AS/A2 Modern History

Why should I study History at Cardinal Newman College?History is a very popular subject at Cardinal Newman, with nearly 300 students taking one of the range of AS or A Level courses. Our team of teachers are dedicated, talented and enthusiastic and results over recent years have been outstanding and the number of students achieving high grades. In addition to exam success the History department offers a range of enrichment opportunities including regular foreign field trips (Rome, Berlin, Poland, Russia), as we encourage our students to develop a life long interest in the subject. History is located in one of our new buildings and has impressive facilities.
What is History?
Understanding our history is vital to making sense of the modern world:

"Of all the studies, which make a person a citizen of the intellectual commonwealth, none is so valuable as history... for history is the home in which all the other subjects live." (Bertrand Russell - Philosopher).
What's on the course?
In the first year you'll study:

· Russia in Revolution 1881-1924: including Tsarist rule, the overthrow of the Tsar, the October Revolution which brought Lenin and the Bolsheviks to power and the Civil War that followed.

· Stalin's Russia 1932 -53: including key events such as Stalin's rise to power, his Five Year Plans, the purges and the impact of World War II.

· The Experience of Warfare in Britain 1854-1929: the impact of the Crimean. Boer and First World Wars on Britain, including the significance of newspaper reporting, medical and nursing developments, social reform and of course the experiences of those fighting.

In the second year you'll study:

· The Challenge of Fascism; from Kaiser to Fuher, Germany 1900-45: this unit involves studying German society 1900-1919 and the impact of the First World War upon it; the democratic experience of 1919-29 and the 'Golden Years' of the Weimar Republic; the rise of the Nazis 1919-33; life in wartime Germany 1939-45 focusing on the war economy and the Holocaust.

· Coursework - Irish Nationalism 1801-1921: a study in breadth looking at the effectiveness of Irish Catholic and nationalist leaders in advancing their cause and also the success of the Ulster Unionists in defending their interests.
Progression
Results throughout the History department have been consistently outstanding and the numbers of students achieving grades A or B is very high. A large proportion of our students continue their studies of this subject at a range of universities across the country eventually moving on to a wide range of careers such as teaching, journalism, law and archaeology among others. We strive ourselves on providing students with a life long passion for History.