VCE HISTORY
Summary of proposed changes to the study design
OVERVIEW
The review and development of VCE history has included the review of six units in the
current study design and the development of six new units.
The six units reviewed are:
Twentieth Century history, Units 1 and 2
Australian history, Units 3 and 4
Revolutions, Units 3 and 4
The seven units which have been developed are:
Global empires, Units 1 and 2
Ancient history, Units 1- 4 (with a choice between two Unit 2’s)
This document focuses on the changes that are proposed to the current VCE histories.
GENERAL CHANGES
Review of VCE Histories has included:
 Increased specificity within areas of study especially in Units 3 and 4. The key
knowledge contains a far greater degree of detail compared to the current study design.
This supports teachers to develop a teaching and learning sequence and clarifies
expectations for assessment. Units 1 and 2 continue to have some flexibility. Key inquiry
questions which frame each area of study have also been incorporated.
 Updating of historical thinking based on contemporary research into the ways that
students learn history. The study design contains a Characteristics of the study section
in the introduction which outlines the incorporation of key aspects of historical thinking
into the study. These key aspects are: ask historical questions; establish historical
significance; use sources as evidence; identify continuity and change; analyse cause
and consequence; consider historical perspectives; and understand ethical dimensions
in history. These aspects of historical thinking have been incorporated into the key skills
of all history units. The Characteristics of the study section also contains a definition of
historiography.
 Review of assessment tasks for history. In Units 1 and 2 tasks have been more tightly
specified to reflect the nature of historical rather than generic tasks. In Units 3 and 4
language of the tasks has been reviewed.
 Review of substantive content in each of the histories to reflect recent scholarship.
SPECIFIC CHANGES
Unit 1: Twentieth Century history, 1900–1945
i.
ii.
Area of Study 1: Ideology and conflict
Area of Study 2: Social and cultural change
Unit 1: Twentieth century history contains two areas of study rather than the three in the
current study design.
©VCAA, August 2014
VCE HISTORY
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
In Area of Study 1, there is a focus on the period between the World Wars rather than the
development of any political crisis within the first half of the twentieth century. This allows
students to concentrate on the nature of ideologies which emerged as well as the events that
led to World War II.
Area of Study 2 combines two areas of study from the current study and allows students to
investigate social and cultural life in a range of contexts.
Unit 2: Twentieth Century history 1945–2000
i.
ii.
Area of Study 1: Competing ideologies
Area of Study 2: Challenge and change
Unit 2: Twentieth century history contains two areas of study rather than the three in the
current study design.
In Area of Study 1: Competing ideologies: there is a focus on the nature, development and
course of the Cold War rather than the more general post-war conflicts contained in the
current study design. This allows students to develop a deep understanding of the impact of
ideological division on nations and people in a range of global contexts which characterised
much of the second half of the twentieth century.
In Area of Study 2: Challenge and change: students investigate a social and a political
challenge in the last half of the twentieth century. Social challenged include those from the
current study design (civil rights, feminism, gay liberation and so on). Political changes
include some of those from the current study design and some that are more recent. They
include the Middle East conflict, the anti-Apartheid movement, the Iranian revolution and the
achievement of independence in Papua New Guinea.
UNITS 3 and 4 AUSTRALIAN HISTORY
Unit 3: Transformations: from settler society to nation
i.
ii.
Area of Study 1: The reshaping of Port Phillip District/Victoria, 1834–1860
Area of Study 2: Making a people and a nation, 1901–1920
Area of Study 1: The reshaping of Port Phillip District/Victoria, 1834–1860 slightly modifies
the period under consideration compared to 1830–1860 in the current study design. The
main change in this area of study is the inclusion of increased Aboriginal content including:
land management practices and ideas about land management of the Aboriginal inhabitants;
the range of Aboriginal responses to the transformation of their physical and cultural
environment; and the outcomes for Aboriginal communities. As with the current study design
there is also an examination of European land amendment practices. The area of study also
looks specifically at the demographic consequences of the gold rushes and the specific
political consequences of an influx of immigrants with democratic and new world aspirations.
