History Help

Junior Cert (Higher Level): Q.4 - People in History

Main Page: Junior Cert (Higher Level)

People in History questions are worth 20 marks each. You must answer two on the Higher Level paper.

The section is split into two parts, A and B. Part A is history before 1600, Part B is history after it. You must pick one question from each of the two parts (A and B).

The following People in History figures have appeared in recent papers:

2017
A:
A woman living in a named ancient civilisation outside of Ireland.
A craftsman in a medieval town.
A settler who received land during a named plantation in Ireland during the 16th or 17th century.

B:
A worker in a factory or a mine during the Industrial Revolution in Britain c. 1850.
A British or American soldier who took part in D-Day, June 1944
A named political leader in the Republic of Ireland during the period 1960-1985.

2016
A:
A farmer living in ancient (pre-Christian) Ireland.
A monk in a medieval monastery.
A named Renaissance artist from outside Italy.

B:
A named leader on a voyage during the Age of Exploration.
A person living in Ireland, North or South, during World War II, 1939-1945.
A named leader involved in one of the crises during the rise of the superpowers (Berlin Blockade; Korean War; Cuban Missile Crisis)
or
A named leader in the struggle for African or Asian independence after 1945
or
A named leader in the movement for European unity between 1945 and 1992.

2015
A:
An archaeologist at work.
A servant who worked in a medieval castle.
A named Renaissance writer or scientist.

B:
A settler who received land during a named plantation during the 16th or 17th century.
A named leader in a revolution (America, France or Ireland) during the period 1771 - 1815.
A named leader in the struggle for Irish independence, 1900 - 1912.

Sample People in History questions are featured on each topic's page, or see the list below.

Answering People in History Questions

Read the questions carefully:
Don't just glance at them. Read them very carefully before answering them. Find the two questions you can answer best. If you're asked to write about a named person or place, name that person or place.

Your information must be relevant (important)
It is very important that the information you write down in a People in History answer is relevant and important to the question. For example, if you're writing about George Washington as a named leader in a revolution, you'll talk a lot about his actions during the American Revolution, but writing down that his face is on the $1 bill will get you no marks because it has nothing to do with the question.

Have at least 10 points:
You should try to have at least 10 relevant points of information in order to get full marks for your answer.

Timekeeping:
The People in History questions are important. If you're prepared for them, you can get a lot of marks from them. Spend about 15-20 minutes on each question. You should aim for a page/page and a half of writing, depending on how big your writing is.

List of common People in History questions

FIRST YEAR

Archaeology:
An archaeologist at work.

Ancient Ireland:
A person living in an ancient civilisation in Ireland.
A monk in an early Christian monastery.

Ancient Rome:
A person living in an ancient civilisation outside of Ireland.

The Middle Ages:
The lord or lady of a medieval castle.
A serf on a medieval manor.
A knight in a medieval castle.
A monk in a medieval monastery.
A craftsman in a medieval town.

The Renaissance:
A named Renaissance artist from Italy.
A named Renaissance artist from outside Italy.
A named Renaissance scientist.
A named Renaissance writer.

SECOND YEAR

The Age of Exploration:
A named leader on a voyage of exploration.
A sailor on a voyage of discovery.

The Reformation:
A named religious reformer.

The Plantations:
A settler who received land in a named plantation.
A native Irish landowner who lost land in a named plantation.

The Age of Revolutions:
A named leader involved in a revolution (America or France or Ireland).
A supporter/person fighting in a revolution during the period 1771-1815.

From Farm to Factory:
A farm labourer during the Agricultural Revolution.
A factory/mine worker during the Industrial Revolution.
A factory/mine owner during the Industrial Revolution.
A worker in an English city in 1850.

THIRD YEAR

Political Developments in 20th Century Ireland
A unionist living in Ulster around 1912-14.
A named leader involved in the struggle for Irish independence, 1900-21.
A person involved in the struggle for Irish independence, 1900-21.
A person living in Northern or Southern Ireland during the war years, 1939-45.
A named political leader in the Republic of Ireland, 1960-85.

Social Change in 20th Century Ireland
An old person talks about changes that have taken place in Ireland in the countryside or in the cities since 1900.

