11–12Modern History 11–12 Syllabus
The new Modern History 11–12 Syllabus (2024) is to be implemented from 2027.
2025 and 2026
- Plan and prepare to teach the new syllabus
2027, Term 1
- Start teaching new syllabuses for Year 11
- Start implementing new Year 11 school-based assessment requirements
- Continue to teach the Modern History Stage 6 Syllabus (2017) for Year 12
2027, Term 4
- Start teaching new syllabuses for Year 12
- Start implementing new Year 12 school-based assessment requirements
2028
- First HSC examination for new syllabus
Content
Year 12
Students investigate key features of the history of ONE of the following options in Peace and conflict.
The historical concepts and skills content is to be integrated as appropriate.
- Conflict in Europe 1935–1945
- Conflict in the Pacific 1937–1951
- The Cold War 1945–1991
- The Arab–Israeli conflict 1948–2000
- Conflict in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos 1954–1976
- Conflict in the Gulf 1980–2017
The emerging rivalry between the superpowers, including the nature and role of ideology
US policies and strategies, including the policy of containment, domino theory and the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Soviet policies and strategies, including intervention in Eastern Europe, the creation of the Warsaw Pact, and the emergence of peaceful coexistence
The causes and impact of TWO Cold War crises
The arms race and space race
The reasons for and impact of détente
The significance of geopolitical developments: the Vietnam War, the Sino–Soviet split
The impact of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
US policies and strategies under Ronald Reagan
Soviet policies and strategies under Mikhail Gorbachev
Reasons for the end of the Cold War