Essays in Modern History

1914-1989: 25 Key Questions Answered
Author: Russel Tarr | Editor: Andy Dailey

Essays in Modern History provides the perfect handbook for teachers and students seeking answers to some of the most interesting questions investigated at the 16-18 age range.

The 25 essays covers such topics as the causes and consequences of World War One, the Spanish Civil War and the Korean War; the rise of dictators such as Stalin, Franco and Castro; the rule of Lenin, Mao and Pinochet; the foreign policies of Hitler and Mussolini; Cold War crises and conflicts in Germany and Vietnam; and the successes and failures of various post-war US Presidents.

These essays will provide teachers and students not only with some helpful pointers in terms of the main perspectives on interesting topics in modern history, but also some indications about the stylistic demands of essay-writing.

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I hope these essays will provide teachers and students not only with some helpful pointers in terms of the main perspectives on interesting topics in modern history, but also some indications about the stylistic demands of essay-writing.
- Russel Tarr

This an excellent book which every teacher and student of modern history will find invaluable.
- Andy Dailey

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Overview of the essays

There are 25 essays in total within the book, including the following:

Was the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution a coup d’état or a popular uprising?

Why was Germany defeated on the Western Front in World War One?

How successful was Lenin as ruler of Russia, 1918-1924?

What was the social and economic impact of World War One upon Britain?

How Fascist was Mussolini’s Italy?

What were the causes of the Spanish Civil War?

Was the outcome of the Spanish Civil War decided by foreign powers?

How similar were the foreign policies of Hitler and Mussolini?

Was Germany to blame for the outbreak of both World War One and World War Two in Europe?

How similar was the rise to power of Stalin and Mao?

To what extent did Stalin achieve his objectives as ruler of the Soviet Union by 1941?

For what reasons, and with what results, was Germany a source of Cold War tensions between 1945 and 1962?

What were the causes of the Korean War and its consequences for the Koreas and the United States?

In what ways, and with what results, did the Cold War influence relations between Latin America and the US?

How did the early years of the Cold War affect the political and social life of the United States?

To what extent was Castro's mastery of guerrilla warfare the main reason why he was able to take control of Cuba?

Is it fair to say that Kennedy’s handling of foreign policy grew more successful as time went on?

By what methods, and with what success, did Fidel Castro try to eliminate domestic opposition?

How successful were President Johnson's “Great Society” reforms?

To what extent was guerrilla warfare the main cause of communist victory in Vietnam?

How successfully did Franco achieve his objectives as ruler of Spain, 1939-75?

For what reasons, and with what results, did the US Civil Rights movement become more radical after 1964?

To what extent did Mao successfully establish authoritarian control in China?

What was the political and economic impact of military rule in Chile between 1973 and 1989?

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About The Author

Russel Tarr

Russel Tarr has a degree in Modern World History from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. He has been a full-time teacher of History and Politics since 1997 and is currently Head of History at the International School of Toulouse in France. His previously published works include Luther and the Reformation in Europe 1500-64 and two volumes of A History Teaching Toolbox. He is also author of the award-winning www.activehistory.co.uk, which provides innovative resources and online simulations for the history classroom.

About The Editor

Andy Dailey

Andy Dailey is an historian with degrees from Vanderbilt and Michigan State Universities, is Series Editor of Access to History for the IB for Hodder Education, and has authored, co-authored, and edited IB Diploma and IB MYP textbooks; he lives in Egypt.