Answer three questions from any two topics from the six topics in Section 2: Ireland, and the five topics in Section 3: Europe and the Wider World.

The completion date will be early by two weeks, to be specified later by SEC.

The Assessment Arrangements published by the Department mean that for 2021, students will get away with knowing a lesser portion of the course.

The Later Modern History course for the Leaving Cert is very broad, with a maximum of 12 possible topics to cover, each with multiple sub topics. Often, this intimidates students and makes it difficult to know where to start when it comes to revision. It is possible however, by examining past papers, and the key points in the textbooks, to narrow down your topics of study. It is important to note that while these predictions are based on the past papers, nothing is set in stone and any attempts to shorten the course carry some risk.

Because the United States and the World 1949-1989 is the Document topic, questions relating to it will not appear in this section

Most teachers will pick one topic from Section 2, and two topics from Section 3 to study in addition to the document topic, so the course is already significantly narrower

This section is worth 100 marks, that’s one quarter of the total. If you learn the three case studies inside out, along with a bit of contextual/ background information, it will definitely be answerable.

This is the first year of the United States and the World as a Document Case Study question, so it is difficult to narrow down which will come up. There are no anniversaries coming up in 2020, so this can’t be used to help either. It is possible that increasingly tense race relations in the US could influence the appearance of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, but this is purely speculative and should not be relied upon.

The first question you will encounter is the Document question. It is possible that any one of the three subjects could come up. These are:

(Topics in bold are those that are most common on exam papers)

As per the official course syllabus, these perspectives are as follows:

An easy way to narrow down the history course is to only focus on two out of the three perspectives for each topic. Every topic is broken up into three perspectives:

Attitudes towards the Irish language , the impact of television, the impact of Vatican II , the communications revolution

Alternating economic and social policies of governments, Economic planning, Changes in education, health and social welfare, economic issues of the 70s and 80s, Anglo-Irish relations , Ireland’s involvement in the UN and the EEC

From Brookeborough to O’Neill; the Civil Rights movement ; emergence of the Provisional IRA; the fall of Stormont; Direct Rule; Republican and Loyalist terrorism; Sunningdale and power-sharing; the Anglo-Irish Agreement, 1985 . The Republic – responses to the “Troubles”. The Downing Street Declaration, 1993.

Role of Catholic Church and GAA in sustaining a sense of Irishness among emigrants; Irish missionaries in Africa and Asia. Role of Protestant churches in fostering an Ulster Scottish identity. The Orange Order in Canada and Australia. The creation of Irish images through film and music . Links between Ireland and the wider Irish community through tourism and heritage. The impact of John F. Kennedy

Anti-Irish sentiment in both US and Britain in the 19th century ; Irish participation in politics in the USA and in Britain; the Molly Maguires ; Irish nationalism as an international force from the Famine to independence ; the anti-partition campaign; Ulster Unionist efforts to lobby for international support among Ulster emigrants.

The main trends in Irish emigration by origin , destination and type of emigrant; their occupations and where they settled in the country of immigration : pre-1845; the Famine decade, 1845-1855; 1855-1914; 1920-1966. Increased restriction and regulation of emigration after 1920.

The Home Rule Bill, 1912-1914. The impact of World War I; the 1916 Rising; the rise of the second Sinn Féin party; the 1918 election; the War of Independence; Partition;Treaty and Civil Wa r. State building and the consolidation of democracy; from Free State to Republic. Northern Ireland – the Unionist Party in power. The impact of World War II, North and South. Anglo-Irish relations.

Impact of partition on economy and society; impact of world economic crisis; from free trade to protectionism; impact of World War II

The Home Rule movement: origins; development; leadership – Butt, Parnell, Redmond . The Suffrage movement. The first Sinn Féin party. The Irish Volunteers. Unionism and the Ulster Question.

Land agitation and land reform . Unionisation of the working classes. The Co-operative Movement. Industrial development in Belfast: the shipyards . Educational reforms: schools and universities.

