Revolutions in the Modern World
Value 1.0
Prerequisites
Nil
Specific Unit Goals
A Course
This unit should enable students to:
T Course
This unit should enable students to:
Demonstrate investigation and
interpretation skills necessary to analyse
historical information and achieve
independence in researching
Communicate a logically developed and
focussed argument to convey historical
positions or ideas
Develop an understanding of the nature of
revolutions and revolutionary movements
Demonstrate knowledge, awareness and
understanding of causes, significant
individuals, social groups, places, and
events related to the revolutions of the
modern world
Consider the role of ideas, movements and
leaders in revolution
Evaluate the impact and outcomes,
including the nature of the new society
created by the revolution
Demonstrate investigation and interpretation
skills necessary to solve problems of
evidence and achieve independence in
researching
Communicate a logically developed,
articulate and focussed argument to convey
historical positions or ideas
Develop an understanding of the nature of
revolutions and revolutionary movements
Demonstrate knowledge, awareness and
understanding of causes, significant
individuals, social groups, places, and events
related to the revolutions of the modern
world
Critically evaluate the role of ideas,
movements and leaders in revolution
Evaluate the impact and outcomes, including
the nature of the new society created by the
revolution
Content
A study of this unit should include a comparison of at least two of the following content areas.
There is scope for some areas to be treated in more depth than others. Topics for study will be
guided by teacher expertise and student interest.
The Nature of Revolutions
 What is a Revolution?
 Models of Revolution
Examples of Revolutions:
 The English Revolution (1625-1689)
 The Industrial Revolution
 The American Revolution
 The French Revolution
 The Russian Revolution



The Chinese Revolution
The Cuban Revolution
The Islamic Revolution
For each revolution, there will be three aspects to consider:
1. The Old Regime and the origins of the Revolution
 Political, social and economic life in pre-revolutionary society
 Causes of tension
 Reasons for government unwillingness or inability to adjust
2. Revolutionary events, ideas, movements and leaders
 Turning points and chronology of the revolution
 Leading personalities of the revolution
 Ideas/ideologies of the revolution
 Revolutionary movements/groups/organisations
3. The New Society (move forward to a post revolutionary stage)
 Impact and legacy of the Revolution
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Relevant and effective strategies will focus on investigating and interpreting evidence in:
 Primary sources – e.g. diaries, posters, cartoons, letters, photographs
 Secondary sources –e.g. biographies, texts, documentaries, film and historical novel
treatments of indigenous life and slavery
 Statistical data – e.g. maps, charts, graphs.
 Kinaesthetic activities, e.g. role plays and imaginative reconstructions of key events,
model making and visits to institutions, films, artistic interpretations or historic sites
may also be used to investigate and interpret evidence
 Visits to the Australian War Memorial and National Archives of Australia
 Guest speakers (i.e. Veteran’s Affairs, Archives, and Universities)
Findings will be communicated through:
 Writing – e.g. essay writing, document studies, empathetic exercises
 Oral and aural activities –e.g. class discussions, debates, guest speakers, oral histories,
group work, quizzes
 ICT – e.g. web quests, spreadsheet analyses, computer games, PowerPoint
presentations, Internet searches.
See Teaching and Learning Strategies in the main document and the History Course
Framework for other teaching strategies.
Assessment Task Types
See pages 72-74 for assessment information
Student Capabilities
Student Capabilities
creative and critical thinkers
enterprising problem-solvers
skilled and empathetic communicators
informed and ethical decision-makers
environmentally and culturally aware citizens
confident and capable users of technologies
independent and self-managing learners
collaborative team members
Evidence could be in:
Goals
Content Teaching Assessment
and
Learning
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√
√
√
√
√
√
√
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√
√
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Specific Unit Resources
This list is not to be seen as comprehensive. It seeks to identify some useful resources and to give
an indication of the level at which students are expected to work. These resources include studentcentred resources and teacher references. These were accurate at the time of publication.
English Revolution Books
Murphy, Derrick, Irene
Britain 1558-1689, Harper Collins Publishers, London,
Carrier & Elizabeth
2002
Sparey
Seel, Graham E.
Starkey, David
Vallance, Edward
Regicide and Republic England 1603-1660, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, 2001.
Monarchy From the Middle Ages to Modernity, Harper
Perennial, London, 2007.
