Course Name: A LEVEL HISTORY

Exam board and qualification: AQA A LEVEL HISTORY

1K The Making of a Superpower, America 1865-1975

2S The Making of Modern Britain 1951-2007

NEA (Non examined assessment) The Wars of the Roses 1399-1499

Text Book:

The Making of a Superpower America 1865-1975

The Making of Modern Britain 1951-2007

The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones

If available online link to it (CLA): Not currently available but can be purchased below, this is not compulsory..

​

For America

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-AQA-History-Level-Superpower/dp/019835469X/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+making+of+a+superpower+1865-1975&qid=1590145592&sr=8-2

and/or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-level-History-Superpower-1865-1975/dp/1471837602/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+making+of+a+superpower+1865-1975&qid=1590145630&sr=8-1

​

For Britain

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-AQA-History-Level-1951-2007/dp/0198354649/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4KTV0CKGAVCG&dchild=1&keywords=the+making+of+modern+britain+1951-2007&qid=1590145774&sprefix=the+making+of+modern+britain+%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1

​

For the Wars of the Roses

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wars-Roses-Fall-Plantagenets-Tudors/dp/0143127888/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=wars+of+the+roses+dn+jones&qid=1590145841&sr=8-2

Recommended Reading

​

Books

Andrew Marr – A History of Modern Britain

David Reynolds – America, Empire of Liberty

​

Websites

www.history.com (very good for researching the US Unit).

BBC (very good for researching the Britain Unit).

​

Other

​

Youtube

‘History Channel American Presidents documentary’ from Andrew Johnson to Gerald Ford

Reconstruction, America after the Civil War

The American Civil War – Road to Fort Sumter

History: The American Civil War 1861 – 1865. The Complete Documentary.

1945 remembered, and the rise and fall of the Labour Party – BBC Newsnight

Clement Attlee: The Man Who Made Modern Britain

BBC Teach - The Foundation of the National Health Service | History – Exploring the Past: Post War Britain

DVD

Andrew Marr – A History of Modern Britain

Tasks

In preparation for A-Level study it would be worth researching the time periods directly preceding the start of the time periods in study:

• Unit 1 – The US Civil War 1861-1865

• Unit 2 – Post-WWII Britain 1945-1951

• Unit 3 – The Wars of the Roses

The US Civil War 1861-1865

​

• What were the causes of the US Civil War?

Handy Hint! Don’t just focus on the argument surrounding slavery! Think about the following factors also:

• Why was Abraham Lincoln a contributing factor?

• What was different about the northern states and the southern states? – This is a bit of a tricky one!

• What is ‘secession’ and why is this term important in the context of the US Civil War?

• Who was the US Civil War between?

• What was the ‘Emancipation Proclamation’? Why was this important?

• Who won the US Civil War?

​

Post-WWII Britain 1945-1951

​

• Which political party won the election after WWII?

• What was so significant about Clement Attlee?

Handy Hint! Think about his achievements as prime minister.

• Who was William Beveridge and what were his ‘five evils’?

• As a bit of a challenge – what did he do to try and resolve these ‘evils’?

• What was created under Attlee’s leadership? What were the reasons for its creation?

• What party and under whose leadership won the election in 1951?

The Wars of the Roses

Who were the following individuals in the conflict?

RICHARD III

HENRY TUDOR

HENRY VI

EDWARD IV

ELIZABETH WOODVILLE

MARGARET OF ANJOU

When Finished: You may wish to do some research on the following topics:

• Unit 1 - Reconstruction Era:

  • Presidents – success/failures.

  • What was Reconstruction? What was its purpose?

• Unit 2 – 1951-64:

  • Prime ministers – success/failures.

  • Which political party dominated politics during this time period?

    • Stretch & Challenge – why did the economic circumstances contribute to this political dominance?