
administration in India,
Africa and the Middle East;
relations with the
Dominions; the Statute of
Westminster; imperial
defence • The development
of trade and commerce;
the economic impact of war
• The role and influence on
attitudes to empire of:
Gandhi, colonial
administration
The Birth of the USA Part two: establishing
the Nation, 1776–1801
The War of
Independence, 1776–
1783 • The balance of
military power in 1776: the
strengths and weaknesses
of Britain’s military
position, the strengths and
limitations of the
revolutionary forces,
geographical factors • The
international context: the
part played by France,
diplomacy and sea power;
the part played by Spain •
The conduct of the war:
American political
leadership, the
revolutionary armies and
George Washington as
military leader; the political
and military failures of
Britain’s war effort •
Recognition of the new
nation: the conduct of the
peace negotiations, the
terms of the peace
settlement 1783
Year 13
The British Empire - Part two:
Imperial retreat, 1914–1967
• Imperialist ideals; popular culture;
representations of empire • Relations
with indigenous peoples; protest and
conflict; colonial identity; the
development of nationalist
movements
The winds of change, 1947–1967
Decolonisation in Africa and Asia •
British colonial policy and
administration; the Suez Crisis and
its impact; international relations; the
Commonwealth • Trade and
commerce; post-war reconstruction
The Birth of the USA - Part two:
establishing the Nation, 1776–1801
Founding the Republic, 1776–
1789 The Articles of Confederation:
drafting from 1776; ratification by the
thirteen states • Obstacles blocking
the path to a republic: economic
problems, social tensions and interstate disputes, the issue of slavery •
Making the Constitution: the
Philadelphia Convention and the
constitutional debates between
federalists and anti-federalists, the
personalities and policies of the
‘Founding Fathers’ • Ratification of
the new Republic: the forwarding of
the constitution to the states by the
Continental Congress, ratification of
the constitution by state conventions
The British Empire - Part
two: Imperial retreat, 1914–
1967
• The role and influence on
attitudes to empire of:
nationalist leaders, colonial
administration • Post-colonial
political, economic and
cultural ties; migration; the
residual impact of empire;
popular culture • Relations
with indigenous peoples;
challenges to colonial rule in
Africa and Asia; Mau Mau; the
growth of nationalist
movements and reactions to
them; Rhodesia
The Birth of the USA - Part
two: establishing the Nation,
1776–1801
Washington and Adams,
1789–1801 The powers of
the presidency: Washington
and Adams as presidents, the
implementation of the
constitution • Financing the
new nation: Alexander
Hamilton as Secretary of
Finance, the balance between
federal and state authority •
The rise and influence of
political parties: the Jefferson
Republican (Democratic
Republican Party) under
Jefferson and James Madison,
the Federalist Party under
Alexander Hamilton and John
Adams • The United States in
1801: the extent of national
unity, relations with the world
outside.