The Glorious Revolution, 1688 - Britain’s Fight and
Liberty, Abacus, London, 2006.
Audio Visual
Monarchy: The Complete Second and Third Series,
Grenada Production, Channel Four Television Corp,
2006
French Revolution
(especially*):
Texts
Adcock, Michael.
Burke, Edmund.
Barallon, M et al
Behrens, C.B.A
Cobban, A
Analysing the French revolution, Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge.2004.
Reflections on the revolution in France, Penguin,
London, 2004.
The French Revolution: A Student Handbook,
History Teachers’ Association of Victoria. 1991
The Ancient Regime, Thames and Hudson, London. 1967
The Social Interpretation of The French Revolution,
Cambridge University Press. 1986
Connelly, O
Farman, J
*Fielding, M and
Morcombe, M
Forrest, A
Hampson, N
*Hibbert, C
Kallen, Stuart A.(ed)
Rude, G
Schama, S
*Townson, D
The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era, Harcourt
Brace Jovanovich College Publishers, Orlando. 1991
History in a Hurry: The French Revolution
The Spirit of Change: France in Revolution, McGraw
Hill, Roseville, NSW. 1999
The French Revolution, Blackwell, Oxford, 1995
The French Revolution (A Concise History), Thames and
Hudson, London. 1975
The French Revolution, Penguin, U.K. 1982
The age of revolution, in World history by era, vol. 6,
Greenhaven Press, San Diego. 2002.
The French Revolution, Phoenix, London, 1999
Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution, Vintage
Books, New York. 1989
Access to History: France in Revolution, National
Textbook Company, Chicago, 2001
Audio Visual
Ridicule
Russian Revolution (especially*):
Texts
Antohi, Sorin and
Between past and future: the revolutions of 1989 and
Tismaneanu, Vladimir
their aftermath, Plymbridge, Plymouth, 1999.
(Eds)
Barrallon, M.
The Russian Revolution: A Student Handbook, HTAV,
1992.
Brooman, J.
Russia in War and Revolution, Longman, U.K. 1987.
*Bucklow, M & Russell,
Russia: Why Revolution? (2nd ed) Longman Cheshire,
G.
Melbourne, 1991
Chamberlain, W.H.
The Russian Revolution, 1917-1921, Vol 2.Princeton
University Press, 1935.
*Christian, D.
Power and Privilege (2nd ed), Longman Cheshire,
Melbourne, 1994.
Daborn, J.
Russia: Revolution and Counter-Revolution 1917-1924,
Cambridge University Press, 1961.
*Figes, O.
A People's Tragedy, Random House, London, 1996.
*Fitzpatrick, S.
The Russian Revolution (2nd ed), Oxford University
Press, 1994.
*Gill, G.
20th Century Russia: The Search for Power and
Authority (2nd ed), Thomas Nelson, Melbourne, 1994.
Hoysted, Merilyn
The Russian revolution: A student handbook, HTAV,
Collingwood, 2001.
Hughes, G & Welfare, S
Red Empire: The Forbidden History of the USSR,
Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1990.
Laver, J
History at Source: Russia 1914-1941, Hodder &
Stoughton, U.K. 1991.
*Lynch, M.
Reaction and Revolutions: Russia 1881-1924 (2nd ed),
*Lynch, M.
Malone, Richard.
Moorehead, A.
Morecombe, M &
Fielding, M.
Phillips, S.
*Pipes, R.
Rummel, R.G.
Sinclair, K (ed).
Smith, S.A.
Tismaneanu Vladimir
Von Rauch, G. A
Winsbury, R
Articles
McDonald, D.
Hodder & Stoughton, U.K. 2000
Stalin and Khrushchev: the USSR 1924-1964, Hodder &
Stoughton, U.K. 1990.
Analysing the Russian revolution, Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge, 2004.
The Russian Revolution, Carroll & Graf, New York,
1987
The Spirit of Change: Russia in Revolution, McGraw
Hill, Roseville, NSW, 1998
Lenin and the Russian Revolution, Heinemann, U.K.
2000.
A Concise History of the Russian Revolution, Vintage
Books, New York, 1996
Lethal Politics: Soviet Genocide and Mass Murder since
1917, Transaction, New Brunswick, 1990
Readings: Russian Revolution, HTAV, 1997
Revolution and the people in Russia and China: a
comparative history, Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, 2008.
The revolutions of 1989, Routledge, London, 1999.
