A' Level History (Full AS/A2)

A distance learning course is the ideal way to gain an A Level in History.

Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning A Level History is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for an exam through home study.

What's more, because the distance learning A' Level History course is a fully comprehensive course, no prior knowledge is required.

History, as its name suggests, is a study of the past. It is certainly true to say that in order to understand the conflicts and difficulties of the present world you need to understand what has happened over previous years. Many of today’s politicians and world leaders are well aware of the events of the past and often use them as guidelines in dealing with present problems and crises. History encourages you to absorb and learn key facts and data before analysing which pieces of information are the most important and most significant. A key skill of any historian is to make an informed judgement on an important historical issue having weighed up all of the information and evidence available.

The A' Level History course is divided into four  comprehensive units:

• On completion of your two part course you will be able to:
• Recall, select and deploy historical knowledge accurately
• Communicate historical knowledge
• Present historical explanations
• Show understanding of appropriate concepts
• Arrive at substantiated judgements

A' Level History (AS)

Historical Themes in Breadth
Unit 1: A World Divided: Communism and Democracy in the 20th Century

This option concentrates on the theme of contrasting ideologies, with particular emphasis on how Communism developed and, in some societies, succeeded in overthrowing existing authority in the first half of the 20th century. This option also concentrates on how the USA responded to the challenge of Communism during that time and on the development of and challenges to democracy in the USA. This option enables students to understand the importance of ideas and beliefs in the policies developed by states, how and why ideology is frequently a cause of both challenge and conflict, within and between states, and also gives rise to debates about the rights of citizens.

Stalin’s Russia 1924-53
The struggle for power- the making of the vozhd in 1924-29: personalities and policies.
Transforming the Soviet Union: the collectivisation of agriculture and its social and economic impact; industrialisation and its economic and social impact; the three five year plans; changing social policies.
Persecution and control: the origins and course of the purges; culture and the arts in the service of a totalitarian regime.
The making of a superpower: the Great Patriotic War; devastation, war production; victory.

Politics, Presidency and Society in the USA, 1968-2001
The Presidencies of Nixon, Ford, carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton: reasons for the outcomes of elections; Watergate and the constitutional issues to which it gave rise.
Social issues and their political; impact: feminism, the rights of minorities; religious belief; the importance of the Supreme Court.
Popular culture: the media, film, television, radio and journalism; the importance of sport for race relations.
The debate over the role of the state in the economy- Reagan and the New Right: ‘Reaganomics’ and free market ideas.

British History Depth Studies
Unit 2: Britain in the Later 20th Century: Responding to Change

In understanding the relevant chronology, this option concentrates on key developments in the political, social and cultural development of Britain in the second half of the 20th century, with particular emphasis on understanding in some depth the key issues that challenged Labour and Conservative politicians, including the extent of consensus between them, why consensus was fractured and with what consequences. It also gives students the opportunity to understand key cultural developments in the second half of the century, including the developments that challenged existing perspectives, attitudes and beliefs.

British Political History 1945-90: Consensus and Conflict
The Labour election victory of 1945: reasons for it and key features of domestic policy of Labour governments of 1945-51; extent to which this was ‘an age of austerity’.
The Conservative government of 1951-64: extent of continuity with Labour objectives; key features of domestic policy (economic management, housing, unemployment); rising living standards.
Labour and Conservative governments, 1964-79: reasons for growing domestic problems (inflation, wages policy, relations with trade unions).
The Conservative election victory of 1979: reason for it and key features of the demotic policy of Thatcher government; domestic achievements; reasons why the Thatcher era was controversial; reasons for her fall in 1990.

A' Level History (A2)
Depth Studies and Associated Historical Controversies

Unit 3: War and Peace: 20th Century International Relations
This option concentrates on international diplomacy from the late 19th to the late 20th century. It focuses on the need for, and robustness of, alliance systems and the reasons for conflict between states. Students are required to study a range of factors associated with the making of alliances, their significance and impact and the importance of armaments policies as an adjunct or threat to the peaceful resolution of disputes. They also address, and are invited to pass reasoned judgement upon, issues which have provoked disagreement and controversy among historians. A key element of study in this option lies in the evaluation of interpretations related to attempts at international co-operation and the ways and reasons for failure of co-operation and conflict resolution.

A World Divided: Superpower Relations 1944-90

• The post-Stalin thaw and the bid for peaceful coexistence; Khrushchev and the response of Dulles, Eisenhower and Kennedy.
• The arms race, 1949-63: nuclear technology; delivery systems, the Cuban missile crisis; the Test Ban Treaty.
• Sino-Soviet relations, 1949-76: alliance to confrontation in Asia and its impact on US policy.
• Détente, 1969-1980: the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and agreements; Helsinki Accords; the impact of economic realities.

Associated controversies
Why did the Cold War between the superpowers emerge in the years to 1953?
Why did the Cold War come to an end in the 1980s?

Unit 4 - Coursework
At A2 Level there is a compulsory coursework unit but students can choose the area of History they study. Students must address key aspects of a chosen theme over a period of at least 100 years in order to develop their understanding of the process of change over a long period of time. Students will investigate issues relating to the long and short-term causes and consequences of change and will demonstrate an understanding of the factors that may accelerate, consolidate or delay the process of change.

Educated to at least Grade C GCSE standard or above.