PERIOD 6 IB AMERICAS 3-4

Class Introduction:

History HL/SL Americas 3-4 -- This class is either the second year of a two-year course for higher level students or a riveting year of modern history for standard level students. Designed to promote in students a lasting appreciation and interest for the countries in the Western Hemisphere, the first year of the higher level course (junior year) is a comparative study of the histories of United States and Latin America, particularly focusing on colonization and settlement, independence movements, constitutional development, issues involving slavery, civil wars, and responses to industrialization, the plight of the indigenous of the Americas, and lastly American society in the early 20th century. The second year (my class) of the higher level or the one-year standard level course will revolve around two selections of twentieth-century world history topics prescribed by the IBO (i.e. Causes and Effects of War in the 20th Century and Authoritarian States in the 20th Century) and a separate prescribed subject (The Move To Global War From 1931 to 1941). As it is the aim of the IB, the History of the Americas course will inevitably, through the process of historical inquiry and relentless interpretation, mold students into historians, developing individuals (whether they pursue history on a collegiate level or not) with a penchant toward critical thinking about historical events past and present. This means that students will be challenged to examine primary documents encompassing multiple (international) perspectives and will be encouraged to analyze and criticize traditional and newly established interpretations of historical events. As a matter of discipline and historical mindedness, we will focus on six key concepts throughout the year as we move through early 20th century history: change, continuity, causation, consequence, significance, and perspectives.

Course of Study and Respective Topics
(Subject to change)

World History Topics:
Causes and Effects of 20th-Century Wars
This topic focuses on the causes, practice and effects of war in the 20th century. The topic explores the causes of wars, as well as the way in which warfare was conducted, including types of war, the use of technology, and the impact these factors had upon the outcome. Examination questions for this topic will require students to make reference to specific 20th-century wars in their responses, and some examination questions will require discussion of wars from more than one region of the world.

Topic Prescribed content

Causes of war
-- Economic, ideological, political, territorial and other causes
-- Short- and long-term causes
Practices of war and their impact on the outcome
-- Types of war: civil wars; wars between states; guerrilla wars
-- Technological developments; theatres of war: air, land and sea
-- The extent of the mobilization of human and economic resources
-- The influence and/or involvement of foreign powers
Effects of war
-- The successes and failures of peacemaking
-- Territorial changes
-- Political repercussions
-- Economic, social and demographic impact; changes in the role and status of women

Case Studies:
Europe: Russian Civil War (1917 to 1922)
Cross-regional wars: First World War (1914 to 1918); Second World War (1939 to 1945)
Asia: Chinese Civil War (1927 to 1937 and/or 1946 to 1949)

Authoritarian States (20th Century)
This topic focuses on exploring the conditions that facilitated the rise of authoritarian states in the 20th century, as well as the methods used by parties and leaders to take and maintain power. The topic explores the emergence, consolidation and maintenance of power, including the impact of the leaders' policies, both domestic and foreign, upon the maintenance of power. Examination questions for this topic will expect students to make reference to specific authoritarian states in their responses, and some examination questions will require discussion of states from more than one region of the world.

Topic Prescribed content

Emergence of authoritarian states:
-- Conditions in which authoritarian states emerged: economic factors; social division; impact of war; weakness of political system
-- Methods used to establish authoritarian states: persuasion and coercion; the role of leaders; ideology; the use of force; propaganda
Consolidation and maintenance of power:
-- Use of legal methods; use of force; charismatic leadership; dissemination of propaganda
-- Nature, extent and treatment of opposition
-- The impact of the success and/or failure of foreign policy on the maintenance of power
Aims and results of policies:
-- Aims and impact of domestic economic, political, cultural and social policies
-- The impact of policies on women and minorities
-- Authoritarian control and the extent to which it was achieved

Case Studies for Authoritarian States:
Europe: Germany (Hitler); Italy (Mussolini); USSR (Stalin)
Asia: China (Mao)
The Americas: Cuba (Castro)

Prescribed Subject: The Move to Global War (Germany and Japan from 1931 to 1941)
This prescribed subject focuses on military expansion from 1931 to 1941. Two case studies are prescribed, from different regions of the world, and both of these case studies must be studied. The first case study explores Japanese expansionism from 1931 to 1941, and the second case study explores German and Italian expansionism from 1933 to 1940. The focus of this prescribed subject is on the causes of expansion, key events, and international responses to that expansion. Discussion of domestic and ideological issues should therefore be considered in terms of the extent to which they contributed to this expansion, for example, economic issues, such as the long-term impact of the Great Depression, should be assessed in terms of their role in shaping more aggressive foreign policy.

