AS Level History

What do we study?
The main theme of the AS course is the fight for social, economic and political rights in the twentieth century. We study the Black Civil Rights movement in America and look at the ideas of people like Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and A Phillip Randolph. We explore the tactics and methods of Martin Luther King and examine the extent to which the movement succeeded. We also study the 1917 Russian Revolution and the fight for women’s political rights in Britain in the early part of the twentieth century.

What it’s like studying History?
Lessons are centred on student contributions and therefore students must be prepared to engage in debate and discussion. If you have strong views or ideas then this is the subject for you. In the lessons we will learn how to develop those views into coherent and logical arguments backed up by evidence.

Typical essay questions in the exam:
Why did many black citizens of the USA engage in increasingly militant campaigns for equality in the years 1964 – 65? (30 marks)

Student voice:
“ I ‘d studied Black Civil Rights before but this was different. We explored it in depth and the discussions we had in class were great. By the end it really felt like we understood this period of History’’ – Student X

Teachers
The course is taught by Jamie Duff who has been teaching at Brooke House for six years. Jamie has also taught at Croydon College and Queen Mary, University of London.

Recommended reading:
Race Relations in the USA 1863 – 1980 - Vivenne Saunders
Russia 1848 – 1917 – Johnathon Bromley
Communist Russia Under Lenin and Stalin - Chris Corin
The extension of the Franchise - Bob Whitfield
Votes for Women - Paula Bartley

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