Area of Study 2: Making a people and a nation, 1901–1920 modifies the period under
consideration compared to 1888–1914 in the current study design. As such, there is less
emphasis on the nationalism of the 1880s and 90s and an opportunity to consider ways in
which participation in World War I affected and changed the new nation. As with the current
study design, students explore the legislation of the new parliament in regard to electoral
law, industrial arbitration and social welfare and those that were included and excluded in
the new ‘social laboratory’.
©VCAA August 2014
2
VCE HISTORY
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
Unit 4: Opening Australia to the world
i.
Area of Study 1: Crises that tested Australia 1930–1975
ii.
Area of Study 2: Movements and changes in Australian society 1970–2000
Area of Study 1: Crises that tested Australia 1930–1975 explores crises that affected
Australia and their impact. These include the Vietnam War 1962–1973, the Great
Depression 1930–1939 and World War 2, covering the period 1939–1950. Consequently the
date range differs from the current study design (1914–1950). Students study one of these
crises in depth and explore the causes of Australia’s involvement in external crises, the
social economic and political responses and the extent to which the crisis created change in
Australia.
Area of Study 2: Movements and changes in Australian society 1970–2000. Students
examine the debates and changes in one of four movements for change: Aboriginal activism
and land rights, women’s fight for equality, opening Australia’s economy to the world and
Australia’s changing population and immigration policy. While two of these options:
Immigration and Aboriginal rights are in the current study, the proposed course considers
events and changes from later in the 20th century. The Aboriginal option focuses on
changes in attitudes to land rights, including changes in legislation resulting from the Mabo
and Wik decisions of the High Court. The immigration option focuses on changing attitudes
to Asian immigration, refugees and the notion of Multiculturalism. Women’s fight for equality
covers the demands of the women’s movement and achievements in the last part of
twentieth century and the economic option looks at the changes resulting from global trends
including floating the dollar, reduction of tariffs and the notion of a ‘social wage.’
All areas of study contain increased detail to make expectations of teaching and learning
and assessment clear.
UNITS 3 and 4 REVOLUTIONS
i.
ii.
Area of Study 1: Causes of revolution
Area of Study 2: Consequences of revolution
The introduction to the Units provides the dates of the revolutions that will be the focus of the
investigation: America, 1776; France, 1789; Russia, October 1917; China, 1949. This
provides a clear focus for study.
The dates for Area of Study 1 have been revised:
 American Revolution from 1754–4th July 1776 (French and Indian War to the
Declaration of Independence 1776). Current study 1763–1776.
 French Revolution from 1763–October 1789 (End of the Seven Years War to The
October Days 1789) Current study 1781–1789.
 Russian Revolution from 1896–October 1917 (Coronation of Tsar Nicholas to the
25th October Revolution 1917) Current study 1905–1917.
 Chinese Revolution from 1912–1949 (The Chinese Republic to the Communist victory in
the Civil War 1st October 1949). Current study 1898–1949.
The area of study continues to focus on key events contributing to revolution, key ideas
which challenged the existing order, key individuals and the role of popular movements.
The dates for Area of Study 2 have been maintained apart from the Russian Revolution
where the period had been extended from 1917–1924 to 1917–1927 to cover the end of the
New Economic Policy (NEP) .
Both areas of study contain increased detail to make expectations of teaching and learning
and assessment clear.
©VCAA August 2014
3
VCE HISTORY
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
ASSESSMENT
Outcome statements in all areas of study across Units have been altered to reflect the new
focus of the units.
Twentieth Units 1 and 2 Outcome statements
Current Study Outcome Statements
Consultation Draft Outcome Statements
Unit 1
Area of Study 1
On completion of this unit the students should
be able to analyse and explain the
development of a political crisis and conflict in
the period 1900–1945.
Unit 1
Area of Study 1
On completion of this unit, the student should be
able to explain the consequences of World War I
and the peace treaties, and analyse the impact of
ideologies on nations and on the events that led to
World War II.
Area of Study 2
On completion of this unit the student should
be able to analyse and discuss patterns of
social life and the factors which influenced
changes to social life in the first half of the
twentieth century.