International Relations in the 20th Century
A soldier who took part in World War II.
A named leader involved in one of the crises during the rise of the superpowers. (Option)
A named leader in the movement for European unity between 1945-1992. (Option)
A named leader in the struggle for African or Asian independence after 1945. (Option)

Junior Cert (Higher Level): Q.3 - Short Questions

Main Page: Junior Cert (Higher Level)

The Short Questions are worth 20 marks overall. There are 20 questions to choose from, but you only need to answer 10.

The questions cover every topic you've learned about since First Year, and the best way to prepare for them is to practise answering Short Questions on past papers.

Sample short questions are featured on each topic's page.

Answering Short Questions

Read the questions carefully:
Don't just glance at them. Read them very carefully before answering them. Find the ten questions you can answer best. Keep your answers clear and short. A 2-mark question requires just one piece of information, a sentence at most. Don't try to write paragraphs. Read over your answers when you're done.

Timekeeping:
The Short Questions are worth 20 marks altogether. They can be an easy source for marks, but give yourself plenty of time to tackle the longer questions later. Spend about 15-20 minutes on short questions.

Sample Short Questions

2012 HIGHER LEVEL, Q.3

Answer TEN of the following questions. Each is worth 2 marks.

1. Why were the earliest times known as the Stone Age?

2.   Mention two advances made by Neolithic People.

3.   In Celtic times who were the Aos Dána?

4.   Name two important Celtic festivals.

5.   Mention two important functions of the round tower in the Early Christian monastery.

6.   What was sanctuary in medieval times?

7.   Give two reasons why the Renaissance began in Italy.

8.   Give two reasons why rulers were willing to sponsor voyages during the Age of Exploration.

9.   Name and explain one instrument of navigation used during the Age of Exploration.

10. Name the civilisation conquered by the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro.

11. In Britain during the Agricultural Revolution, what is meant by the term enclosure?

12. Name two important inventions during the Industrial Revolution.

13. Give two consequences for Ireland of the Great Famine.

14. Mention two reasons why Unionists opposed Home Rule for Ireland.

15. Name the political party founded by Éamon de Valera in 1926.

16. What action did de Valera take against the Blueshirts in August 1933?

17. Give one reason why Irishmen went to fight in the Spanish Civil War.

18. Why was the League of Nations set up in 1919?

19. Mention two actions taken by Hitler to become dictator of Germany.

20. During World War II what was the Blitz?

Junior Cert (Higher Level): Q.2 - Documents

Main Page: Junior Cert (Higher Level)

The last half of your source paper, after the pictures, is taken up with Documents. You will have two documents which could relate to any part of the course that you have studied. They might be old newspaper reports, diary entries, letters, or pieces from books.

The topics which appeared on Document Questions in the last few years are as follows:

2017: World War II, The Plantations

2016: Sources (Elizabeth I), World War II

2015: World War II/Sources, Home Rule Crisis.

2014: The Renaissance, World War II.

2013: The Reformation, the Troubles.

2012: The Age of Exploration, World War II.

You might be tempted to look for patterns there, but really there's no way to predict what could come up next. As you can see, some topics (such as World War II) are common enough, but there's still quite a mix of other topics.

Every document has four questions attached to it. The first three questions will be about information contained in the picture. The fourth question usually asks you something else about the topic in question.

Answering a Document Question

Study the documents carefully:
Don't just glance at them. Read them very carefully before looking at the questions. Underline key points. Quote from the document if you want, (as long its relevant) but keep your answers short. A 2-mark question requires just one piece of information.

Timekeeping:
The Document Questions are worth 15 marks altogether. They can be an easy source for marks, but you must not spend too much time on them. Other parts of the paper carry much more marks with them. You should spend only about 15 minutes on the Document Question.

Sample Document Questions

2012 HIGHER LEVEL, Q.2

DOCUMENT 1:
Extract from the eyewitness account of Antonio Pigafetta, diarist on Magellan's voyage of discovery in the sixteenth century.

The natives shot so many arrows at us and hurled so many bamboo spears (some of them tipped with iron) at the captain that we could scarcely defend ourselves. Seeing that, the captain sent some men to burn their houses in order to terrify them. When they saw their houses burning, they were roused to greater fury.

So many of them charged down upon us that they shot the captain through the right leg with a poisoned arrow. So, he ordered us to retire slowly, but the men took to fight, except six or eight of us who remained with the captain. The natives continued to pursue us, and picking up the same spear four or six times, hurled it at us again and again. Recognising the captain, so many turned upon him that they knocked his helmet off his head twice, but he always stood firmly like a good knight.

