Unit 1: Making Sense of History

Content Standard 2.1: Students will be able to discover that people construct

knowledge of the past from multiple and various types of sources to make

sense of historical patterns, periods of time and the relationship among these

elements.

Benchmark 11.2.1.1: Use research skills to collect and analyze information

about a regional political event that occurred in the past that had a major

impact on the political structure and dynamic in the region (for example the

dismantling of the United Soviet Union Republic, the rise and fall of Hitler,

Cuban rule under Fidel Castro, the invasion of Iraq by the USA and its allies,

and the Balkan War).

Topic 1: Regional Political Events

Sub-topics:

• Regional Political Events and Major impacts of these events on Political

structure and dynamics in the Region.

• Dismantling of USSR, Rise and Fall of Hitler, Cuban under Fidel Castro

• Invasion of Iraq by USA and the Balkan Wars

Skills: Analysis (Research)

Learning Objectives: By the end of this topic, students will be able to;

• Identify regional political events of significance in the past.

• Analyse regional political events they have collated.

• Describe major impacts on the political structure and dynamic of those

events in the region chosen.

Content Background

The Aftermath of World War I saw drastic political, cultural, economic, and
social changes across Eurasia (Europe and Asia), Africa, and even in areas

outside those that were directly involved. Four empires collapsed due to the

war, old countries were abolished, new ones were formed, boundaries were

redrawn, international organizations were established, and many new and old

ideologies took a firm hold in people’s minds. The treaties and their contents

were presented to the losers of the war had a great impact. After the Paris

Peace Conference of 1919, the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June

1919, between Germany and France, Italy, Britain and other minor allied

powers, officially ended the war. Other treaties ended the relationships of the

United States and the other Central Powers. Included in the Treaty of Versailles

were the demands that Germany officially accept responsibility for starting

the war and pay economic reparations. The treaty limited the German military

machine: German troops were reduced and the country was prevented from

possessing major military armaments.

World War I also had the effect of bringing political transformation to most of

the principal parties involved in the conflict, transforming them into

democracies. For example, one major political event was the dissolution of

the Soviet Union was the process of internal disintegration within the Union of

Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) began in second half of 1980s and ended on

26 December 1991. The independence of the former Soviet republics and

created the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Soviet President

Mikhail Gorbachev, the eighth and final leader of the USSR, resigned, and

handed over its powers to Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Use any historical

sources about these events to make you understand what happened.

and use information to explain powerful nations’ influence on world politics and

social and economic order at various points in time.

Topic 2: Powerful Nations influence on World Politics. (Before WW1)

Sub-topics:

• Historical narratives (fiction and non- fiction) of powerful nations’

influence on world politics and social and economic

Skills: Understanding (interpret)

Learning Objectives: By the end of this topic, students will be able to;

• Identify Powerful nations like Great Britain, Russia, France, Germany and

other empires involved in colonisation and imperialism.

• Discuss their influence on World Politics and events leading up to the

Great War.

Content Background

Powerful nations who influenced world politics before the Great War were the

European empires. They dominated the period of colonialism and imperialism.

Countries like Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Turkey, Austria

and Hungary. Use historical narratives – fiction and non-fiction like the French

Revolution, the Bosnian Conflict, Moroccan Crisis, Arms race etc. to explain

these powerful nations’ influences on the world. Naval Supremacy: Great Britain

Use stories from different sources to discuss how Great Britain, the island

nation relatively small in size was one of the most powerful countries in Europe

at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. In the decades before the start of the

war, Britain had established itself as a world power through the following:

advancements in industrialization, buildup of its navy, and took control over

colonies throughout the world. Britain had a strong industrial base and was

able to produce steel and coal for industrialization. In 1914, Britain’s coal

production was over 320 million tons per year and its steel production was over

12 million tons per year. This would allow Britain the ability to easily

manufacture the weapons of war that it would need and to get them to the

frontlines.

Benchmark 11.2.1.3: Analyze the influence of great leaders on social, political,

economic, religious, and cultural organization, thinking, behavior, and global

development using personal biographies, symbols, photographs, and

development structures.

Topic 3: Influence of Great Leaders (Just before WW1 – WW2 and aftermath)

Sub-topics:

• Influence of great leaders on social, political, economic, religious, and

cultural organization, thinking, behaviour, and global development

Skills: Analysising (analysis)

Learning Objectives: By the end of this topic, students will be able to;

• Identify world leaders that had influenced on social, political, economic,

religious and cultural organisation, thinking, behaviour and global

developments.

