L2 History

NCEA Level 2 History (2HIS) 

This course will enable students to gain a deep understanding of powerful historical forces that have shaped our world, such as revolution, the pursuit of human rights, communism and colonialism.  

Through analysing these events, students will understand the power we all have to make change, and analyse the moral justification of world changing events.

In particular, students will look at:

• Revolution and Protest - Students will research a protest or revolution which has altered the course of History, including the French Revolution, the American Revolution, the Russian Revolution, the NZ Suffragette Movement, the NZ Springbok Tour protests, Parihaka, and the Soweto Uprising.
• The Invasion of the Waikato - Students will examine the motivations and significance of the Invasion of the Waikato in 1863, which took place during the New Zealand Wars.
• The American-Vietnam War - Students will examine the conditions in Vietnam that created a desire for revolution and analyse the reasons for US military involvement in Vietnam. Students will also study the consequences of the War, including the My Lai Massacre, Anti-War Movement, and the Cambodian Genocide.
• The My Lai Massacre - Students will analyse perspectives on the My Lai Massacre, in which US soldiers entered a village and killed 504 children, women, and elderly Vietnamese. In particular, students will be given the space to form their own opinion on the validity of these perspectives.  

This course will provoke students to think deeply and critically about the world around them and to analyse and critique the actions and perspectives of others. Students will act as historians, finding and analysing historical sources to reach their own judgements about what happened, why it happened and the significance of these events.

The study of History provides students with the critical thinking and communication skills necessary to succeed in a variety of careers in such areas as law, government policy, economics, social work, journalism, counseling, teaching, human resources, market research, travel advisor.