An Indian hurled a bamboo spear into the captain's face, but he immediately killed him with his lance. Then, trying to lay hand on sword, he could only draw it out halfway, because he had been wounded in the arm with a bamboo spear. When the natives saw that, they all hurled themselves upon him. One of them wounded him on the left leg which caused the captain to fall face downward, when immediately they rushed upon him with iron and bamboo spears and with their cutlasses, until they killed out mirror, our light, our comfort and our true guide.

Source: 'The Death of Magellan, 1521', www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2001)

Questions
1. In what way had the natives made their spears even more dangerous? (1)

2.   According to the document, why did the captain send men to burn the natives' houses? (2)

3.   Does the writer respect the captain? Give one piece of evidence to support your answer. (2)

4.   Give one advantage and one disadvantage of eyewitness accounts for historians. (2)

DOCUMENT 2:
Extract from Albert Speer's account of Hitler's visit to Paris after the fall of France in 1940.

We drove through the suburbs directly to the great Opera building. It was Hitler's favourite and the first thing he wanted to see. A white-haired attendant accompanied our small group through the deserted building. Hitler seemed fascinated by the Opera, went into ecstasies about its beauty, his eyes glittering with excitement. The attendant, of course, had immediately recognised the person he was guiding through the building. In a business-like but distinctly aloof manner, he showed us through the rooms. When we were at last getting ready to leave the building, Hitler whispered something to his adjutant, Bruckner, who took a fifty-mark note from his wallet and went over to the attendant standing some distance away. Pleasantly, but firmly, the man refused to take the money.

Afterward, we drove past the Madeleine, down the Champs Élysées, on the Trocadéro, and then to the Eiffel Tower, where Hitler ordered another stop. From the Arc de Triomphe we drove on to Les Invalides where Hitler stood for a long time at the tomb of Napoleon. The end of our tour was the church of Sacre Coeur on Montmartre. Here he stood for a long time surrounded by several powerful men of his escort squad, while many churchgoers recognised him but ignored him. After a last look at Paris we drove swiftly back to the airport. Afterwards he said, 'It was the dream of my life to be permitted to see Paris. I cannot say how happy I am to have that dream fulfilled today.'

Source: 'Hitler Tours Paris, 1940', www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2008)

Questions
1. Name two places visited by Hitler on his tour of Paris. (2)

2. Give two pieces of evidence from the document that suggests Hitler was not a welcome visitor
      to Paris. (2)

3.   What evidence is there that Hitler was deeply satisfied with his visit to Paris? (2)

4.   From your study of World War II, what was Vichy France? (2)

Junior Cert (Higher Level): Q.1 - Pictures

Main Page: Junior Cert (Higher Level)

The first things you'll notice about your Junior Cert paper when you get it are the pictures on your source paper. The source paper contains the pictures for the Picture Questions, and the documents for the Document Questions.

Picture Questions feature topics from each of the three years. The topics which appeared on Picture Questions in the last few years are as follows:

2017: Ancient Ireland (Newgrange), The Middle Ages, Nazi Germany

2016: The Plantations, The American Revolution, World War II

2015: Early Christian Ireland, The Middle Ages (Plague), Social Change (Mary Robinson).

2014: The Middle Ages/The Agricultural Revolution, Irish Independence, Social Change.

2013: The work of the historian, the Renaissance, the Irish War of Independence.

2012: Ancient Ireland (mixture), the 1916 Rising, the Inter-Party government.

You might be tempted to look for patterns there, but really there's no way to predict what could come up next. Topics that have appeared constantly (such as Ancient Ireland and the Middle Ages) continue to do so, and topics that haven't appeared before (such as the Famine or Irish governments) can appear as well.

Every picture has three questions attached to it. The first two will be about features or information contained on the picture. The third question usually asks you something else about the topic in question.

Answering a Picture Question

Study the pictures carefully:
Don't just glance at them. Have a look at what they are, and look at the details, you might be asked a question about one of them.

Read the questions carefully:
If you're asked to give two pieces of information, don't just give one. If you're asked to give one piece of information, don't waste your time giving more.

Timekeeping:
The Picture Questions are worth 15 marks altogether. They can be an easy source for marks, but you must not spend too much time on them. Other parts of the paper carry much more marks with them. You should spend only about 10 minutes on the Picture Question.

