LC History Textbooks Used:
Leaving Cert History
Course Overview
Leaving Certificate History is designed to foster a deep understanding of human activities in the past, encouraging students to appreciate the complexities and nuances of historical events. The syllabus is divided into two inter-linking parts:
1. Working with Evidence
- History and the Historian: Provides a preliminary exploration of the nature of history, the role of evidence, and the methodologies historians use to interpret the past.
- Documents-Based Study: Involves a structured analysis of historical documents related to a prescribed topic to develop students' evidence-handling skills.
- Research Study: Encourages students to undertake a significant historical research project to further develop their investigative and analytical skills.
2. Topics for Study
Topics are arranged in two fields of study: Early Modern (1492-1815) and Later Modern (1815-1993).
Students choose either the Early Modern or Later Modern field and study two topics from Irish history
and
two from the history of Europe and the wider world within their chosen field.
Below students will find a collection of resources to support their studies.
Overview Notes
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Leaving Cert History Cornell Notes
Layout of the LC History Exam Cornell Notes
Later Modern Topics
The Later Modern field of study (1815-1993) comprises 12 topics split evenly between Irish history and the history of Europe and the wider world. Students focus on key events, developments, and figures within these topics, studying from multiple perspectives: politics and administration, society and economy, and culture, religion, and science.
| Later Modern Ireland (1815-1993) | |
|---|---|
| The Pursuit of Sovereignty and the Impact of Partition (1912-1949) | Politics and Society in Northern Ireland (1949-1993) |
| Later Modern Europe and the Wider World (1815-1992) | |
| Dictatorship and Democracy (1920-1945) (DBQ for 2024 and 2025) | The United States and the World (1945-1989) |
| Assessment | |
| The Research Study Report | Final Written Exam |
Later Modern Ireland (1815-1993)
The Pursuit of Sovereignty and the Impact of Partition (1912-1949)
This period covers the struggle for Irish independence, including the Home Rule crisis, the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence, and the subsequent partition of Ireland. It also deals with the establishment and consolidation of the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland's political landscape, and the impact of World War II.
- Key Elements: Home Rule Bill, 1916 Rising, War of Independence, Treaty and Civil War, state building in the Free State, Northern Ireland politics, and World War II.
- Case Studies: The Treaty negotiations, Belfast during World War II, the Eucharistic Congress.
- Key Personalities: Patrick Pearse, Éamon de Valera, Michael Collins, James Craig.
- Key Concepts: Sovereignty, partition, Ulster Unionism, dominion status, republic, neutrality.
Cornell Notes
Ch. 1 - Unionists and Nationalists in Ireland 1910-1914 Ch. 2 - Towards partition and independence 1914-1923 Ch. 3 - Consolidating democracy and establishing sovereignty Ch. 4 - Irish economic policy 1922-1939 Ch. 5 - Neutrality and after; 1939-1949 Ch. 6 - Promoting cultural identity Ch. 7 - Northern Ireland, 1920-1949 Sovereignty and Partition - Past Exam Essays (HL)PowerPoints
Ch. 1 - Home Rule to Easter Rising Ch. 2 - Towards partition and independence 1914-1923 Ch. 3 - From Truce to Treaty and Civil War Ch. 4 - The Irish Free State, 1923-32 Ch. 5 - Fianna Fáil in Power, 1932-39 Ch. 6 - Ireland in the War Years and After, 1939-49 Ch. 7 - Northern Ireland, 1920-1949Knowledge Organisers
Sovereignty and Partition Knowledge OrganisersQuizlets
Ch. 1 - Unionists and Nationalists in Ireland 1910-1914 Ch. 2 - Towards partition and independence 1914-1923 Ch. 3 - Consolidating democracy and establishing sovereignty Ch. 4 - Irish economic policy 1922-1939 Ch. 5 - Neutrality and after; 1939-1949 Ch. 6 - Promoting cultural identity Ch. 7 - Northern Ireland, 1920-1949Politics and Society in Northern Ireland (1949-1993)
This period focuses on the socio-political developments in Northern Ireland, including the Civil Rights movement, the emergence of the Provisional IRA, and the various attempts at peace and power-sharing agreements. It also examines the impact of these events on the broader society.
- Key Elements: Civil Rights movement, emergence of the Provisional IRA, fall of Stormont, Direct Rule, terrorism, Sunningdale Agreement, Anglo-Irish Agreement.
- Case Studies: The Sunningdale Agreement, the Coleraine University controversy, the Apprentice Boys of Derry.
- Key Personalities: Terence O'Neill, Ian Paisley, John Hume, Gerry Adams.
- Key Concepts: Civil Rights, gerrymandering, terrorism, power-sharing, sectarianism.