Developments in the creation of cultural and religious identities ; the creative arts; developments in science and technology

Administrative and political structures under the Act of Union. O’Connell – the campaigns for Emancipation and Repeal, achievements; the Tithe War; the Poor Law ; Young Ireland. Government responses to Famine . Electoral reform; sectarianism in politics; Fenianism ; Liberal reforms.

Tensions between indigenous culture and colonial culture; the spread of Islam and Christianity in Africa; the Islamic faith in Europe; cultural diversity in multi-racial Britain and France ; English as a world language; post-colonial literature.

Implications of World War II for European role in Asia ; independence struggles and the reactions of the European powers (with particular reference to India, Indochina and East Indies); post-independence relations with the colonial power. British withdrawal from Palestine and origins of Arab-Israeli conflict; the Suez Crisis, 1956. Africa – the “winds of change ” (with particular reference to Algeria, Nigeria, the Congo, Tanzania and Angola); post-independence relations with the colonial power

Economic consequences of the process of de-colonisation; the Lomé Conventions; trade, aid and famine in postcolonial Africa; Julius Nyerere and the policy of ujamaa . Immigration patterns and policies in different European states – Britain, France.

Literature and social criticism, East and West. Changing patterns in religious observance . Youth and popular culture (including sport) and the mass media. The impact of (a) advances in the biological sciences (b) nuclear power and (c) the computer

Origins of Cold War; division of Germany; “ Sovietisation” of Eastern Europe ; military alliances; main crises of Cold War; emergence of reform movements in Eastern Europe ; collapse of Soviet Union; fragmentation and realignment in Europe. Moves towards European unity, 1945-1957; establishment and evolution of EEC.

The Western economies, 1945-1973: the era of economic growth; Marshall Aid; moves towards free trade; immigration; the Welfare State . The Western economies, 1973-1990 : impact of the Oil Crisis ; recession and the rise in unemployment. The Communist economies: problems and outcomes. Marriage, the family and the changing role of women. Affluence, leisure time and the consumer society

Nazi propaganda – State control and use of mass media. Church-state relations under Mussolini and Hitler . Anglo-American popular culture in peace and war: radio and cinema. The technology of warfare.

Origins and growth of the fascist regimes in Europe; the Nazi state in peace and war. Communism in Russia : the regimes of Lenin and Stalin; the Stalinist state in peace and war. France: the Third Republic, 1920-1940, and the Vichy state. Wartime alliances, 1939-1945.

Economic and social problems of the inter-war years, with particular reference to Britain and Germany . The Soviet alternative. Society during World War II: the Home Front; rationing/evacuees; refugees; collaboration/resistance. Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust

Expression of national identity through literature and the arts; the literature of World War I. Church/State tensions in Germany and Italy. Anti-Semitism in France and Russia. Key developments in science, technology and medicine

The Second Reich and the changing balance of power; Anglo- and Franco-German tensions; Bismarck’s foreign policy. The structures of European diplomacy; the New Imperialism and colonial rivalries; Wilhelm II and Weltpolitik . Serbia as a fulcrum of Great Power rivalry. The Second International. The outbreak of war in 1914; the conduct of war; war and revolution; the Peace Settlement

Economic growth and social tensions: industrialisation in Germany and its impact on society; industrialisation and economic crisis in Tsarist Russia ; the impact of war on society and economy

The Germanic lands from Confederation to Empire: the system of Metternich under attack . Autocracy in the East: Balkan nationalism; Greece and Serbia. Italy moves towards unity. The State in France : monarchy, republic and Empire.

As there are four questions for each topic, it is highly likely that at least one question from each perspective will come up. As you only have to answer one question under any one topic heading, it is possible to only pick two of these perspectives in each topic to study.