Sample Picture Questions

2012 HIGHER LEVEL, Q.1

Pictures A1 and A2 show objects on display in the National Museum of Ireland.

1. Tick the correct box to show when these objects were made: (1)

Neolithic Ireland __

Early Christian Ireland __

Medieval Ireland __

2. Give one piece of evidence to show that highly skilled craftsmen made these objects. (2)

3. Apart from displaying objects, mention one purpose of a museum. (2)

Picture B is a map showing key buildings held by the rebels during the Easter Rising 1916.

1. Which building was used by the rebels as their headquarters during the Rising? (1)

2. Which building, an important symbol of British rule shown on the map, was not taken by
the rebels? (2)

3. From your study of the Easter Rising 1916, give two reasons why it was a military failure. (2)

Picture C is an election poster from the 1954 general election campaign.

1. How many years was Fianna Fáil in power before the 1954 general election? (1)

2.   Using evidence from the poster, give one reason why people should vote for the
      Inter-Party Government. (2)

3.   Name any two political parties involved in the Inter-Party Governments 1948-1951 and
      1954-1957. (2)

2009 HIGHER LEVEL, Q.1

Picture A shows a medieval monk working as a scribe.

1.   From Picture A, name one tool or material used by the monk to copy the manuscript. (1)

2.   Why was the work of the scribe so highly valued by people in the Middle Ages? (2)

3.   Apart from copying manuscripts, mention two services which medieval monasteries provided
      to the local community. (2)

Picture B is a painting by Walter Paget of the scene inside Dublin's General Post Office (GPO) during Easter week 1916.

1.   Name the leader of the rebellion marked X. (1)

2. From Picture B, give two pieces of evidence to show that the rebels in the GPO were under
      fierce attack. (2)

3.   Apart from the GPO, mention two buildings occupied by the rebels during Easter week
      1916. (2)

Pictures C1 and C2 are British posters from the time of World War II.

1. From Picture C1 or Picture C2, give one example of the type of work that the women were
      asked to do. (1)

2.   During World War II, why were British women encouraged to work outside the home? (2)

3.   From your study of World War II, give two reasons why Britain was successful in the Battle of
      Britain, 1940. (2)

People in History: A soldier in World War II

Main Page: World War II

A scene from the Normandy Landings in 'Saving Private Ryan'.
© Paramount Pictures

Have you seen Saving Private Ryan? If you have, you're probably familiar with what life was like for Allied soldiers trying to take Europe back from German control. For a soldier People in History question, sometimes you might just be asked to write about "a soldier", other times you could be asked to write as a British/American soldier or a German soldier. We're going to go with an American soldier here.

The thing you (hopefully) have noticed about History by now is that a lot of the different topics you study link in to each other. Most of the points in the tips below you should know from studying World War II, but you might notice there's also a point you learned when you studied Northern Ireland. Keep an eye out for links like that.

Start by introducing yourself. Say you're an American soldier.

First, talk about your training. US troops deployed to Europe underwent training in Northern Ireland. Where did the other soldiers come from?

Now, talk about the aim of your mission: what was the aim of Operation Overlord?

Mention how the war has been fought in the air and sea, and describe how you and your fellow troops will be travelling to Normandy. What is the plan?

What beach did you land at? What did you encounter when you got there? Describe briefly what would have happened.

You and your men have defeated the Germans in Normandy. What next? You're making a slow advance to a certain city, which is it?

You're not alone of course. Talk about the Resistance in France.

You're nearly in that city, and France will soon be liberated. But who's attacking the Germans from the East? How do you think this war will end?

So, in short...

Introduce yourself.
The aim of your mission.
How battles have been fought and how you will get to Normandy (the plan).
The beach you landed at and what you encountered.
What happened after you defeated the Germans at Normandy.
The French Resistance.
The Soviet troops attacking Germany from the east.

Don't...

get confused between battles and places. You're in France in 1944, nowhere else.
write anything irrelevant.
make anything up!

Third Year: International Relations in the 20th Century: Exam Questions

Main Page: International Relations in the 20th Century

This is not a complete list of the short questions on this topic from past papers, it is a
sample amount.

Click here for exam question tips.

SHORT QUESTIONS (HL and OL)

This is not a complete list of the short questions on this topic from past papers, it is a
sample amount.

