Australia · ACARA Content Descriptions
Year 12 Modern History
Year 12 Modern History: the post-1945 world. Students conduct in-depth investigations of the Cold War, decolonisation, civil rights and social movements, Australia's transformation since 1945, and the forces shaping the contemporary world.
The Cold War and Global Rivalries
An investigation into the ideological, political, and military rivalry between the USA and USSR, and the emergence of a bipolar world.
How the wartime alliance between the US and USSR collapsed into ideological confrontation, leading to the Iron Curtain and containment.
The development of atomic weaponry and the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).
The construction and impact of the Berlin Wall as a physical and symbolic barrier between East and West.
Thirteen days in October 1962 when the world stood on the brink of nuclear war.
The competition for technological and ideological supremacy in outer space.
The period of easing tensions in the 1970s and the subsequent return to hostility.
Economic stagnation, Glasnost, Perestroika, and the internal pressures that led to the USSR's dissolution.
Decolonisation and Emerging Nations
The struggle for independence across Asia and Africa and the challenges of post-colonial nation-building.
The weakening of Britain, France, and the Netherlands after WWII and the rise of self-determination.
The struggle led by Gandhi and Nehru, and the tragic consequences of the 1947 partition.
A study of the violent struggle against French rule and the impact on French domestic politics.
Comparative study of independence movements in West and East Africa.
The struggle against French colonialism evolving into a major Cold War conflict.
The attempt by newly independent nations to navigate the Cold War without taking sides.
The rise and fall of the institutionalised system of racial segregation.
Civil Rights and Social Movements
Global and domestic struggles for equality, justice, and human rights.
The fight against Jim Crow laws and the quest for racial equality.
The campaign for constitutional change regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The movement for workplace equality, reproductive rights, and the breaking of the glass ceiling.
The legal battle that overturned the doctrine of "Terra Nullius".
The emergence of the modern queer rights movement from 1969 onwards.
The rise of ecological awareness and activism from Silent Spring to Greenpeace.
Australia's Transformation Since 1945
The social, cultural, and political changes that shaped modern Australia.
The shift from British-only migration to the arrival of "Displaced Persons" and Mediterranean migrants.
Espionage, the Cold War at home, and the attempted banning of the Communist Party.
The radical reforms and dramatic dismissal of the 21st Prime Minister.
The gradual dismantling of racial immigration barriers under Holt, Whitlam, and Fraser.
The history of forced removals and the journey toward the National Apology.
The deregulation of the Australian economy and the Prices and Incomes Accord.
The pivot towards Asia in terms of trade, diplomacy, and cultural identity.
Conflict in the Middle East
The origins and evolution of conflict in the Middle East since 1945.
The end of the British Mandate, the Holocaust, and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
The 1956 conflict involving Egypt, Israel, Britain, and France.
The major military confrontations of 1967 and 1973 and their territorial impacts.
The fall of the Shah and the rise of the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.
The 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The wave of pro-democracy protests and uprisings across the Arab world in 2011.
The Rise of Modern China
The transformation of China from a revolutionary state to a global economic superpower.
The victory of Mao Zedong and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
Mao's disastrous campaign for rapid industrialisation and collectivisation.
The decade of political chaos, Red Guards, and attacks on "old" culture.
The shift towards "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" and the Four Modernisations.
The student-led protests for political reform and the subsequent military crackdown.
China's entry into the WTO, the Belt and Road Initiative, and its role in the 21st century.
The Changing Face of Terrorism
An investigation into the history, motivations, and impacts of global terrorism.
The challenges of defining terrorism and the distinction between "freedom fighters" and "terrorists".
How governments have used terror as a tool of foreign policy or domestic control.
The origins of radical Islamist terror and the attacks on the United States.
How the internet and social media are used for recruitment and propaganda.
The rise of far-right, far-left, and nationalist terrorism within Western nations.
Global Challenges and the Future
Synthesising historical knowledge to understand contemporary global issues.
The impact of the internet, AI, and Big Data on society and politics.
The history of displacement from the Cold War to the present day.
Understanding the shift towards populist leaders and movements in the West.
From the Spanish Flu to COVID-19: historical perspectives on global health crises.
Evaluating the effectiveness of international institutions in a multipolar world.
The militarisation of space and the race for resources beyond Earth.
Reflecting on the study of Modern History and its utility in navigating the future.
How environmental shifts are redrawing the geopolitical map.
The global movement for First Nations' self-determination and voice.
The defining geopolitical dynamic of the 21st century.