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A study of the nature of the British Atlantic slave trade in the late eighteenth century, changing attitudes towards it in Britain and the pressures that led to its abolition, illustrating the themes of rights, exploitation and culture.

Areas of investigation include:

• The Triangular Trade

• Britain and the Caribbean

• The captive’s experience and slave resistance

• The abolitionist campaigns

The study of of the experiences of Scots in the Great War and its impact on life in Scotland. This topic considers the impact of technology on the soldiers on the Western Front. It also considers the way in which the war changed life for people at home as the war began to impact on every aspect of life both during and after the war.

Areas of investigation include:

• Scots on the Western Front

• Domestic impact of war: society and culture

• Domestic impact of war: industry and economy 

• Domestic impact of war: politics

A study of relationships between East and West, examining reasons for tension and attempts to resolve areas of conflict, focusing on themes of ideas, confrontation and power.

Areas of investigation include:

• Reasons for the beginning of the Cold War

• Flashpoints: Hungary, Berlin & Cuba

• The Vietnam War

• Changing relations between the Superpowers

The study of:

• The growth of democracy

• Women and the vote

• The origins and creation of a welfare state to address poverty under the Liberal and Labour Governments

Students will learn the key skill of essay writing and how to develop and support a line of argument in this unit.

The study of:

• The growth of nationalism in Germany 1815-50

• The obstacles to the growth of nationalism 1815-50

• An evaluation for the rise of and then success of the Nazis in maintaining their power

Students will develop the skills they gained in the British unit.

The study of:

• Alexander III and the succession problem 1286–92

• John Balliol and Edward I 1292–96

• William Wallace and Scottish resistance

• The rise and triumph of Robert Bruce

Students will learn how to critically evaluate sources such as how to identify bias and false information.

The study of:

• The growth of democracy

• Women and the vote

• The origins and creation of a welfare state to address poverty under the Liberal and Labour Governments

Students will learn the key skill of essay writing and how to develop and support a line of argument in this unit.

The study of:

• The growth of nationalism in Germany 1815-50

• The obstacles to the growth of nationalism 1815-50

• An evaluation for the rise of and then success of the Nazis in maintaining their power

Students will develop the skills they gained in the British unit.

The study of:

• Alexander III and the succession problem 1286–92

• John Balliol and Edward I 1292–96

• William Wallace and Scottish resistance

• The rise and triumph of Robert Bruce

Students will learn how to critically evaluate sources such as how to identify bias and false information.

Germany: from democracy to dictatorship, 1918–39 

A study of the changing nature of political authority; the reasons for changes; and the consequences of the changing character of political authority 

Creation of the Weimar Republic, including: military defeat; the November Revolution and the Treaty of Versailles; social and political instability; economic crisis and hyperinflation  

A period of relative stability, including: currency reform and the Dawes plan; social welfare provision; the Stresemann era in foreign affairs

Collapse of the Weimar Republic, including: economic depression and mass unemployment; the weakening of democracy; Brüning to Schleicher; the rise of Nazism; Hitler and the Nazi takeover of power  

Transformation of post-Weimar society, including: Nazi consolidation of power in Germany; Nazi social and racial policies; Nazi economic and foreign policies; resistance and opposition

The course entails an essay component where students have to compile 25 mark essays.

There is also a source handling component where students have to critically evaluate sources with questions being between 12 and 16 marks.

Students will also complete a dissertation worth 50 marks that is tackled independently.

These build upon the work done at ‘Higher’.

The course is completed through a distance learning programme that is led by the history department at Braes High School.

Advanced Higher History is a demanding but very rewarding course, especially for those considering studying the subject at university.

The skills gained and the independent nature of the course are excellent preparation for higher level study.