The USA and the Wider World, 1929-1990

Key Issue: What changing role did America play in world affairs between 1929 and 1990?
Again, show that you can trace American foreign policy, decade by decade, from 1929 to 1990.

Start with the 30s. You need to talk about isolationism and relations with Europe, Japan and the League of Nations.

In the 1940s, you need to understand why America got involved in the Second World War and what the impact was.

From the 1950s onwards, came the Cold War.
Here's a good interactive diagram you can make on the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Aid.

Make sure you have a good, detailed knowledge of this. you must know the causes. John D Clare again has excellent revision notes on this.

Revise American involvement in Korea - why they got involved and what the outcomes were.

Remember all your key words!

Can you explain why Berlin was a hotspot in the Cold War and the consequences of the Berlin Airlift?

Revise the Cuban Missile Crisis with Miss Allen's ace notes!
You must have a sound knowledge of Vietnam. Revise why the Americans got involved, how the war was fought and why the Americans could not win. Learn History has brilliant notes on Vietnam.

Youtube has the brilliant documentary "4 hours in My Lai" You don't need to know this much detail on My Lai but it's well worth watching.

You also need to be able to talk about the impact of the war back in the USA - in particular the protest movement and the role of the media in Vietnam. Go here for a good documentary video on Kent State.

BBC Bitesize has extensive revision tips on the Cold War.

Make sure you can describe changes in Cold War relationships: détente, USSR and China and arms limitation. Here's a good interactive diagram you can make.

Play this drag and drop game that teaches you about the end of the Cold War.

Why not try a Fling the Teacher Cold War game?

More general Cold War revision notes can be found here.

Try an online lesson from schoolhistory.co.uk to revise your knowledge.

if you're an auditory learner, try downloading this MP3 which gives an introduction to the Cold War.

The Race Issue in America 1929-1990


Key Issue: How did the lives of black people in America change between 1929 and 1990?

Again, you need to show how the lives of Black Americans changed between 1929-1990. A good way to plan you answer is looking at the good and bad changes that happened, decade by decade.
Start with the nature and status of black people in America in 1929. You need to recap on Segregation. Watch these excellent videos designed specifically for the WJEC exam that cover Black Americans in 1929 and the work of the NAACP and the KKK.

You then need to move onto the 1930s and Black people and the impact of the Depression. Look at how they were affected and the extent to which they benefited from the New Deal.
In the 1940s, you need to examine the impact of the Second World War on Black Americans and the impact of the Jim Crow Army.
In the 1950s and 1960s, look at the origins, events and results of the Civil Rights movement.
Can you describe the effects of the Montgomery Bus Boycott? The impact of Little Rock? Make sure you understand the importance of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, the Black Panthers and Black Power.
You need to understand the similarities and differences of different civil rights leaders. These revision notes are great for revising the sucesses of the Civil Rights movement.

The USA 1929-1990

Remember that this exam paper is an outline study. This means you need to show how events changed over time, decade by decade.


The first section is called America in Transition. You need to show how American society changed from 1929-1990.


The key question on this section, and the essay question you need to be able to answer is:


In what ways did American society change between 1929 and 1990?


Start with the 1930s. The New Deal is part of this and is a big topic in its own right. Fill in an interactive diagram to help you learn the Alphabet Agencies.

Try to explain the impact of FDR using this diagram to make your notes.

Do you remember what a Hooverville was?

schoolshistory.org.uk has more good revision notes to print out.

Try an online lesson on the New Deal and then test your memory with these online flash cards.

Watch this video response to the essay question 'How successful was the New Deal'?

Try downloading a PP quiz on the USA here.


After the New Deal came the 1940s and the Second World War. You need to know the impact of this on the American Society.


In the 1950s came the Affluent Society. Download this Powerpoint to help you revise! You also need to explain the impact and effects of McCarthyism.


The 60s saw the impact of JFK and the New Frontier. Make a list of the good and bad points about Kennedy. After JFK's death came LBJ and his Great Society. Make sure you can list the key features of this.

The 70s was the time of Nixon and Watergate. There are great notes here. Why not make revision cards with all the key words from this topic?

Finally, you need to know about the 80s - the Reagan Years






Germany during the Second World War, 1939-1945

Key Issue: What impact did the Second World War have on the lives of the German people?

