NCEA Level 1 History

“If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed." 

- Adolf Hitler, dictator of Nazi Germany (1933 - 45)

Those who have a passion for delving into the lives of individuals and the eras they lived in will find History captivating. History serves a practical purpose by enhancing our comprehension of our own society, the world, and our individual roles within it. This subject equips individuals with the skills necessary to gather, process, interpret, and present written information effectively. In our increasingly information-driven society, the ability to adapt and handle diverse sources of information has become more crucial than ever before.

Skills: While Level 1 History covers topics that hold significant importance in our lives, the primary goal is to learn and apply skills that have wide-ranging applications in both everyday life and various careers. Many professions benefit from the intellectual skills cultivated through the study of History. These include the fields of law, such as the police, journalism, psychology, and aspects of private business like management.

These skills encompass:

• Distinguishing between fact and fiction: The capacity to analyze various forms of information, such as written articles, photographs, cartoons, and websites, and make judgments regarding their reliability and trustworthiness.
• Effective communication: The ability to construct clear, concise, and well-structured paragraphs and reports.
• Understanding different perspectives: Also known as 'point of view', this skill involves comprehending how an individual or group's position or stance has been influenced by factors such as religion, country of origin, education level, or ethnic background.
• Analysis: The invaluable skill of analysing and prioritising information, crucial for decision-making in numerous careers.

This course covers significant events from modern world history that continue to impact our lives today.

Introductory Topic: 'Kaiapoi Pā': This four-week topic introduces students to the essential skills required in Level 1 History through the exploration of the significant Ngāi Tahu settlement of Kaiapoi Pā (c.1670 – 1831). Students will learn to identify primary and secondary resources, develop formal paragraph writing skills, evaluate the reliability and usefulness of sources, and understand and explain different perspectives. In addition to these critical skills, students will also gain knowledge about Ngāi Tahu, including the reasons behind their choice of Kaiapoi as a settlement, the settlement's appearance, and the events leading to its destruction by a North Island iwi in 1832. As part of this topic, students will participate in a half-day field trip to Kaiapoi Pā in Term 1.

The two main topics are as follows:

20th Century Global Conflict: This topic primarily focuses on the causes of World War II, a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 and stands as the deadliest in human history, claiming over 70 million lives, including over 12 000 New Zealand military personnel. The study will delve into the interwar years between the conclusion of World War I (or 'The Great War') in 1918 and the outbreak of World War II hostilities in 1939, including the United States' entry into the war in 1941. By examining this period, students will understand Adolf Hitler's significant influence in igniting the conflict and how democratic nations responded to his aggressive and confrontational policies. However, students will learn that the war's origins were not solely attributed to Hitler; they were rooted in the decline of the old empires of Britain and France, and the rise of ambitious new powers like Germany, Italy, and Japan, which sought to establish vast empires of their own. This topic will also cover why New Zealand declared war in 1939 and the country's contributions to World War II.

20th Century Civil Rights: The civil rights movements in mid-20th century America aimed to secure legal equality and access to fundamental rights for African Americans. African American men and women, alongside white allies, organized and led this movement. While significant progress was made, the struggle for equality continues into the 21st century, as exemplified by the global 'Black Lives Matter' movement. Students will learn how individuals and groups in the 20th century pursued their goals through legal means, petitions, and nonviolent protests. They will study prominent figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, who fought for equality, as well as individuals and groups like the Ku Klux Klan who opposed African Americans' pursuit of equality. The topic also includes a thought-provoking examination of the controversial 'Dawn Raids' that took place in New Zealand during the 1970s, considered by some to be the most overtly racist attack on Pacific peoples in the country's history.

Assessments:

• Researching a significant historical event: This internal assessment requires students to select a significant historic event that occurred between approximately 1900 and 2010. Students will engage in research using a variety of primary sources that will be analysed in terms of reliability, bias and usefulness. 
• 'Dawn Raids' internal assessment report: As part of the '20th Century Civil Rights' topic, students will research and write a report on the significance of the 'Dawn Raids' that occurred in New Zealand during the mid-1970s. This event, which reflects a dark chapter in the country's history regarding race relations, involved the government authorizing immigration and police personnel to arrest individuals suspected of overstaying their work or travel visas, with many of those targeted being from neighboring Pasifika countries.
• Perspectives writing: As part of the '20th Century Global Conflict' topic, students will write about the differing perspectives regarding the historical context of the 1919 'Treaty of Versailles,' which officially marked the end of World War One. This treaty is considered by many historians as a significant factor that contributed to the outbreak of World War Two. Note: This assessment is categorised as an external. Over the course of approximately one week, students will produce a written portfolio to be externally marked by NZQA.

Note: Level 1 History does not include an end-of-year NCEA examination.