Do you have any questions or comments? Don't hesitate to get in touch: urs.capaul [AT] ksbg.ch
Do you have any questions or comments? Don't hesitate to get in touch: urs.capaul [AT] ksbg.ch
All the relevant information concerning the Vormatura exam in History will be posted here:
The filled-in and signed sign-up form must be handed in by Friday, 23 June 2017. The most important information about the exam can be found in this document.
Don't forget that you can still access all the older exam topics by scrolling down (for the 3rd year topics) or on this page (for the 2nd year topics). The old exam questions can be found here until the end of the summer holiday.
4. The United States Enter the War
You know about US Foreign Policy in the 19th century. You know the Monroe Doctrine. You know why the US did not want to be dragged into WWI. You know why the US felt closer to the Entente than the Central Powers. You know what events led to a growing resentment towards Germany (Keywords: Lusitania and Zimmermann Telegram to name but a few). You know what made President Wilson change his mind about going to war. You are aware of Wilson's arguments in favour of joining the war. You know what role the American Economy and the Russian Revolution played in his decision. You know how the American involvement changed the course of war.
5. The End of War
You know why 1917 is generally considered to be a key year in history. You know what caused Germany's defeat and how General Ludendorff tried to prevent it. You know what the „stab-in-the-back myth“ (Dolchstosslegende) is and how it relates to German defeat. You know what caused the November Revolution in Germany, who took to the streets and what the consequences were. You are able to compare and assess the aims of the French, the British and the American delegation at the peace conference. You know the most important results (in territorial, military and economic terms as well as article 231) of the peace treaty of Versailles. Based on the treaty you can assess whose point of view prevailed in the end and can also explain why Germany felt unfairly treated. You know the most important changes to the map of Europe as a consequence of WWI. You know about the aftermath of WWI (p.21) including but not limited to: the uniqueness of this war, the consequences for the old empires, but also for France and Great Britain as well as the US, why WWI is called „the great seminal catastrophe of the 20th century“, what the link to the Russian Revolution is and how this affected history well into the 2nd half of the 20th century and what Hitler's rise to power has to do with it.
6. Switzerland During WWI
You know about the Swiss Foreign Policy in the 19th century. You know what consequences the war had on the Swiss soldiers and their families. You can explain the growing rift between the German speaking and the French/Italian speaking part of Switzerland in the course of WWI. You know the economic winners and losers in Switzerland during the war and you can explain who won/lost and can also give reasons for it. You have heard of the Spanish Flu and its effects. You know about the General Strike (Landesstreik) of 1918: What caused it, what the general demands were and how it all ended. You even know how our very own KSBG was affected by the First World War.
Read the first 2 chapters (Life + Achievements) of the book. There will be some general comprehension questions about what you have read.
Read the extra pages 23-25 about „Switzerland during the First World War“ and answer the questions as well.
Once you have done that, browse some of the resources on the following websites:
http://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/dossiers/die-schweiz-und-der-erste-weltkrieg
https://www.srf.ch/kultur/gesellschaft-religion/der-1-weltkrieg
https://zeitfenster1916.ch
https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/es-war-einmal-im-sprachengraben-1.18671412
Look at the notes you took during the presentations: You should know the most important things about the 10 topics that we looked at.
1. The Origins
You know why the 19th century is also called „The Long Century“ and you know what views and attitudes were predominant during the time leading up to WWI. You can assess the role the emerging German Empire and/or Imperialism played in tipping that delicate European balance of power at the turn of the century. You know the relationships (as well as the alliances) between the Great European Powers at the beginning of the 20th century. You know and understand all the different alliances: The League of Three Emperors, Dual/Triple Alliance, Entente Cordiale, Triple Entente and can also explain the terms Splendid Isolation and Encirclement in this context. You know about the pre-war crises in Morocco and in the Balkans and why the Balkans in particular were regarded as a powder keg.
2. The Outbreak
You know about the assassination in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. You have some background on both the perpetrator (Gavrilo Princip) and victim (Franz Ferdinand). You know how both Austria-Hungary and Germany initially reacted to the assassination. You know what is meant by „Blank Cheque“ in this context and what its consequences were. You (roughly) know what happened on a diplomatic level between the different nations between the beginning of July and 4 August 1914. You know the „Schlieffen Plan“ and what problems the sheer existence of it caused during the July crisis. You know Germany's, Austria-Hungary's, Russia's, France's, Belgium's and Great Britain's role/goals during the July crisis. You know William II's main statements in his speech „An das deutsche Volk!“. You know why different (German) social classes reacted differently to the outbreak of war. You can critically assess the question of war quilt (Kriegsschuldfrage) from different perspectives.
