Different perceptions of historical events.

Achievement standard: 

• Year 9: Students explain the significance of these events and developments over the short and long term.
• Year 10: Students explain the significance of events and developments from a range of perspectives. They explain different interpretations of the past and recognise the evidence used to support these interpretations.

What does that mean? 

• Significance: Sometimes, events, periods, developments, perspectives, or ideas, are regarded as having significant consequences.
• Events and developments: Things that happened, and their effect. Similar to cause and effect from last week, except it’s just talking about the impact of things. 
• Range of perspectives: After World War I, different countries felt differently about the outcomes. France thought that the reparations that Germany was making were fair and just, while Germany thought it was unfair and unjust. 
• Interpretation: Purposeful and thoughtful, representations of past events. 
• Evidence: Assertions made without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. 

In everyday words: 

One of the roles of being a historian is to explain to people who weren’t there, what happened, why it happened, and how that event impacted future events. Importantly, they also to understand that just because you read it in one place, doesn’t mean it’s accurate or even an honest attempt at informing other people. 

Let’s talk: World War 2

What was the significance of WWII? It was the most significant and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries. Sparked by the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland. The war dragged on for six years until Allies defeated both Nazi Germany and Japan. 

What events and developments in WWII: 

• 1939 
  • Hitler invades Poland on September 1st. 
  • The United Kingdom and France declare war on Germany 2 days later. 
• 1940: 
  • Rationing begins in Briton
  • German ‘Blitzkrieg’ overwhelms Belgium, Holland and France.
  • Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain.
  • British Expeditionary Force evacuated from Dunkirk.
  • British victory in Battle of Britain forces Hitler to postpone invasion plans.
• 1941
  • Hitler begins Operation Barbarossa – the invasion of Russia.
  • The Blitz continues against Britain’s major cities.
  • Allies take Tobruk in North Africa and resist German attacks.
  • Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, and the US enters the war.
• etc

What were the major perspectives on the cause of WWII? 

• That Hitler was a master planner who intentionally started World War II due to his strong beliefs on fascism, expansionism, and the supremacy of the German State – Trevor-Roper, Hugh (2011). The Wartime Journals. London: I. B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1848859906.
• Hitler was an opportunist who took advantage of the situation that Germany was left in after WWI – A. J. P Taylor (1961). The Origins of the Second World War. Hamish Hamilton. The United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0684829470
• Hitler was both an “evil” master planner who’s objectives would not have been possible without the situation that Germany was left in after WWI – Bullock, Alan (1992). Hitler And Stalin: Parallel Lives. New York: Knopf. ISBN 9780771017742.

Different perspectives at the time: 

Warning spies, be careful when talking

Growing Understanding

History stopped in 1936 – after that, there was only propaganda – George Orwell. 

Think of a historical event that is of interest to you (including recent events) that have very different perspectives. This event should have been well documented. 

You need to: 

• Choose a significant historical event 
• Identify why it is significant
  • List at least 3 events or developments that happened within that event
• Document at least 2 different perspectives on the event.
  • Documentation can be any form of text (posters, images, youtube videos, etc) 
• Have at least 1 piece of evidence for each of the events/developments (3 in total)
  • How do you know that your events are factual or likely to have happened?

Examples: 

• The justification of the start of WWII
• Fires in Australia, Arson or Climate-disaster
• Metadata in Australia: Australian Government Passes legislation to capture the addresses of what you browse. 
• Drug Testing, should Events have drug testing stations?
• Private Schools win more funding from the Federal Government than Public Schools (2 dollars of Federal funding goes to private schools for every dollar that goes to public)
• Young people and car restrictions based off of power
• PETA attacking people wearing fur
• Any, significant event that interests you