Know your case studies

Another way to narrow down the course is to only study the case studies, as highlighted in the standard course textbooks. The case studies are highlighted in order to make obvious the most important parts of the topic, and are therefore very likely to come up. The regularity at which these case studies appear on the papers can also be indicative of larger areas that may come up. For example, the frequency of questions relating to the elections of 1885 and 1886 would suggest that Home Rule is a generally popular topic among the SEC. The case studies are as follows: Ireland and the Union, 1815 – 1870 Private responses to the Famine, 1845 – 1849 (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2012) The campaign for Catholic Emancipation, 1823 – 1829 (2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) The Synod of Thurles 1850 and the Romanisation of the Catholic Church (2015, 2014, 2013)

Movements for political and social reform, 1870-1914 The elections of 1885 and 1886: issues and outcomes (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) Dublin 1913 – Strike and lockout (2019, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013) The GAA to 1891 (2018, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012)

The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 1912-1949 The Treaty negotiations, October – December 1921 (2018, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012) Belfast during World War II (2019, 2012) The Eucharistic Congress, 1932 (2019, 2018, 2017, 2012)

The Irish Diaspora, 1840 – 1966 Grosse Isle (2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) De Valera in America, June 1919 – December 1920 (2018, 2016) The Holy Ghost Mission to Nigeria, 1945 – 1966 (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013)

Politics and society in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993 The Sunningdale Agreement and the power-sharing executive, 1973 – 1974 (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) The Coleraine University controversy (2019, 2016, 2013, 2012) The Apprentice Boys of Derry (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012)

Government, economy and society in Ireland, 1949 – 89 The First Programme for Economic Expansion, 1958 – 63 (2017, 2014, 2013) Impact of the EEC on fisheries (2016, 2015, 2014, 2012) The impact of RTÉ, 1962 – 72 (2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012)

Nationalism and state formation in Europe, 1815-1871 The 1848 Revolution in Germany (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012) Robert Owen’s model village at New Lanark (2019, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012) Haussmann’s Paris (2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013)

Nation states and international tensions, 1871-1920 The naval policy of Wilhelm II (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012) Women in the workforce during World War I (2017, 2014, 2012) The invention and early history of the motor car (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013)

Dictatorship and democracy in Europe, 1920 – 1945 Stalin’s Show Trials (2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) The Jarrow March, October 1936 (2019, 2015, 2014, 2013) The Nuremberg Rallies (This usually features as an aspect of Hitler’s domestic policies)

Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1992 The Hungarian Uprising, 1956 (2018, 2016, 2014, 2013) The Oil Crisis, 1973 (2019, 2016, 2015, 2012) The Second Vatican Council (2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012)

European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1990 British withdrawal from India, 1945 – 1947 (2018, 2017, 2015, 2014) The secession of Katanga, 1960 – 1965 (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014) Race relations in France in the 1980s (2019, 2018, 2016, 2015)

** It is very important, as with the Document topic case studies, to have some contextual or background information. These case studies rarely come up independent of related topics. **

Question style

It is important in looking at the past papers that you take notice of the question style usually employed for different topics. For example, when referring to Lyndon B. Johnson and Vietnam, the question commonly asks about his strengths and weaknesses as a president. The same can be said of many of the key figures, as well as whole regimes – another common phrasing of these questions is “How well did X deal with the obstacles/ difficulties that they faced?”. Other topics, such as the GAA and the cultural revival in Ireland, tend to come up in questions that ask you to talk about the impact of certain movements. When writing practice essays, keep these types of questions in mind, and when learning information, make notes of how you can use it to answer these strengths/weaknesses/impacts questions.

Key figures and theme words

When revising, it is very important to look at the key figures and theme words as laid out in most standard textbooks. These are the words and people that will usually come up in the questions, and without a thorough understanding of their significance, questions will be difficult to answer properly. Similarly, the more of these words and names that you can use in your essays, the more likely it is that you will get a high mark. For example, in the case of the United States and the World topic, Lyndon Johnson is a key personality. He regularly comes up in questions regarding the Vietnam War, and without him, it is difficult to write an answer on this topic. Similarly, propaganda is one of the key concepts for Dictatorship and Democracy in Europe, and is an important feature of both Mussolini and Hitler’s domestic policies.