3. The Course of the War
You know the main events of the war (before the USA enter the war in 1917). In this context you know the following keywords (in no particular order): Belgium, Marne, race to the sea, trench warfare, stalemate, technology of killing (machine guns, artillery, gas, tanks, planes - also see p. 22), Haber/Bosch, Battle of Verdun, Battle of the Somme. You also know about other theatres of war like the Alps and the Middle East. You can explain the role the Ottoman Empire played in the Middle East and what (short-term & long-term) consequences the war in the Middle East had for the region. You know about the war propaganda during WWI, what tactics were used and why it was so important.
It goes without saying that the answers to the questions in the script and your other personal notes should also be part of your preparation for the exam.
Read pages 10-13 (The Course of War) and 22 (The Technology of Killing) - try to answer the questions as well.
For a more visual approach, feel free to watch some of the videos linked below:
All „The Great War“ videos in chronological order (particularly videos 5-25): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB2vhKMBjSxMK8YelHj6VS6w3KxuKsMvT
(„The Great War“ YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar)
The exam is based on the script „Imperialism - Europe Conquers the World“.
1. Why Europe Wanted to Conquer the World
You know the political situation in Europe in the 19th century. You know the significance of the terms „balance of power“, „splendid isolation“ and „holy alliance“ in this context. You can explain the policies the different European nations pursued in the 19th century. You know about the foundation of the German empire and how the balance of power changed because of this new great power in the heart of Europe. You know where in the world the most important nations tried to establish new colonies and what their motivation/goals were (cf. extra handout). You are also aware of the nations' most important (strategic/military, nationalist/chauvinist, civilizing, domestic) motives.
2. Great Britain
You know why Great Britain was in the pole position for the global race. You know what strategic consequences the possessions in India had on a global scale. You know the motto the British tried to follow when it came to colonial rule (You can explain why Great Britain always tried to establish informal rule first and when they usually decided to establish direct rule).
3. The Scramble for Africa
You know the situation in Africa before the „Great Scramble“. You can describe the first European expeditions on the African continent. You know the events/hotspots mentioned in the script: Egypt, Congo Free State, Berlin Conference, The Race is On. You know what European nation owned what part(s) of Africa after the Scramble (map p. 6). As a case study: You know the reasons that led to the uprising of the Herero people against German rule in 1904 and how Germany retaliated (extra handout & box p. 11).
4. China - The Middle Kingdom
You know the situation in China before the age of imperialism. You know how the Chinese saw themselves and the rest of the world and what consequences this might have had. You know the differences between the the Chinese and the European economy of the 19th century and why this is important. You know about the social problems in China at that time. You know about the importance of the Opium Wars and why the Chinese were unhappy about the Treaty of Nanjing. You know the reasons for (and the result of) the Boxer Rebellion.
5. Germany
You know the most important events that led to the unification of Germany in 1871. You know the pros and cons of forming a nation-state. You know the definition of a „nationality“. You know what role Bismarck, William I and William II played in German history in the second half of the 19th century and at the turn of the century. You know Chancellor Bismarck's Colonial Policy before and after 1884 - and the reasons for this change of mind. You know about William II's imperial policy and his „weltpolitik“ and what that meant for both the German Empire as well as the rest of the („European“) world.
It goes without saying that the answers to the questions in the script and your other personal notes should also be part of your preparation for the exam.
The exam is based on the script „Industrialisation - Machines Change the World“.
1. Industrialisation in Great Britain
You know all the preconditions that kick-started the Industrialisation in Great Britain (agriculture, proto-industrialisation, economic climate, technological progress, natural resources) and how they all contributed to it. You know the role of the textile industry and the railways in the Industrial Revolution.
2. Industrialisation in Switzerland
You know the difference between the Industrialisation in Great Britain and Switzerland. You know what central factor determined the course of the Industrialisation in Switzerland and why most factories in Switzerland were founded in the countryside. You know what industry was predominant in the Eastern, Central and Western part of Switzerland. You know the most important steps in constructing railway lines in Switzerland, the importance of the Gotthard-Line in this context and how the SBB was founded. You know the history of the chemical industry in Switzerland and can explain why Basel became the centre of this industry.
3. The Industrial Revolution and Its Social Effects
You know what issues fast-growing cities had to solve. You know why the Industrialisation did not only change people's individual lives, but society as a whole. You know what criteria now define a person's social status. You know the role female labour played at that time. You know what factory work meant for the workers. You are aware of the work conditions in the factories at that time. You know about the history of (and reasons for) child labour then and now. You know the difference between the life of a worker in the 19th century and the life of a craftsman in the Middle Ages. You know the term „social question“ and can explain why it became important during the Industrialisation. You know how the industrialists/churches and the workers themselves tried to solve the „social question“. You know the terms Socialism / Marxism / Communism. You know the central elements of the Marxist Theory as laid out in the Communist Manifesto.
It goes without saying that the answers to the questions in the script and your other personal notes should also be part of your preparation for the exam.