Area of Study 2
On completion of this unit the student should be
able to analyse and discuss patterns of social life
and cultural change and the factors which
influenced changes to social life and culture in the
inter-war years.
Area of Study 3
On completion of this unit the students should
be able to analyse the relationship between
the historical context and a cultural
expression of the period from 1900–1945
Current Study Outcome Statements
Consultation Draft Outcome Statements
Unit 2
Area of Study 1
On completion of this unit the student should
be able to analyse and discuss how post-war
societies used ideologies to legitimise their
worldview and portray competing systems.
Unit 2
Area of Study 1
On completion of this unit, students should be able
to explain the ideological divisions in the post war
period and analyse the nature, development and
impact of the Cold War on nations and people, in
relation to one or more particular conflicts in the
period.
Area of Study 2
On completion of this unit the student should
be able to evaluate the impact of a
challenge(s) to established social, political
and/or economic power during the second
half of the twentieth century.
Area of Study 2
On completion of this unit, the student should be
able to describe and analyse the motivations behind
challenges and changes to existing power, and
evaluate the impact of the challenges.
Area of Study 3
On completion of this unit the student should
be able to analyse issues faced by
communities arising from political, economic
and/or technological change.
©VCAA August 2014
4
VCE HISTORY
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
Australian History Unit 3 Outcome Statements
Current Study Outcome
Statements
Consultation Draft Outcome
Statements
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
explain the motives and hopes
underlying the settlement of the
Port Phillip District (later the
colony of Victoria) up to 1860
and the impact on the
Indigenous population.
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
analyse the nature of change in
the Port Phillip District/Victoria in
the period 1834–1860.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
evaluate the extent to which
changing attitudes are evident in
Australian’s reactions to
significant social and political
issues.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit
students should be able to
analyse the visions and actions
that shaped the new nation after
Federation and the changes that
resulted from participation in
World War I.
Total marks
Marks
Assessment tasks
allocated
50
Each of the following four
assessment tasks must be
taken over Units 3 and 4:
An historical investigation
An analysis of primary
sources
An analysis of historians’
interpretations
An essay
50
Teachers may choose the
order of the assessment
tasks
100
Australian History Unit 4 Outcome Statements
Current Study Outcome
Statements
Consultation Draft Outcome
Statements
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
analyse the ways in which
Australians acted in response to
a significant crisis faced by the
country during the period 1914
to 1950.
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
analyse the extent to which
Australia was reshaped by a
significant crisis during the
period 1930 to 1975.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
evaluate the extent to which
changing attitudes are evident in
Australian’s reactions to
significant social and political
issues.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
analyse the transformation in the
late twentieth century of a
significant aspect of Australian
life.
Total marks
Marks
Assessment tasks
allocated
50
Each of the following four
assessment tasks must be
taken over Units 3 and 4:
An historical investigation
An analysis of primary
sources
50
An analysis of historians’
interpretations
An essay
Teachers may choose the
order of the assessment
tasks
100
*School-assessed Coursework for Unit 3 contributes 25 per cent.
©VCAA August 2014
5
VCE HISTORY
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES
Revolutions Units 3 and 4 Outcome Statements
Current Study Outcome
Statements
Consultation Draft Outcome
Statements
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
evaluate the role of ideas,
leaders, movements and events
in the development of the
revolution.
Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
analyse the causes of
revolution, and assess the
contribution of significant ideas,
events, individuals and popular
movements.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
analyse the challenges facing
the emerging new order, and the
way in which attempts were
made to create a new society,
and evaluate the nature of the
society created by the revolution.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the
student should be able to
analyse the consequences of
revolution and evaluate the
extent of change brought to
society.
Total marks
Marks
Assessment tasks
allocated
50
Each of the following four
assessment tasks must be
taken over Units 3 and 4:
An historical investigation
An analysis of primary
sources
50
An analysis of historians’
interpretations
An essay
Teachers may choose the
order of the assessment
tasks
100
*School-assessed Coursework for Unit 4 contributes 25 per cent.
©VCAA August 2014
6