1. AS/A Level History OCR British Enquiries Option B
Starter: Thinking forward to your AS/A Level studies;
=) What thing(s) are you most looking forward to?
=/ What thing(s) are you most worried about?
Empire, communism,
Wall Street Crash,
Gold standard
AS/A Level History OCR British Enquiries Option B
Objectives:
Outline requirements and expectations of AS/A Level History
Analyse the social, political and economic context of Britain in the late 1920’s & early 1930’s

2. Course Structure and outline 12C.Hi
Exam Board: OCR
Ms King = 50% AS
A2 =
Y143 British Period Study
(aka. Churchill to Thatcher)
Exam = 1 hour 30 mins
Mon P.1 & Wed P.1
Second Teacher = 50% AS
A2 = 15%
Y243 Non-British Period Study
(aka. the French Revolution)
Exam = I hour
Lesson days and times

3. Course Structure and outline 12E.Hi
Exam Board: OCR
Ms King = 50% AS
A2 =
Y143 British Period Study
(aka. Churchill to Thatcher)
Exam = 1 hour 30 mins
Mon. P.3 & Fri. P.1
Second Teacher = 50% AS
A2 = 15%
Y243 Non-British Period Study
(aka. the French Revolution)
Exam = I hour
Lesson days and times

4. Course Structure and outline
When
What is covered?
Sept-Oct
Enquiry 1: Churchill’s view of events 1929–1940
Enquiry 2: Churchill as a war time Prime Minister
Enquiry 3: International diplomacy
Nov-Dec
Continuation Enquiry 3: International diplomacy
Period Study Essay 1: Conservative domination
Jan-Feb
Feb-Mar.
Period Study Essay 2: Labour and Conservative Gov.
Period Study Essay 3: Thatcher and the end of consensus
April-May
Period Study Essay 4: Britain's position in the world
Revision

5. ORGANIZATION is the key to success!
Required Resources
Purchase: OCR A Level History
x 2; A4 Level Arch folder (Enquiry folder and Essay Folder)
5 file dividers (x2 sets; set of 5 per folder)
Plastic wallets (for all notes, handouts, etc)
Pad of A4 paper
Pens (blue, black and coloured),
set of highlighter (min. 3 colours)
ORGANIZATION is the key to success!

6. History: Expectations
Always approach studies with a mature and polite approach:
be on time to every lesson
I will try my best so you must try your best!
Take responsibility for missed lessons/work/assignments
Take pride in your work:
Notes are essential!
Notes must be organised and legible
Complete homework on time:
Completed to a high standard
unacceptable standards will be considered incomplete and may result in supported study)

7. New AS/A Level Requirements: OCR British Enquiries Option B
Exam in June
Two lessons a week – not enough!
Some similar skills as the Britain at War exam
Qs1. = 30 marks Test an interpretation using 4 sources
Qs2. = 20 marks; Choose 1 of 2 potential essays
Generally considered the toughest paper at A-level but interesting! Lots of content, but its how content is USED
Understanding with different opinions in history...
Critiquing why different opinions occurred, the context in which these opinions were formed and comparing them to each other.
Requires lots of practice...lots and lots!

8. Historical Context
In order to fully understand and assess events, you must be aware of the circumstances that form the setting in which our studies occurred
Shadow of WWI
Political changes: Labour replaces Liberals in Britain
Revolutionary social changes: Women’s votes
Wall Street Crash compounds economic problems of post-War Britain
Revolutionary changes: the rise of extremist ideologies, communism and fascism
Revolutionary changes: rise of the USA as a global power
Empire and issues surrounding Indian Independence

9. What was the state of Britain 1929?
Task 1: Britain in 1929
Wall Street Crash
Economic Issues
Political Issues
Lifestyle
Read highlight key information on pages 1-5 Britain (Rowe)
Organise notes under each heading
(minimum 3 notes each)
Cross reference/link notes;
How do changes in each area effect each other? Cause fear? Improve life? Alter political views?
What was the state of Britain 1929?

10. HMWK: due next lesson HMWK:
Complete ‘State of Britain’ flow diagram, adding notes
Wells pg. 6-7 (see below)
Buy necessary resources and textbook
Prep Readings;
M. Wells, Britain pg. 6-10

11. Teacher Reading Summary: Rowe, Chris. Britain 1929-98 (Rowntree)
Introduction: What was the state of Britain 1929? (Page 1-5)
1929= Wall Street Crash, turning point 20th Century
Significant problems before the crash, slow to take effect (not until 1931 full force felt)
1929= formation of the second Labour Gov, under Ramsey MacDonald
Labour replaced liberals as the main opposition to Conservatives
Some feared this would lead to communism
WWI unleashed revolutionary changes;
votes for women,
rise of communism and USSR,
USA became a world power,
rise of fascism
Another big issue; empire and the Issues surrounding Indian independence
Kay debates : What was the situation at the beginning? What was the situation at the end? In between, what changed? What stayed the same?
Snapshot: Economic
Economic position in decline since 1914 (Germany overtook Br as an economic power in 1890)
Compounded by WWI (lost of traditional markets, increased foreign competition, increased debt)
Unemployment annually never less than 1 million 1920’s(1926 General Miners strike showed fundamental weaknesses)
Old/staple industries declined (ship building, coal, textiles)
Gold standard; returned to gold standard 1925 by Churchill, increasing issues causing devaluation of £ vs $ in 1931
Snapshot: Politics
Fundamental changes to political parties
Liberal Party; high profiled leader (Lloyd George) masked decline, anti-Conservative vote shifting to Labour, virtual wipe out of Liberals 1951
Labour Party: MacDonald’s second gov 1929, Labour on the rise, enthusiastic about ‘Age of Socialism’ and limited knowledge of issues under Stalin
Conservatives: Stanley Baldwin, ‘natural party of the gov’ and the establishment, (vast number of newspapers, businesses, middle class, significant parts of working class), frightened by rise of Labour and General Strike
Context: 1929 = felt modern, time of new ideas and inventions
Heavy pollution, industrialised, coal powered, car free, crowded city centres
Poor hygiene, cigar smoke
Few radios, no TV, 1929 first talkie
Low mobility, holidays for wealthy only, bicycle or foot travel to work
Church had a significant role, no youth culture, school and family life more formal