• Discuss their influence using personal biographies, symbols, photographs

and development structures and landmarks.

• Analyse the influence of these great leaders in all aspects of life stated.

Content Background
In this topic, students will study some of the world’s influential people who

influenced political, social, economic, religious and cultural organisation,

thinking, behaviour and global development throughout the world.

Listed below are some of the very influential leaders that students can do an in-depth study on to
identify their influence on social, political, economic,

religious and cultural organisation, thinking, behaviour and global

developments.

For example; Adolf Hitler (1889 – 1945) Dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933-

45. During the 1930s, Hitler sought to gain ‘lebensraum’ for Germany –

claiming Austria, Czechoslovakia and finally invading Poland. Hitler’s initial

success encouraged him to invade Russia, which ultimately would over-stretch

his war-machine. Hitler’s regime also pursued the extermination of Jews and

other ‘non-Aryan’ minorities in concentration camps across Europe. He

committed suicide in May 1945 – shortly before Germany’s final surrender.

Examples of some important individuals that influenced the world

Europe: Adolf Hitler, Neville Chamberlin, Josef Stalin, Benito Mussolini,

Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Margret Thatcher

USA: Woodrow Wilson, George Bush, Bill Clinton, Franklin Roosevelt,

Harry Truman, Barrack Obama, Martin Lurther King, Ronald Reagan,

John F. Kennedy etc.

Unit 2: Systems of Power, Authority and Governance

Content Standard 2.2: Students will be able to critique the processes and

probe the reason for people creating, maintaining or changing the systems of

power, authority and governance.

Benchmark 11.2.2.1: Investigate and explain how governments in the

Topic 1: Foreign influence on Governance in Asia and Commonwealth

countries

Sub-topics:

• Wind of Change in Asia: 1939-1960

• Governments in the countries of Asian Region and the Commonwealth

have changed over time

Skills: Understanding (explain), analysis (investigate)

Learning Objectives: By the end of the topic, students will be able to;

• Identify the changes that have occurred in Asia Region in the 1939-1960.

• Identify the changes that have taken place in Commonwealth countries

during 1939-1960 timeframe. • Discuss such changes like the decolonization process.in Asia and

Commonwealth countries.

Content Background

Between 1945 and 1960, many new states in Asia and members of the

Commonwealth of Nations achieved independence from their European

colonial rulers. There was no one process of decolonization. In some areas, it

was peaceful, and orderly. In many others, independence was achieved only

after a revolution like in Indonesia and India. A few newly independent

countries acquired stable governments almost immediately; others were

ruled by dictators or military juntas for decades, or endured long civil wars

like France ruled Indo-China. Some European governments welcomed a new

relationship with their former colonies; others contested decolonization. The

process of decolonization coincided with the new Cold War and with the early

development of the new United Nations. While the United States generally
supported the concept of national self-determination, it also had strong ties to

its European allies, who had imperial claims on their former colonies.

Events in Asia and the Commonwealth of Nations also changed the pattern

of international relations. The newly independent nations that emerged in the

1930s to 1960s became an important factor in changing the balance of power

within the United Nations. In 1946, there were 35 member states in the United

Nations; as the newly independent nations of the “third world” joined the

organization, by 1970 membership had swelled to 127. The Chinese

Revolution, Cultural Revolution, The Indochina wars, Conflicts in the Pacific

events that changed Asia and the Commonwealth Nations.

Benchmark 11.2.2.2 Compare the election process of various countries in the

Commonwealth and the Asian Region and their roles in the creation,

maintenance, or change in the systems of power, authority, or governance.

Topic 2: Governance of commonwealth countries and Asia Region

Sub-topics:

• Election process of various countries in the Commonwealth and the Asian

Region

• The election processes and their roles in the creation, maintenance, or

change in the systems of power, authority, or governance in the

commonwealth countries and Asian Region

Skills: Analysing (compare

Learning Objectives: By the end of the topic, students will be able to;

• Identify the different types of election processes in place in the Asian

Region and commonwealth countries.

