History

History is more than the study of the past. It is the process of recording, reconstructing and interpreting the
past through the investigation of a variety of sources. It is a discipline that gives people an understanding of
themselves and others in relation to the world, both past and present.
Students of history should learn how the discipline works. It is an exploratory subject that poses questions
without providing definitive answers. In order to understand the past, students must engage with it both
through exposure to primary historical sources and through the work of historians. Historical study involves
both selection and interpretation of data and critical evaluation of it.

Students of history should appreciate
the relative nature of historical knowledge and understanding, as each generation reflects its own world
and preoccupations and as more evidence emerges. A study of history both requires and develops an
individual’s understanding of, and empathy for, people living in other periods and contexts.

Grade 11 History covers the mid-nineteenth century up through World War II.  The historical topics covered include:

  • the causes, practices, and effects of war
  • the rise and rule of single-party states
  • international organizations

Grade 12 History covers the second half of the 20th Century.  The historical topics covered include:

  • the Cold War
  • the USSR under Stalin
  • the establishment and rise of communism in China.