History Of Soviet Russia, Thames and Hudson, London,
1957
Communism: People in Politics, Hamish Hamilton,
London, 1987
A Snapshot of Stalin's Russia, 1923-1932, in AGORA,
2001.
McDonald, D.
Ideas in the Russian Revolution, in Sinclair op cit.
McDonald, D.
Rasputin and his place in VCE Revolutions, in AGORA,
2002.
Audio Visual
Ten Days that Shook the World
Nicholas and Alexandra
American Revolution:
Texts
Cantwell, J.
Commanger, H.S. &
Morris, R.B
Frances, D.
Jensen, M (ed)
Murphy, Derrick, Kathryn
The American Revolution: A Student Handbook, HTAV,
1995.
The Spirit of Seventy-Six: The Story of the American
Revolution as told by its participants, Da Capo Press,
New York, 1995.
American Revolution and the Making of the American
Republic 1771-1791, Heinemann, Auckland, 1992
Tracts of the American Revolution, Bobbs-Merril Co,
Indiana, 1977
United States 1776-1992, Harper Collins Publishers,
Cooper & Mark Waldron
Traynor, John
Young, A.F. et al
Chinese Revolution:
Texts
Buggy, T.
Green, J.
Laffey, M.
MacKerras, C et al
MacDonald, C.K.
McDonald, D.
Ward, H.
Cuban Revolution:
Texts
Babun, Teo A
Byrne, Paul J
Ruiz, et al
Sweig, Julius
London, 2001
Mastering Modern US History, Palgrave, New York,
2001.
We The People: Voices and Images of the American
Revolution, Temple University Press, 1992.
The Long Revolution: A History of Modern China,
Shakespeare Head Press, NSW, 1988
China, OUP, Oxford, 1989
Mao and the Struggle for China: Revolutionary
Leadership, 1922-1949, Heinemann, Auckland, 1992
China in Revolution 1850-1976: History through
Documents, Longman Cheshire, Melbourne, 1993
Modern China, Basil Blackwell, Great Britain, 1985
The Chinese Revolution: A Student Handbook (2nd ed),
HTAV, 1997
China in the Twentieth Century, Heinemann, Australia,
1989
The Cuban Revolution: Years of Promise, University of
Florida: Gainsville, 2005
Cuban Missile Crisis: To the Brink of War, Compass
Point Books: Minnesota, 2006
Cuba for Beginners, Writers and Readers, 1980
Inside the Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro and the
Underground, Harvard University Press: Cambridge,
2002
These were accurate at the time of publication.
Please see the Bibliography on page 31 of Part 1 of the course for further resources.
Modern Revolutions
Value 0.5
This is the underlying 0.5 unit to Revolutions in the Modern World 1.0.
Prerequisites
Nil
Specific Unit Goals
A Course
This unit should enable students to:
T Course
This unit should enable students to:
Demonstrate investigation and
interpretation skills necessary to analyse
historical information and achieve
independence in researching
Communicate a logically developed and
focussed argument to convey historical
positions or ideas
Develop an understanding of the nature of
revolutions and revolutionary movements
Demonstrate knowledge, awareness and
understanding of causes, significant
individuals, social groups, places, and
events related to the revolutions of the
modern world
Consider the role of ideas, movements and
leaders in revolution
Evaluate the impact and outcomes,
including the nature of the new society
created by the revolution
Demonstrate investigation and interpretation
skills necessary to solve problems of
evidence and achieve independence in
researching
Communicate a logically developed,
articulate and focussed argument to convey
historical positions or ideas
Develop an understanding of the nature of
revolutions and revolutionary movements
Demonstrate knowledge, awareness and
understanding of causes, significant
individuals, social groups, places, and events
related to the revolutions of the modern
world
Critically evaluate the role of ideas,
movements and leaders in revolution
Evaluate the impact and outcomes, including
the nature of the new society created by the
revolution
Content
This unit should include an in-depth study of a maximum of two of the following content areas.
There is scope for some areas to be treated in more depth than others. Topics for study will be
guided by teacher expertise and student interest.
The Nature of Revolutions
 What is a Revolution?
