Option 2: History of the Americas
There are 18 possible topics in this section which range from 8th Century to 20th Century, from Medieval times to developments at the end of the 20th Century. This allows you to broaden out your curriculum to cover a wider chronology. You do not have to choose sections from the same time frame - you could, for example, do the unit on slavery alongside 20th Century topics.
A full list of topics can be seen in the IB Teachers' guide for History
It is recommended that you teach three sections in full.
To see the sections that we have covered so far on this site, please see below!
Topic 05: Slavery and the New World (1500–1800)
This topic covers the development of slavery in the Americas - how and why it developed, the role and nature of the Atlantic slave trade, as well as resistance and opposition to slavery.Specifically...
Topic 08: United States' Civil War: Causes, course and effects (1840-1877)
This topic covers the US Civil War - a bloody struggle between the northern and southern states of America which lasted four years and introduced to the world the horrors of modern warfare. The topic...
Topic 10: Emergence of the Americas in global affairs (1880–1929)
This topic focuses on the changing role of the Americas in global affairs between 1880 and 1929.Specifically this topic covers:Towards the end of the 19th Century, the US became more involved in foreign...
Topic 11: The Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution, which began on 20 November 1910, is considered the first major political, social and cultural revolution of the 20th century. It was an armed conflict that led to a civil war which...
Topic 12: The Great Depression and the Americas
The Wall Street Crash of October 1929 led to a devastating economic depression - not just in the United States but also the rest of the Americas - and indeed, countries of Europe and Asia. Topic 12 focuses...
Topic 13: The Second World War and the Americas (1933–1945)
Growing hostilities in Europe and Asia presented challenges to the Americas. Although a policy of isolation was initially followed, America and Canada found themselves involved indirectly and then directly...
Topic 14: Political developments in Latin America (1945–1980)
This topic covers political developments in Latin America after 1945, including the rise to power of new leaders and their economic and social policies.Specifically, this unit looks at:
Topic 16: The Cold War and the Americas (1945–1981)
The Americas were profoundly affected by the Cold War and it affected the domestic and foreign policies of all countries in this region. This unit overlaps with the Cold War Topic on Paper 2: Topic 12...
Topic 17: Civil rights and social movements in the Americas post-1945
This section examines the search for equality by those groups in America who experienced forms of discrimination and the extent to which they challenged established authority and attitudes.