• Compare the election processes of various countries in the

• Discuss their roles in the creation, maintenance, or change in the systems

of power, authority, or governance

Content Background

The closing decades of the 20th century were years of unprecedented

political reform in the Asia and the Commonwealth of Nations. For example,

major transitions from authoritarian rule to democracy began with the popular

uprising against the Marcos regime in the Philippines in 1986 and the

negotiated transitions from military-backed, single-party governments in

Korea and Taiwan in 1987, moving on to the resumption of civilian government

in Thailand in 1992, the UN intervention in Cambodia in 1993, the fall of

Indonesia’s Suharto regime in 1998, and the international rehabilitation of East

Timor in 2001. Despite setbacks such as the Thai coup of September 2006 and

violent instability in East Timor, the broader pattern is clear: Along with Japan,

the region’s sole long-standing democracy, more governments are today

chosen through competitive and freely contested elections than ever before. In

the Solomon Is, Vanuatu, Fiji and PNG elections are held to choose their

government leaders in a more democratic manner today compared a decade

ago for countries like Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Is. All of this represents a

dramatic change in the nature of Asia and Commonwealth Nations regimes:

From a region dominated by authoritarian rule, toward now democratically

choosing and changing a country’s political leadership.

Benchmark 11.2.2.3: Evaluate how individuals and groups influenced

government decisions, policies, and development strategies in different

Topic 3: Influences of individuals and groups on governance in Asia and

commonwealth countries

Sub-topic:

• Influence of individuals on governance in Asia and commonwealth

countries

• Influence of groups on governance in Asia and commonwealth countries

Skills: Evaluating (evaluate)

Learning Objectives: By the end of the topic, students will be able to;

• Identify and analyse groups and individuals influence on government

decisions, policies, and development strategies in different countries in

the Commonwealth and the Asian Region.

Content Background

Individuals and groups have influenced government decisions, policies, and

development strategies in different countries in the Commonwealth and the

Asian Region.

There are Asian pioneers, paving the way to their country’s future; they possess

a special charisma, capable of inspiring their followers; and they are

diplomats, earning the respect and cooperation of others. These attributes are

what makes them influential leaders in their historical context. Aung San Suu

Kyi is the first woman to serve her country of Myanmar in a decisive position of

government. Much of her political career was spent under house arrest, but

this did little to stop her political convictions. Mohandas K. Gandhi: Born

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the term “Political Giant” may be inaccurate

in describing Mahatma Gandhi as he was more of a social activist, leading

century.

Asia and Commonwealth of Nations: Moa Zedong, Mahatma Gandi,

Emperor Hirohito, Chiang Kai-shek, Indira Ghandi, Ho Chi Minh, Aung San

Suu Kyi, Lee Kuan Yew, Michael T. Somare, Paias Wingti, Walter Lini, Sitiveni

Rabuka, Peter O’Neil.

Benchmark 11.2.2.4: Investigate how foreign governments, interest groups

and multi-corporations, contribute towards the creation, maintenance, or

change in the power systems, authority, and governance of the countries in the

Commonwealth and the Asian Region.

Topic 4: Foreign influence on governance in Asia and Commonwealth coun-

tries

Sub-topic:

• Foreign governments contribution towards the creation, maintenance of

power and authority for the governance of countries in the

Commonwealth and the Asian Region

• Interest groups contribution towards the creation, maintenance of power

and authority for the governance of the countries in the Commonwealth

and the Asian Region

• Multi-corporations contribution towards the creation, maintenance of

power and authority for governance of the countries in the

Commonwealth and the Asian Region

Skills: Analysis (investigate)

Learning Objectives: By the end of the topic, students will be able to;

• Investigate foreign governments that contribute towards the creation,

the Commonwealth and the Asian Region

• Investigate interest groups that contribute towards the creation,

maintenance of power and authority for the governance of the countries

in the Commonwealth and the Asian Region

• Investigate multi-corporations that contribute towards the creation,

maintenance of power and authority for governance of the countries in

the Commonwealth and the Asian Region

Content Background

Investigate into foreign countries, interest groups and multinational

Co-operations on how they contributed towards the creation, maintained and

changed systems of power and governance in the Commonwealth of Nations

and Asia. In this twenty-first century, MNC has become the central institution

of developing nations in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Most of these developing

countries are also members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Multinational

corporations (MNCs) are enterprises which have operations in more than one

country. They manage production establishments or deliver services in at least

two countries. Therefore, they can have influence on other countries economic

and entire environment. A significant number of MNCs started their operations

in developing countries by the 1990s. MNCs benefit from the lower labor costs

and grants given by the government of developing countries in order to attract

these MNCs.

Australia had over the years influenced countries of the Asia and

Commonwealth of Nation in all aspects of development. Most countries are

developing and they get aid from Australia to develop like PNG. Recently China
is expanding into the Pacific region and developing infrastructures in PNG and

Solomon Is and providing aids to these countries.