You need to know about Nazi organisation for Total War and life in Germany during wartime.

Use this website to help you draw a timeline of life in Germany during the war.

Can you describe the bombing of Dresden? What were the effects on the civilians?

Make sure you know what the Volkssturm was and how the treatment of the Jews changed during the war. In particular, you need to be able to describe the Final Solution. Watch a video online here.

As the war went on, resistance to the Nazis from within Germany increased. Read more about it here and memorise the names of 3 groups who tried to oppose Hitler.

Make sure you can describe the July Bomb plot.

Can you describe the condition of Germany at the end of the war?

Changing Life in Germany 1933-39

Ok, so the Nazis are in power. Now you need to know how they changed Germany from the day Hitler became the Fuhrer to the outbreak of the First World War.

You need to understand their economic policy and the way they tried to put Germany back to work. This includes knowledge of public works schemes and rearmament.

Go here for a brilliant lesson on the Nazi economy. Try filling in an interactive diagram.

This site has loads of great information on workers. Read this PowerPoint on employment.

Can't remember Strength Through Joy? Click here!

You need to revise their social policy - the effects the Nazi regime had on women, the church, young people (including the Hitler Youth) and leisure activities.

This is a great Hitler Youth cloze exercise.

Read this powerpoint on women and try this interactive diagram. To revise and test yourself on the BBC bitesize site go here.

Make notes on the Nazis and the Churches then try this crossword. More info is here.

You need to understand how they used education to their own advantage, the use of censorship and propaganda and the attitudes towards Jews.

Try this exercise on education.

Read the PowerPoint on propaganda and complete the interactive diagram.

Revise attitudes to Jews here. Can you explain Kristallnacht (in English - the Night of the Broken Glass)?

The first few sentences of this are all you need to know about the Nuremberg Laws.

This diagram is good for revising the treatment of the Jews overall BUT Remember - don't talk about the Holocaust or death camps in a question that asks about life before 1939. This didn't happen until after the start of the war.

You need to be able to look at both sides of the argument - did life change for the better for the people of Germany? These revision notes will help you formulate an essay.

Some brilliant essay questions and model answers. Really good practice!

Try an online practice paper on life in Nazi Germany.

Play penalty shootout.

Finally, here's a good revision PP on Nazi Germany.



The Rise of the Nazis and their Consolidation of Power 1929-1934


Make sure you understand how Hitler used the Wall Street Crash and the Depression to his advantage.

Practice this online lesson on how Hitler came to power and try this revision lesson.

Try answering the question 'Why was Hitler appointed Chancellor in 1933'? Give your essay to your teacher to mark.

Print out these
revision notes.

Make sure you understand the Night of the Long Knives by reading this Powerpoint.


Revise the meaning of this cartoon here.

Check your understanding of the Reichstag Fire with this great video and make sure you can explain the Enabling Act

Make your own notes on propaganda.
Why was it so important to the Nazis? What forms did their propaganda take?

Can you explain how the Nazis controlled the government? The impact of the
death of Hindenberg? What is meant by a one-party state?

The use of
terror and the SS? (Download a mindmap to go with the powerpoint) and watch a documentary on the SS and Himmler here.

Try an online practice paper on Hitler's rise to power and make your own interactive storyboard .

John D Clare has great notes on 'Eight Steps to Becoming a Dictator'. Read them and make your own interactive diagram.

Try some
general revision on Germany. Test yourself on the BBC bitesize page. Play Penalty Shootout.

The Weimar Republic

Key Issue: How successful was the Weimar Republic in dealing with its problems in the period 1919-1929?

For this sections you need to be able to identify the problems of the Weimar Republic and analyse the extent to which they were dealt with.

PowerPoint on the problems of the Weimar Republic.

Fill in the gaps and test your Weimar knowledge.

Read a PowerPoint on the
Spartacist Revolt and the German reaction to Versailles.

Test yourself on the
Kapp Putsch

Try this
quiz.

Complete the spiderdiagram to show the
problems of the Weimar Republic.

And this one to show how it began to recover under Stresemann.


Read up on
reparations and the problems Germany had paying them.

Read about the
successes of the Stresemann years.

Try this
gap filling exercise which explains how the Wall Street Crash affected the Weimar Republic.