 Models of Revolution
Examples of Revolutions:
 The English Revolution (1625-1689)
 The Industrial Revolution
 The American Revolution
 The French Revolution




The Russian Revolution
The Chinese Revolution
The Cuban Revolution
The Islamic Revolution
For each revolution, there will be three aspects to consider:
1. The Old Regime and the origins of the Revolution
 Political, social and economic life in pre-revolutionary society
 Causes of tension
 Reasons for government unwillingness or inability to adjust
2. Revolutionary events, ideas, movements and leaders
 Turning points and chronology of the revolution
 Leading personalities of the revolution
 Ideas/ideologies of the revolution
 Revolutionary movements/groups/organisations
3. The New Society (move forward to a post revolutionary stage)
 Impact and legacy of the Revolution
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Relevant and effective strategies will focus on investigating and interpreting evidence in:
 Primary sources – e.g. diaries, posters, cartoons, letters, photographs
 Secondary sources –e.g. biographies, texts, documentaries, film and historical novel
treatments of indigenous life and slavery
 Statistical data – e.g. maps, charts, graphs.
 Kinaesthetic activities, e.g. role plays and imaginative reconstructions of key events,
model making and visits to institutions, films, artistic interpretations or historic sites
may also be used to investigate and interpret evidence
 Visits to the Australian War Memorial and National Archives of Australia
 Guest speakers (i.e. Veteran’s Affairs, Archives, and Universities)
Findings will be communicated through:
 Writing – e.g. essay writing, document studies, empathetic exercises
 Oral and aural activities –e.g. class discussions, debates, guest speakers, oral histories,
group work, quizzes
 ICT – e.g. web quests, spreadsheet analyses, computer games, PowerPoint
presentations, Internet searches.
See Teaching and Learning Strategies in the main document and the History Course
Framework for other teaching strategies.
Assessment Task Types
See pages 72-74 for assessment information
Student Capabilities
Student Capabilities
creative and critical thinkers
enterprising problem-solvers
skilled and empathetic communicators
informed and ethical decision-makers
environmentally and culturally aware citizens
confident and capable users of technologies
independent and self-managing learners
collaborative team members
Evidence could be in:
Goals
Content Teaching Assessment
and
Learning
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
Specific Unit Resources
This list is not to be seen as comprehensive. It seeks to identify some useful resources and to give
an indication of the level at which students are expected to work. These resources include studentcentred resources and teacher references. These were accurate at the time of publication.
English Revolution Books
Murphy, Derrick, Irene
Britain 1558-1689, Harper Collins Publishers, London,
Carrier & Elizabeth
2002
Sparey
Seel, Graham E.
Starkey, David
Vallance, Edward
Regicide and Republic England 1603-1660, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, 2001.
Monarchy From the Middle Ages to Modernity, Harper
Perennial, London, 2007.
The Glorious Revolution, 1688 - Britain’s Fight and
Liberty, Abacus, London, 2006.
Audio Visual
Monarchy: The Complete Second and Third Series,
Grenada Production, Channel Four Television Corp,
2006
French Revolution
(especially*):
Texts
Barallon, M et al
Behrens, C.B.A
Cobban, A
Connelly, O
Farman, J
*Fielding, M and
The French Revolution: A Student Handbook,
History Teachers’ Association of Victoria. 1991
The Ancient Regime, Thames and Hudson, London. 1967
The Social Interpretation of The French Revolution,
Cambridge University Press. 1986
The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era, Harcourt
Brace Jovanovich College Publishers, Orlando. 1991
History in a Hurry: The French Revolution
The Spirit of Change: France in Revolution, McGraw
Morcombe, M
Forrest, A
Hampson, N
*Hibbert, C
Rude, G
Schama, S
*Townson, D
Hill, Roseville, NSW. 1999
The French Revolution, Blackwell, Oxford, 1995
The French Revolution (A Concise History), Thames and
Hudson, London. 1975
The French Revolution, Penguin, U.K. 1982
The French Revolution, Phoenix, London, 1999
Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution, Vintage
Books, New York. 1989
Access to History: France in Revolution, National
Textbook Company, Chicago, 2001
Audio Visual
Ridicule
Russian Revolution (especially*):
Texts
Barrallon, M.
The Russian Revolution: A Student Handbook, HTAV,
1992.
Brooman, J.
Russia in War and Revolution, Longman, U.K. 1987.
*Bucklow, M & Russell,
Russia: Why Revolution? (2nd ed) Longman Cheshire,
G.
Melbourne, 1991
Chamberlain, W.H.
The Russian Revolution, 1917-1921, Vol 2.Princeton
University Press, 1935.
