History

Course summary

A level History at LCHS consists of the study of three fascinating periods in the rich histories of Britain, Russia and the United States of America. The seminal seventeenth century in England is the first unit of study. This was a crucial epoch in the development of the relationship between the Monarchy and parliament and has enormous resonance for our day, where Brexit has exposed some of the constitutional anomalies and contradictions that lay at the heart of the British system of government. Students aspiring to understand the country in which they will become adults will benefit inestimably from a close examination of this era. Russia too looms large in the 21st century world and a close study of the revolutionary period of that country, one which had dramatic implications for the post WW1 international scene and beyond, will enable students to contextualise the role of Russia today and endeavour to understand the historical developments which underpin its governance and how it acts on the global stage. Moreover, the coursework element of History A Level will build upon this unit by looking closely at the role of Stalin in the early decades of the Soviet Union. Finally, we will examine how the heinous institution of slavery came to an end in the USA, only to be replaced by an equally prejudiced society in which African Americans were subjugated to all manner of abuse and discrimination before fighting for and achieving real civil rights a century after their emancipation. Much of what we study in this course is relevant for today. It offers an insight into some of the most dramatic episodes in the last 500 years and will undoubtedly enhance each student’s comprehension of the world in which he or she lives.