History 12 Course Outline

History 12

Mrs. L.  Teichrob

Available by appointment

Why Study History?

History is our window into the past. It is our key to understanding the present.  It is our predictor for what is to come in the future.

History is our laboratory. Its data serving as vital evidence in our quest to contemplate and analyze how societies function, a necessity we require to determine how to run our own lives.

Historical literacy molds citizens. It provides us data about our problems, motives and values by giving us international and comparative perspectives that are essential for responsible citizenship.

Historical thinking promotes healthy habits of mind. Through the study of history, we learn invaluable skill sets such as observing, searching, exploring, questioning, uncovering, predicting, reconstructing, analyzing, reflecting, weighing, determining, challenging, defending and philosophizing.

History provides us with a terrain for moral contemplation. Studying the stories of individuals and situations in the past allows us to test our own moral compass, to hone it against some of the real complexities individuals have faced in difficult settings as it teaches us “by example”. 

History is captivating. We are enthralled by stories that draw us inward, telling us of tales laced with triumph and tragedy, victory and defeat, loyalty and betrayal and good versus evil. Such stories resonate deeply within our souls as we seek to understand the capability of humanity, both good and bad.

History well told is beautiful. Skillful writing, vivid imagination, meticulous description, time travel and the art of masterful storytelling, allure us as they invite us to appreciate and admire the beauty of human life.

History is a guiding compass in our lives, impacting the choices you’ve made in the past, are making in the present and will make in the future.

Think about it.

If you are a Christian, you base your entire life- your choices, beliefs, motives, direction and purpose around the fact that a single individual lived more than 2000 years ago. You live you life according to the teachings found within a volume of ancient literature- a compilation of primary and secondary historical documents. Your eternal destiny is forever changed because of the acts of a single person who walked the earth centuries ago, changing the course of human history. Your life is shaped, molded and driven by history every single day (whoa…mind = blown).

Besides…studying history is fun.

                                                                                                                                               

Welcome to History 12! We are about to embark on an exciting journey together, one that has potential to teach you practical, hands-on and relevant skill sets that will be transferable regardless of where life’s journey takes you. The objective of History 12 is to develop historically literate learners that will equipped to make informed, competent and faith-based judgments about historical events of the past and social issues of the present day. In this course, students will be taught foundational “historical thinking” concepts, providing them with a deep understanding of the framework that will shape the manner in which they study history and engage with historical texts and artifacts. The historical thinking concepts that will be emphasized in the course will include but are not limited to:

·      Establishment of historical significance

·      Use of primary source evidence

·      Identification of continuity and change

·      Analyzing cause and consequence

·      Taking historical perspectives

·      Understanding the ethical dimension of historical interpretations

Students will build upon the knowledge and skill-sets acquired in Social Studies 9 to beginning with an exploration of Canada from 1815, spanning until 1914.

Course Themes

1.    Conflict and Challenge: The World of 1919

·      Significance of nationalism and imperialism

·      Participants and outcomes of the Paris Peace Conference

·      Major components of the Treaty of Versailles

·      Reallocation of territories

·      Creation of successor states

·      Mandate system

·      Social, economic and political impact of the First World War

·      Causes and effects of the 1917 Russian Revolutions

2.    Promise and Collapse: 1919-1939

·      Principles of fascism, communism and democracy

·      Conditions that led to the rise of Mussolini and fascism

·      Events, policies and methods that solidified Mussolini’s power

·      Factors that led to the rise of Hitler and the Nazis

·      Key features of Nazism

·      Events, policies and methods that allowed Hitler to establish a dictatorship

·      Events, policies and methods that allowed Stalin to gain and maintain control

·      The relationship between colonial rule and nationalism in the Middle East and on the Indian subcontinent

·      Social and economic developments in the United States during the 1920’s, including conditions of and responses to the Great Depression

·      America’s policy of isolationism

3.    Turmoil and Tragedy: 1939-1945

·      Appeasement and the failure to achieve collective security during the pre-war period