HIGHER LEVEL

1. Why was the League of Nations set up in 1919? (2012 HL)

2. Mention two actions taken by Hitler to become dictator of Germany. (2015 HL, 2012 HL)

3. In Nazi Germany what were the Nuremberg Laws? (2015 HL)

4. What was appeasement? (2015 HL)

5. In Mussolini's Italy who were the squadistri? (2010 HL)

6. Explain one of the following terms, in relation to Mussolini: (2015 HL)
March on Rome The Lateran Treaty The Abyssinia Campaign

7. Name the British Prime Minister who attended the Munich Conference, September 1938.
(2010 HL)

8. Mention one decision made by the Allied leaders at the Yalta Conference, 1945. (2009 HL)

9. What was the Maginot Line? (2008 HL)

10. Name two countries invaded by Germany in April, 1940. (2008 HL)

11. Explain one of the following terms: Containment, CAP, Decolonisation. (2008 HL)

12. Give two reasons why the Germans were unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles. (2007 HL)

13. What was the Night of the Long Knives, 1934? (2006 HL)

ORDINARY LEVEL

1. From your study of International Relations in the 20th Century, mention one historic event which
    followed from World War II. (2012 OL)

2. Choose one of the following terms and explain it: (2012 OL)
              Nazi Party,       Soviet Union;       Nationalist;       Common Market.

3. Name one important political leader, outside of Ireland, from the period 1945-1989 and the
    country he/she was involved with. (2010 OL)

4. Explain one of the following terms: (2009 OL)
              Dictator;       Superpower;       Common Market;       Empire.

5. From your study of International Relations in the 20th Century, give one reason why Fascism or
    Nazism were popular between 1922 and 1939. (2008 OL)

PEOPLE IN HISTORY (OL and HL)

A German soldier who took part in Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of Russia, June 1941)

OR

A British or American soldier who took part in D-Day (Allied landings in France, June 1944)
(2014 HL, 2008 HL, appeared in 2011 OL as A solider fighting in WWII)

A named leader involved in one of the crises during the rise of the superpowers (Berlin Blockade; Korean War; Cuban Missile Crisis).

OR

A named leader in the movement for European unity between 1945-1992.

OR

A named leader in the struggle for African or Asian independence after 1945.
(2010 HL, 2007 HL)

A person who lived through one of the following historical periods:

The rise of the Superpowers (the Cold War), 1945-1992
Moves towards European unity, 1945-1992
African or Asian nationalism, 1945-1992

(2011 OL)

A named leader involved in ONE of the 20th century international events below:

Peace and war in Europe, 1920-1945.
The rise of the Superpowers (the Cold War), 1945-1992
Moves towards European unity, 1945-1992
African or Asian nationalism, 1945-1992

(2009 OL)

LONG QUESTION (Q.6) (HL)

2012 HL Q.6D

1. Explain two of the following terms relating to Mussolini's rule in Italy, 1922-1943:   (2x2)
              Acerbo Law;       Blackshirts;       Lateran Treaty;       Rome-Berlin Axis.


2. Write an account of one of the following: (10)
      (a) Nazi propaganda.
      (b) Nazi economy.
      (c) The Nazis and the Jews.

3. Select one topic from 1, 2 or 3 below:

    Topic 1: The Rise of the Superpowers

      (a) Explain two of the following terms:   (2x2)
           Containment;      Marshall Plan;      Satellite States;      Iron Curtain.

      (b) Write an account of a named major crisis in the Cold War between the USA and the USSR
            during the period, 1945-63. (12)

   Topic 2: Moves towards European Unity

      (a) Explain two of the following terms:   (2x2)
                Benelux Union;      ECSC;      CAP;      Treaty of Rome, 1957.

      (b) Write an account of the growth of the European Union since 1957. (12)

   Topic 3: African and Asian Nationalism

      (a) Explain two of the following terms:   (2x2)
           Empire;      Imperialism;      Nationalism;      Decolonisation.

      (b) Write an account of the main events in the movement for independence in a named African or
            Asian country since 1945.