Here's a fling the teacher quiz and a walk the plank game. Or just try this multiple choice.

Look at this revision video on Weimar.

Reliability of Sources

So if you've revised the Problems and Challenges section, the next thing to do is practice some questions. Let's start with ones on sources. Here's a good guide to handling source style questions. You can try a past paper and ask your teacher to mark it for you. On the school's shared area, under 'Humanities' and then 'History' there are other past papers you can try too.

Foreign Policy: War and Isolationism

Probably the most difficult topic but don't be tempted to avoid it - it might pop up on the compulsory source questions.

For a full revision sheet click here.

American Economy


Use you notes to make sure you understand how the USA benefited from the First World War. You are very likely to get an essay question on the causes of the Boom in the 1920s

GO HERE FOR STUDYSTACK NOTES

Create your own revision diagram to show who didn't share in the Boom


Make a list of Republican presidents in the 1920s and their pro-business policies.
Remember what was meant by laissez-faire?

The
BBC website has good revision practice.

Draw a Model T in the middle of a page. Around it, write as many reasons you can think of as to why
Henry Ford was so significant to the USA in the 1920s. Make sure you use key words!


Try the BBC bitesize revision.

Have a look at this Powerpoint on the Crash.

Try a drag and drop quiz on the causes.

Watch this YOUTUBE video of the causes of the Wall Street Crash

American Society


Make sure you know the main features of American culture and society during this period.


Go here for really good notes on the Roaring Twenties.

You need to know what the
Monkey Trial was - and the outcomes. Make sure you revise religion at this time. Do you know what Bible Belt means?

Watch a short film on the Roaring Twenties here.

Find out about how the lives of women changed in the 1920s. Read about
flappers.

Listen to the
music of the 20s. Do you know who Louis Armstrong is?

Can you say why sport was so popular and who Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey were?

Check out the BBC Bitesize revision on American Society.

Try this quiz on the 1920s.

Can you name 3 different fads and crazes of the 20s? Or 2 different dances? (and if you need a break from revision check out this brilliant Evolution of Dance video on youtube)

Test each other using these questions.

Problems and Challenges: Prohibition



A big topic and one you are very likely to get an essay question on.

The BBC website has good revision practice on Prohibition.
Read up about Al Capone and the Chicago gangsters.
Read this great PowerPoint and practice analysing cartoons.
Go on youtube to see another student's video.

Memorise why Prohibition came into force by remembering ACRIME.

Practice essay: "Prohibition was a 'noble experiment' - do you agree?' (12 marks)

Go here to help you answer this question and to learn how DAMAGE ALE will help you to remember the main points. Hand the essay in to your teacher to be marked.

Remember to use key words like speakeasy, moonshine and bootlegging

Why not make a revision Powerpoint yourself about the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. How did it affect Prohibition?

After all that work, you could sit back and watch a film...

Problems and Challenges in the USA


Try the GCSE Bitesize revision questions. Check out the revision booklet on 'Problems and Challenges' your teacher has given you (if you weren't in - go and ask for one!) Use Inspiration software to create a mind map on the KKK. Make sure you understand and can give examples of Jim Crow laws. You need to know about immigration the the USA and isolationism. Write notes on the NAACP and Marcus Garvey and the UNIA (who were they and what were their aims?) Use this powerpoint to revise race problems. Make sure you understand the Red Scare and the Palmer Raids. (and if you're bored, find out of you'd be a communist by taking the political compass test). Can you remember who Sacco and Vanzetti were?

A common exam question is "Was the 1920s a good time for all?" i.e. This website has brilliant notes on the good and bad things about the USA and handy hints on how to remember them.

How to start revising...

Pick up a 'what to revise' revision sheet from your History teacher or Emma. Using this you can tick off every topic when you go over it and again when you feel confident in your knowledge. You will be given notes on each topic or access to Powerpoints and websites to help you in your revision. Have a look at the 'revision books' link if you want to buy something to help you but be warned that a lot of GCSE revision books cover topics that are not on your exam paper. Reaching your target grade is easy, you just need to:

a) Attend all History classes


b) Start revising early, in short chunks

c) Do all the revision homeworks your teacher gives you

d) Attend after-school revision classes

What are you waiting for?!