Cornell Notes
Ch. 1 - The origin of Northern Ireland Ch. 2 - Culture and society in Northern Ireland Ch. 3 - The Brookeborough Years 1943-1963 Ch. 4 - The Early Years of Terence O'Neill 1963-1967 Ch. 5 - The descent into violence 1967-1969 Ch. 6 - The end of Stormont 1969-1972 Ch. 7 - The Search for Peace Ch. 8 - Stalemate 1975-1979 Ch. 9 - From Thatcher to The Anglo-Irish Agreement 1979-1985 Ch. 10 - From Agreement to Ceasefire, 1985-1994 Politics and Society in Northern Ireland - Past Exam Essays (HL)PowerPoints
Ch. 1 - Northern Ireland, 1949–63 Ch. 2 - New Leadership The O'Neill Years Ch. 3 - The Outbreak of the Troubles Ch. 4 - Descent into Conflict, 1969-72 Ch. 5 - Direct Rule Comes to Northern Ireland Ch. 6 - Direct Rule Continues Ch. 7 - Towards a Lasting Settlement Ch. 8 - The Impact of the Troubles on the Economy and Society of Northern IrelandKnowledge Organisers
Politics and Society Knowledge OrganisersQuizlets
Ch. 1 - The origin of Northern Ireland Ch. 2 - Culture and society in Northern Ireland Ch. 3 - The Brookeborough Years 1943-1963 Ch. 4 - The Early Years of Terence O'Neill 1963-1967 Ch. 5 - The descent into violence 1967-1969 Ch. 6 - The end of Stormont 1969-1972 Ch. 7 - The Search for Peace Ch. 8 - Stalemate 1975-1979 Ch. 9 - From Thatcher to The Anglo-Irish Agreement 1979-1985 Ch. 10 - From Agreement to Ceasefire, 1985-1994Later Modern Europe and the Wider World (1815-1992)
Dictatorship and Democracy (1920-1945)
This topic examines the rise of totalitarian regimes and the impact of World War II. It looks at the fascist states in Europe, the Nazi regime, Stalin's Soviet Union, and the global conflict that reshaped the world order.
- Key Elements: Fascist regimes, Nazi state, Stalinist state, World War II, the Holocaust.
- Case Studies: Stalin's show trials, the Jarrow March, the Nuremberg Rallies.
- Key Personalities: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill.
- Key Concepts: Totalitarianism, propaganda, resistance, war crimes.
Cornell Notes
Ch. 1 - Communist Russia - the first dictatorship Ch. 2 - The Democracies Ch. 3 - The origins and growth of fascism Ch. 4 - Germany from Weimar to Hitler 1919-1945 Ch. 5 - International Relations 1919-1945 Ch. 6 - Anglo-American Popular Culture Dictatorship and Democracy (1920-1945) - Past Exam Essays (HL)PowerPoints
Ch. 1 - Communism in Russia Ch. 2 - Origins And Growth Of The Fascist Regimes In Europe Ch. 3 - Germany in the Inter-war Years, 1920-39 Ch. 4 - Economic And Social Problems In Britain During The Inter-War Years, 1920-39 Ch. 5 - Anglo-American Popular Culture In Peace And War Radio And Cinema Ch. 6 - Politics And Administration In France The Third Republic, 1920–40 And The Vichy State, 1940-44 Ch. 7 - Hitler's Foreign Policy, 1933-39 And The Causes Of The Second World War Ch. 8 - The Second World War, 1939-45 Ch. 9 - Society During The Second World WarKnowledge Organisers
Dictatorship and Democracy Knowledge OrganisersThe United States and the World (1945-1989)
This period examines the role of the United States in global affairs during the Cold War, including its leadership in the Western bloc, the civil rights movement, involvement in the Vietnam War, and advancements in technology and space exploration.
- Key Elements: Cold War leadership, civil rights movement, Vietnam War, space race, end of the Cold War.
- Case Studies: The Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, the Moon Landing.
- Key Personalities: Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan.
- Key Concepts: Containment, civil rights, détente, space exploration.
Cornell Notes
Ch. 1 - US Politics - From Roosevelt to Reagan Ch. 2 - US Foreign Policy 1945-1972 Ch. 3 - American Economy and Society 1945-1989 Ch. 4 - The Demand for Civil Rights Ch. 5 - Culture and Religion Ch. 6 - Advances in Technology The United States and the World (1945-1989) - Past Exam Essays (HL)PowerPoints
Ch. 1 - US Politics Ch. 2 – US Foreign Policy, 1945-72 Ch. 3 – Domestic Factors In US Foreign Policy, 1945-72 Ch. 4 – Decline Of Cold War Certainties, 1972-89 Ch. 5 – Sources Of The US Economic Boom, 1945-68 Ch. 6 – The Declining Economy Domestic Recession Ch. 7 – The Affluent Society Ch. 8 – Consensus 1945-68 Ch. 9 - Collapse Of Consensus, 1968-89 Ch. 10 – Troubled Affluence Ch. 11 – Religion, The Mass Media And Higher Education Ch. 12 – Advances In TechnologyKnowledge Organisers
The US and the World Knowledge OrganisersThe Research Study Report
The research study is a pivotal component of the syllabus aimed at cultivating a spirit of inquiry and self-directed learning in students. It involves selecting a subject of historical significance and conducting an in-depth investigation. Key elements include:
Choosing a Subject
The subject must be well-defined and narrow enough to allow for detailed investigation. It should be of historical significance and based on primary or specialist secondary sources.
Components of the Report:
- Outline Plan: Defines and justifies the proposed subject outlining the aims, approach, and sources.
- Evaluation of Sources: Assesses the relevance, strengths, and weaknesses of the sources used.
- Extended Essay: Presents the main findings and conclusions, reviewing the research process and its effectiveness.
Assessment for the research study constitutes 20% of the total marks with an emphasis on the outline plan, source evaluation, and extended essay.