2010 HL Q.6D

1. Give two reasons why Mussolini's Fascist party gained support in Italy after 1919. (2x2)

2. In your answerbook supply the missing words in the following sentences. You should number the
    words correctly, but you need not re-write the sentences. (1x6)

       a.   President __________ appointed Hitler as Chancellor (Prime Minister) of Germany.

       b.   Hitler passed the __________ Law, which allowed him to rule by decree.

       c.   The secret police, the __________ was established to put down opposition.

       d. Ernst Rohm and other political opponants were killed by the SS on the Night
            ___________________________.

       e.   Propaganda, directed by Josef __________ was used to promote Nazi ideas.

       f.   Boys aged 14 had to join the Hitler Youth and girls of the same age had to join the League
            ___________________________.

3. Write an account of two of the following: (10x2)
(a) The defeat of France, 1940.
(b) The Battle of Britain.
(c) The Holocaust.
(d) Operation Overlord.

2008 HL Q.6D

1. Give two reasons why Fascist leaders gained support in Europe in the 1920s and the 1930s. (2)

2. Write an account of one of the following: (10)
(a) Mussolini's political achievements, 1922-1939.
(b) Education and youth control in Nazi Germany.
(c) Hitler's treatment of the Jews, 1933-1939.

3. Give two reasons why the League of Nations failed to keep the peace in Europe during the
1930s. (4)

4. Choose Topic 1 or 2 or 3 below.

Topic 1: The Rise of the Superpowers

      Name one of the leaders shown above (a), (b) or (c) and write an account of a major crisis in the
      Cold War, 1945-63, in which that leader was involved. (14)


    Topic 2: Moves towards European Unity

      Name one important personality in the movement for greater European unity, 1947-72, and
      write an account of that person's role in the movement. (14)

   Topic 3: African and Asian Nationalism

      Name one leader involved in the movement for independence in a named African or Asian
      country since 1945 and write an account of that leader's role in the movement. (14)

Welcome!

The best and brightest of the Renaissance are here to welcome you. The others will be along shortly.

Welcome to the History Blog! This site is designed to help you with your study of Junior Cert and Leaving Cert History. To the left, you'll see links for each year. Click on your year and you will find a list of all the topics you will study. Each topic page has information, tips and links to pictures, games and other useful websites.

How does this site work?

A note for parents and teachers.

As well as the topics you study in school, the In the News, Things to Watch Out For and On This Day sections below give you information on other things that happened in history, from the Stone Age as far as yesterday.

The trailer for Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" has been released. The film is set to cover Abraham Lincoln's time as President of the United States, his efforts to abolish slavery, and the civil war that followed.

Have you studied Emily Dickinson in English? The Emily Dickinson museum in her home town of Amherst, Massachusetts has revealed what is thought to be only the second known photograph of her. (full story here)

Archaeologists in Britain have excavated a skeleton they believe might belong to King Richard III, who doesn't appear in the History course but is famous for fighting and dying at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. (full story here)

September 20th

Statue of Robert Emmet in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin.

1519:
Ferdinand Magellan begins his voyage to travel around the whole world.

1803:
Robert Emmet is executed in Dublin for his part in trying to stage a rebellion.

1881:
Chester A. Arthur becomes US President after the assassination of James Garfield.

1909:
The UK Parliament creates the colony of South Africa by merging four smaller colonies.

1920:
Kevin Barry is captured by British forces.

1967:
The Queen Elizabeth II liner is launched.

1977:
Vietnam is admitted to the United Nations.

2001:
In a speech to Congress, US President George W. Bush declares a "war on terror".

coming soon

3rd Year: Option 3: African and Asian Nationalism

Patrice Lumumba, a Congolese independence leader.

Main Page: International Relations in the 20th Century

Over the last three years, your study of History has been centrered around three particular places:

Ireland, because that's where you live;
Europe, because Ireland is a part of it; and
America, which has become one of the most powerful nations in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian independence leader.

Two huge parts of the world which tend to get left out are Africa and Asia. If you go on to study History in Leaving Cert, you'll learn more about African and Asian history (e.g. decolonisation, the Vietnam war) but for now, the third and final option you can study at the end of the Junior Cert course is African and Asian nationalism.

Whether you do Africa or Asia depends on your textbook - most feature only Asia - and there are different countries and figures you can focus on, again depending on the textbooks.

If you're interested in learning more, visit the European Retreat from the Empire and the Aftermath, 1945-1990 page from the Leaving Cert part of the site.

This is one of three option topics you can study. The other two options are The Rise of the Superpowers and Moves Toward European Unity.

Click to go back to Third Year.

