America 1920-1973: Opportunity and inequality is a period study that focuses on the development of the USA over the course of around fifty years. The course covers the inequality in America, with segregation and poverty, and also the opportunity, with economic success, consumerism and entertainment. You will study the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of America in this period, and the role of key individuals and groups in shaping the USA.

This study enables you to gain a deeper understanding of America and the combination of great opportunity and great inequality that existed in the 20th century. You will investigate the impact of presidential policies, the cultural changes, the economic developments, and the divisions that have shaped America. This course will enable you to develop the historical skills of comparing and evaluating interpretations, explanation, and making judgements.

America 1920-1973 is split into 3 key enquiries: The American people and the 'Boom'; Americans' experiences of the Depression and the New Deal; and Post-War America.

• ❖ Enquiry 1 looks at America in the 1920s. It considers the causes and impact of the 'Boom', the social and cultural developments, and the divisions that existed within society with anti-immigrant and racist tension.
• ❖ Enquiry 2 looks at America in the 1930s and during the Second World War. It considers the impact of the Depression, Roosevelt's New Deal, and the impact of the Second World War.
• ❖ Enquiry 3 looks at post-war America. It considers American society with the developments in culture, McCarthyism, and consumerism. It also covers the civil rights campaigns, women's campaigns, and the presidential policies of Kennedy and Johnson.

Some of the key individuals studied on this course include:

• ❖ Henry Ford.
• ❖ Herbert Hoover.
• ❖ Al Capone.
• ❖ Franklin D Roosevelt.
• ❖ Martin Luther King.
• ❖ Malcolm X.
• ❖ John F Kennedy.
• ❖ Lyndon B Johnson.

Some of the key events you will study on this course include:

• ❖ The Economic 'Boom'.
• ❖ The Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression.
• ❖ The New Deal.
• ❖ The impact of the Second World War.
• ❖ The Red Scare.
• ❖ The Civil Rights Movement.
• ❖ The policies of John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson.

America 1920-1973: Opportunity and inequality forms part of Paper 1, which you have a total of 2 hours to complete. You should spend 1 hour on this section of the paper. There will be 6 exam questions, which will assess what you have learnt on the America 1920-1973 course.

• ❖ Question 1 is worth 4 marks. This question requires you to examine two interpretations, and assesses your ability to show how interpretations differ.
• ❖ Question 2 is worth 4 marks. This question requires you to examine 2 interpretations, and assess why the authors might give different interpretations.
• ❖ Question 3 is worth 8 marks. This question requires you to show your understanding of the two interpretations, and to use your contextual knowledge to evaluate how convincing the interpretations are.
• ❖ Question 4 is worth 4 marks. It requires you to describe two features or characteristics of a particular aspect of the period.
• ❖ Question 5 is worth 8 marks. It requires you to explain how one group or development - such as women, or African Americans - was affected by a key event or development, such as the Second World War.
• ❖ Question 6 is worth 12 marks. It requires you to write an essay based on two given factors. You will need to reach a judgement in a conclusion about which of the factors was more important in affecting a development or a change in the USA.