Tag Archives: USA

Dr Mary Edwards Walker becomes the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor after service in the American Civil War

Could you pass the 1965 Alabama voter literacy test?
PBS in the United States have published a section of the 1965 Alabama Literacy Test, which was used at the discretition of the voting officials. In Section A of the test a person wishing to vote needed to read aloud a section of the Alabama Constitution. Sections B and C they could be asked any of these questions (or none at all). The literacy test was therefore a way to control who would be able to vote and was primarily used to prevent African-Americans from voting by giving them the hardest sections of the Constitution to read, and requiring them to answer the hardest questions on the test.
Click here to view the test and the answers
For more examples, see http://www.crmvet.org/info/littest.htm

Confederate troops in 1861. Compare to WW1 for cont & change in warfare
This 1861 photograph of Confederate artillery in the American Civil War is a great starter for discussions about continuity and change in warfare. Compare it to images of WW1 field artillery for some interesting student observations. Click to download a full-size version.

The story of Peter Norman, the Australian in this photo.
This is an excellent article about Peter Norman, the white Australian sprinter who was awarded the silver medal alongside John Carlos and Tommie Smith while they raised their black-gloved fists and bowed their heads as the US National Anthem was played.
http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/the-white-man-in-that-photo/

Why was there a revolution in Iran in 1979?
This revision podcast is relevant to both GCSE and IGCSE History students, , although AS and IB students may find it a helpful introduction to events in the Gulf in the later 20th Century. The aim is to present an explanation of the factors that led to the Iranian Revolution in 1979.
The podcast explores three key factors:
- Dissatisfaction with Shah’s government and his handling of the economic and social problems in Iran
- A widespread anti-Western attitude as a result of the Shah’s close relationship with Britain and the USA
- The role and impact of Ayatollah Khomeini
The revision guide aims to give clear examples for each of these factors, and explain how they contributed to the revolution that transformed Iran into a theocracy.

Causes and Consequences of the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-88
This revision podcast is relevant to both GCSE and IGCSE History students, although AS and IB students may find it a helpful introduction to events in the Gulf in the later 20th Century.
The podcast looks at three key factors:
- The different causes of the war, including Iran’s threat to Saddam’s regime, the opportunity for Iraq to gain territory and oil, and timing
- The nature of how the war was fought, including the impact of foreign powers
- The consequences of the war for each nation
The revision guide aims to give clear examples for each of these factors, and explain how students might approach a question on them in the exam.

Origins of the First Gulf War
This revision podcast is aimed at GCSE and IGCSE History students, although AS and IB students may find it a helpful introduction to events in the Gulf in the later 20th Century. This episode focuses on the origins of the Gulf War, with a focus on the causes and consequences of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
The podcast begins with an overview of the background factors to the invasion of Kuwait, and then outlines the events of the invasion itself. The podcast concludes with a description of the effect that the invasion had on the international community, and how foreign nations responded.
The revision guide aims to give clear examples for each of these issues, and provide an explanation of how the events contributed to international action against Iraq that was to become known as the First Gulf War.