·      The nature of democratic and totalitarian states and their impact on individuals

·      Causes of the outbreak of World War II in Europe and the Pacific

·      Key military events in Europe, North Africa, and in the Asia-Pacific

·      Japanese imperialism in the Asia-Pacific region

·      Impact of “total war” on society

·      Development of technology and mass communication prior to and during World War II

·      Nazi implementation of racial policies

·      The historical significance of the Holocaust

·      Allied war-time conferences

·      Post-war realignment of world power

4.    Transformation and Tension: 1945-1963

·      Causes of the Cold War and the various forms of superpower competition

·      The division of Germany

·      Soviet sphere of influence and American policy of containment

·      Key events of the Cold War

·      Emergence of the People’s Republic of China

·      Territorial changes in the Middle East

·      Arab nationalism

·      Nationalism and decolonization of India and Indochina

·      Partition of Vietnam

·      The global trend toward economic integration after 1945

·      Social and economic consequences of the nuclear arms race after 1945

·      Anti-apartheid movement in South Africa

·      The role of the United Nations in advancing international cooperation

5.    Progress and Uncertainty: 1963-1991

·      Conflicts in southeast Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East

·      Factors ending the Cold War

·      Reasons for the decline of communism in the USSR and Eastern Europe

·      The dissolution of the Soviet Union

·      Détente

·      Impact of nationalism in the events of the late 20th century

·      Influence of public opinion on national policy

·      Influence of women in political and economic affairs

·      The Cultural Revolution

·      China under Deng Xiaoping and it’s changing relationship with the West

·      Identify the ways in which competition for resources affects relations between nations

·      Effects of computer technology on society

Expectations

·      Please arrive to class on time

·      Please come prepared, bringing all course-related texts and materials to each class

·      Please be respectful to the teacher, your peers and the classroom

·      Please check the blog on a daily basis by going to http://wrcahistory12.blogspot.ca where blog posts will be made shortly after school each day and when applicable, assignments will be uploaded onto the blog in downloadable PDF files.

·      Please be responsible and take care of hard copy assignments that are given out in class, as you will only receive one copy. In the case that you have misplaced your assignment, you will be responsible to go to the blog and print off a new hard copy for yourself

·      Please have your homework ready to be handed in at the beginning of class in hardcopy format

·      Please take initiative to find out if you have missed assignments and find out what their due dates are in the case that you have been absent. This is your responsibility.

Student Workload

History 12 is an academic course, which means that you will have a challenging workload. A significant amount of reading, writing and research will be required on an on-going basis.

·      You can expect daily homework assignments

·      You can expect daily reading assignments. It is essential that you do not get behind in your reading or it will be extremely difficult to get caught up.

Required Supplies

These following supplies are required for every class:

·      Appropriate writing supplies

·      Binder and paper

·      History 12 Student Workbook

Evaluation

Tests                                     40%

Quizzes                         20%

Assignments                        40%

Course Schedule

1.    Conflict and Challenge: The World of 1919, (September 3 – October 18)

·      Quiz – Tuesday, February 12

·      Unit Test – Monday, February 18

2. Promise and Collapse: 1919-1939, (October 21 – November 29)

·      Quiz – Friday, March 1

·      Unit Test – Monday, March 11

3.    Turmoil and Tragedy: 1939-1945, (December 2 – 19, January 6 – 29)

·      Quiz – Wednesday, April 10

·      Unit Test – Monday, April 22

4.    Transformation and Tension: 1945-1963, (TBA)

·      Quiz – Wednesday, May 1

·      Unit Test – Wednesday, May 15

5.    Progress and Uncertainty: 1963-1991, (TBA)

·      Quiz – Wednesday, May 29

·      Unit Test – Monday, June 10

6.    Trends Since 1945 (TBA)

*Please note this course schedule is tentative and subject to change with sufficient notice given in advance