Background: who had colonised the country?

Origin of the independence movement.

The independence movement's aims and actions.

Negotiations between the colonising power and the movement.

Problems and difficulties encountered.

Independence declared: When? Where? How?

Results.

People celebrating Congolese independence in 1960.

Click here for exam questions you can be asked about this topic. (Higher and Ordinary)

PEOPLE IN HISTORY (HL and OL)

A named leader in the struggle for African or Asian independence after 1945. (2010 HL)

BBC: From Empire to Independence

The front page of the Times of India, 15 August 1947

The BBC takes a look at Indian history as a British colony, right up to Indian independence and beyond.

India's Independence Day, 1947 (YouTube)
This British newsreel film shows the celebrations in India and in Pakistan (which became independent at the same time) as independence became a reality.

Independence Day in India
Learn more about how India celebrates its independence here.

BBC: Mahatma Gandhi
Biography of the Indian independence leader.

Mahatma Gandhi
A slightly easier to read biography from HLS.

The End of the Belgian Congo
Learn the background to the Congolese independence movement here.

Patrice Lumumba
A short biography of the Congolese independence leader.

People in History: A named leader in the struggle for African or Asian independence

Main Page: African and Asian Independence

Mahatma Gandhi outside 10 Downing Street,
London in 1931.

By now, you should be well practised at answering People in History questions! The named leader of an independence struggle that you pick will depend on what African or Asian country you learned about, if you did this option. For this example, we'll go with Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.

Introduce the country you are talking about. In India's case, talk about who colonised it, and how India was as a colony (the "jewel in the crown").

Next, talk about the calls for independence. This is where you name your leader. What were Gandhi's aims? What was he a member of?

What actions did he and his movement take? (strikes, visiting Downing St., etc)

What did the British offer? Why was Home Rule turned down? What happened to Gandhi during WWII?

After the war: What was the Labour government's concern? Who did they appoint to India?

What solution did the government and Gandhi reach?

After independence, Gandhi tried to stop the sectarian violence that was breaking about between Hindus and Muslims. What happened to him?

So, in short...

Introduce the country and briefly give its background.
Talk about the calls for independence, introduce Gandhi and his aims.
What actions did he and his movement take?
What did the British offer? What happened during WWII?
What was the situation after the war?
What solution was found?
Finish with sectarian violence and what happened to Gandhi.

Don't...

write about a country or independence movement you don't know about.
write anything irrelevant.

Welcome!

The best and brightest of the Renaissance are here to welcome you. The others will be along shortly.

September 20th

Statue of Robert Emmet in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin.

coming soon

People in History: A named leader in the movement for European unity between 1945 - 1992

Main Page: Moves Toward European Unity

Robert Schuman on the cover of
Time magazine (1 March 1948)

Today on the news you might hear the names Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande, Mario Draghi or Jose Manuel Barosso. Each of these figures - and many more - are currently involved in the European Union in some way. In the European Unity topic that you study, you learn about the figures who worked together to create a union in the first place.

If you find yourself asked to write about a named leader in the European unity movement, an easy person to write about is Robert Schuman, the former Prime Minister of France who created the Schuman Plan in 1950.

So, how would you approach this?

Name him and give a brief background. (Robert Schuman was born in Luxembourg in 1886...)

Talk about his upbringing in Europe. Schuman grew up in France and took great pride in that country, but he lived in Alsace, which was a part of Germany at the time.

Talk about his involvement in WWII. He was elected to the French parliament after World War I and was taken prisoner during World War II. What did he do? Who did he work with?

Next, talk about his career after World War II. What was his new role? What did he fear? How did he think this fear could be removed?

The answer to that last question can be summed up with the Schuman Plan. When did he announce it? What was it about?

Now, his role in achieving European unity. Who did he persuade to support the ECSC? What did he hope to achieve?

Finally, talk about his later career. What was he elected President of in 1958? You can end with his death in 1963.

So, in short...

Name him and give some brief background.
Talk about his upbringing and nationality.
His involvement in World War II.
His career after WWII.
The Schuman Plan.
Actions taken to achieve European unity.
His later career.

Don't...

get confused between Schuman and any of the other figures you learn about.
write anything irrelevant.

Welcome!

The best and brightest of the Renaissance are here to welcome you. The others will be along shortly.

September 20th

Statue of Robert Emmet in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin.

coming soon