Case studies Material for detailed study

Case study 1:

Japanese expansion in East Asia (1931 to 1941)

Causes of expansion
-- The impact of Japanese nationalism and militarism on foreign policy
-- Japanese domestic issues: political and economic issues, and their impact on foreign relations
-- Political instability in China
Events
-- Japanese invasion of Manchuria and northern China (1931)
-- Sino-Japanese War (1937 to 1941)
-- The Three Power/Tripartite Pact; the outbreak of war; Pearl Harbor (1941)
Responses
-- League of Nations and the Lytton report
-- Political developments within China; the Second United Front
-- International response, including US initiatives and increasing tensions between the US and Japan

Case study 2:

German and Italian expansion (1933 to 1940)

Causes of expansion
-- Impact of fascism and Nazism on the foreign policies of Italy and Germany
-- Impact of domestic economic issues on the foreign policies of Italy and Germany
-- Changing diplomatic alignments in Europe; the end of collective security; appeasement
Events
-- German challenges to the post-war settlements (1933 to 1938)
-- Italian expansion: Abyssinia (1935 to 1936); Albania; entry into the Second World War
-- German expansion (1938 to 1939); Pact of Steel, Nazi-Soviet Pact and the outbreak of war
Responses
-- International response to German aggression (1933 to 1938)
-- International response to Italian aggression (1935 to 1936)
-- International response to German and Italian aggression (1940)

Projects, Essays, Tests, Quizzes:

Every unit will end with a major assignment, project, quiz, or test; this is in addition to smaller chapter assignments within each unit.

Also, all IB History students will be required to turn in a Historical Investigation on a topic of the student's choosing. More detailed information about the Historical Investigation will be handed out as we move through the first semester of the year.

Homework Policy:
Late homework will receive significant penalty; this includes projects, essays, and smaller assignments. After 3 days, late homework will reluctantly be accepted and a 50% penalty will be applied to the score. If a student is a week late with homework and still wants to turn in the assignment, then said student must arrange a meeting with the teacher beforehand.

Grading:
Total point scale. 90%+ = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; below 60% = F

Brief Information about Paper Exams for IB Diploma and IB Certificate Students:

For Higher Level Students:

Paper One -- students have one hour to write on four questions based on documents and their own knowledge for a total of 25 marks. Students will encounter five sections: Military Leaders, Conquest and Its Impact, The Move To Global War, Rights and Protests, Conflict and Intervention -- but they only need to answer the four questions from ONE section. This class will be focusing on The Move To Global War. (20% of total IB History score)

Paper Two -- students will see 24 essay questions, two on each of the world history topics, spanning Society and Economy (750-1400) to The Cold War, as prescribed by IBO. Students have 90 minutes to complete two questions, chosen from different topics, each worth 20 marks. This class will be focusing on Authoritarian States in the 20th century and on Causes and Effects of War in the 20th Century. (25 % of total IB History score)

Paper Three -- students will see 25 essay questions and they have 2 hours and 30 minutes to answer three questions, each worth 20 marks. This class will cover 20th century events related to the Americas section of Paper Three. (35% of total IB History score)

Internal Assessment -- a historical investigation of 2,200 words. The topic is chosen by the student, preferably on a focused topic that will be helpful to him/her on the paper exams. Information on the format to be handed out in class (maybe posted on to this site). (25% of total IB History score)

For Standard Level Students:

Paper One -- students have one hour to write on four questions based on documents and their own knowledge for a total of 25 marks. Students will encounter five sections: Military Leaders, Conquest and Its Impact, The Move To Global War, Rights and Protests, Conflict and Intervention -- but they only need to answer the four questions from ONE section. This class will be focusing on The Move To Global War. (30% of total IB History score)

Paper Two -- students will see 24 essay questions, two on each of the world history topics, spanning Society and Economy (750-1400) to The Cold War, as prescribed by IBO. Students have 90 minutes to complete two questions, chosen from different topics, each worth 20 marks. This class will be focusing on Authoritarian States in the 20th century and on Causes and Effects of War in the 20th Century. (45 % of total IB History score)

Internal Assessment -- a historical investigation of 2,200 words. The topic is chosen by the student, preferably on a focused topic that will be helpful to him/her on the paper exams. Information on the format to be handed out in class (maybe posted on to this site). (20% of total IB History score)