*Christian, D.
Power and Privilege (2nd ed), Longman Cheshire,
Melbourne, 1994.
Daborn, J.
Russia: Revolution and Counter-Revolution 1917-1924,
Cambridge University Press, 1961.
*Figes, O.
A People's Tragedy, Random House, London, 1996.
*Fitzpatrick, S.
The Russian Revolution (2nd ed), Oxford University
Press, 1994.
*Gill, G.
20th Century Russia: The Search for Power and
Authority (2nd ed), Thomas Nelson, Melbourne, 1994.
Hughes, G & Welfare, S
Red Empire: The Forbidden History of the USSR,
Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1990.
Laver, J
History at Source: Russia 1914-1941, Hodder &
Stoughton, U.K. 1991.
*Lynch, M.
Reaction and Revolutions: Russia 1881-1924 (2nd ed),
Hodder & Stoughton, U.K. 2000
*Lynch, M.
Stalin and Khrushchev: the USSR 1924-1964, Hodder &
Stoughton, U.K. 1990.
Moorehead, A.
The Russian Revolution, Carroll & Graf, New York,
1987
Morecombe, M &
The Spirit of Change: Russia in Revolution, McGraw
Fielding, M.
Hill, Roseville, NSW, 1998
Phillips, S.
Lenin and the Russian Revolution, Heinemann, U.K.
2000.
*Pipes, R.
A Concise History of the Russian Revolution, Vintage
Books, New York, 1996
Rummel, R.G.
Lethal Politics: Soviet Genocide and Mass Murder since
1917, Transaction, New Brunswick, 1990
Sinclair, K (ed).
Von Rauch, G. A
Winsbury, R
Articles
McDonald, D.
Readings: Russian Revolution, HTAV, 1997
History Of Soviet Russia, Thames and Hudson, London,
1957
Communism: People in Politics, Hamish Hamilton,
London, 1987
A Snapshot of Stalin's Russia, 1923-1932, in AGORA,
2001.
McDonald, D.
Ideas in the Russian Revolution, in Sinclair op cit.
McDonald, D.
Rasputin and his place in VCE Revolutions, in AGORA,
2002.
Audio Visual
Ten Days that Shook the World
Nicholas and Alexandra
American Revolution:
Texts
Cantwell, J.
Commanger, H.S. &
Morris, R.B
Frances, D.
Jensen, M (ed)
Murphy, Derrick, Kathryn
Cooper & Mark Waldron
Traynor, John
Young, A.F. et al
Chinese Revolution:
Texts
Buggy, T.
Green, J.
Laffey, M.
MacKerras, C et al
MacDonald, C.K.
McDonald, D.
Ward, H.
The American Revolution: A Student Handbook, HTAV,
1995.
The Spirit of Seventy-Six: The Story of the American
Revolution as told by its participants, Da Capo Press,
New York, 1995.
American Revolution and the Making of the American
Republic 1771-1791, Heinemann, Auckland, 1992
Tracts of the American Revolution, Bobbs-Merril Co,
Indiana, 1977
United States 1776-1992, Harper Collins Publishers,
London, 2001
Mastering Modern US History, Palgrave, New York,
2001.
We The People: Voices and Images of the American
Revolution, Temple University Press, 1992.
The Long Revolution: A History of Modern China,
Shakespeare Head Press, NSW, 1988
China, OUP, Oxford, 1989
Mao and the Struggle for China: Revolutionary
Leadership, 1922-1949, Heinemann, Auckland, 1992
China in Revolution 1850-1976: History through
Documents, Longman Cheshire, Melbourne, 1993
Modern China, Basil Blackwell, Great Britain, 1985
The Chinese Revolution: A Student Handbook (2nd ed),
HTAV, 1997
China in the Twentieth Century, Heinemann, Australia,
1989
Cuban Revolution:
Texts
Babun, Teo A
Byrne, Paul J
Ruiz, et al
Sweig, Julius
The Cuban Revolution: Years of Promise, University of
Florida: Gainsville, 2005
Cuban Missile Crisis: To the Brink of War, Compass
Point Books: Minnesota, 2006
Cuba for Beginners, Writers and Readers, 1980
Inside the Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro and the
Underground, Harvard University Press: Cambridge,
2002
These were accurate at the time of publication.
Please see the Bibliography on page 31 of Part 1 of the course for further resources.