Revision of skills
Working with sources, analysing visual and written sources, and paragraph writing to consolidate skills.
Grade 12 History
Annual Teaching Plan (Terms 1-4)
The Grade 12 History CAPS syllabus for South Africa follows the annual teaching plan with Cold War case studies, independent Africa, civil resistance, apartheid-era change, and globalisation. Use the term topics below with Grade 12 History past papers to prepare for the NSC exam.
How to study using this page: Revise term topics attempt past papers mark with memos.
Term 1 topics
Weeks 1-11
Assessment: SBA Task 1: Cold War assignment (50 x 2 = 100). SBA Task 2: Standardised test 1 (two questions: one source-based and one essay; 50 x 2 = 100).
Topic 1: Extension of the Cold War
Origins of the Cold War in Europe (source-based). End of WWII, US and USSR spheres of influence, containment, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Berlin Crisis (1949-1961), NATO and Warsaw Pact, and responsibility for the Cold War. Case study: Vietnam (essay) covering 1957-1965, 1965-1969, Vietnamese and USA perspectives, global impact, and 1969-1975 US withdrawal.
Topic 2: Independent Africa
Africa in the Cold War (source-based): Angola case study, colonialism and independence, civil war and external involvement, Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, and changing international relationships. Independence in Africa in the 1960s/1970s (essay): Congo case study with political, economic, social and cultural successes and challenges.
Topic 3: Civil society protests 1950s-1990s
US Civil Rights Movement (source-based): origins, Martin Luther King Jr, civil disobedience, Little Rock, and gains. Black Power Movement (essay): reasons, Black Panther Party, roles of key activists, and gains.
Revision of skills
Working with sources, analysing visual and written sources, and paragraph writing to consolidate skills.
Topic 1: Extension of the Cold War
Origins of the Cold War in Europe (source-based). End of WWII, US and USSR spheres of influence, containment, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Berlin Crisis (1949-1961), NATO and Warsaw Pact, and responsibility for the Cold War. Case study: Vietnam (essay) covering 1957-1965, 1965-1969, Vietnamese and USA perspectives, global impact, and 1969-1975 US withdrawal.
Topic 2: Independent Africa
Africa in the Cold War (source-based): Angola case study, colonialism and independence, civil war and external involvement, Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, and changing international relationships. Independence in Africa in the 1960s/1970s (essay): Congo case study with political, economic, social and cultural successes and challenges.
Topic 3: Civil society protests 1950s-1990s
US Civil Rights Movement (source-based): origins, Martin Luther King Jr, civil disobedience, Little Rock, and gains. Black Power Movement (essay): reasons, Black Panther Party, roles of key activists, and gains.
Term 2 topics
Weeks 1-11
Assessment: SBA Task 3: Research assignment (100). June examinations: Paper 1 (150) and Paper 2 (150) with source-based and essay sections as listed.
Revision of skills
Working with sources, analysing visual and written sources, and paragraph writing to consolidate skills.
Topic 4: Civil Resistance in South Africa: 1970s to 1980
Black Consciousness challenge to apartheid (essay): aims, Steve Biko, BCM, 1976 Soweto uprising, and legacy. Crisis of apartheid and internal resistance (source-based): reforms, Urban Bantu Authorities Act, Tricameral system, trade unions, UDF, MDM, End Conscription Campaign and Black Sash.
Topic 5: The coming of democracy to South Africa and coming to terms with the past
TRC (source-based): reasons, case studies, debates, positives, amnesty, reparations, political responses. Negotiated settlement and GNU (essay): negotiations 1990-1991, breakdown and resumption, violence, 1994 election and GNU.
Topic 6: The end of the Cold War and new world order to present
Events of 1989 (essay): Gorbachev’s reforms, Eastern Europe, fall of Berlin Wall, Soviet disintegration, and impact on South Africa.
Revision of skills
Working with sources, analysing visual and written sources, and paragraph writing to consolidate skills.
Topic 4: Civil Resistance in South Africa: 1970s to 1980
Black Consciousness challenge to apartheid (essay): aims, Steve Biko, BCM, 1976 Soweto uprising, and legacy. Crisis of apartheid and internal resistance (source-based): reforms, Urban Bantu Authorities Act, Tricameral system, trade unions, UDF, MDM, End Conscription Campaign and Black Sash.
Topic 5: The coming of democracy to South Africa and coming to terms with the past
TRC (source-based): reasons, case studies, debates, positives, amnesty, reparations, political responses. Negotiated settlement and GNU (essay): negotiations 1990-1991, breakdown and resumption, violence, 1994 election and GNU.
Topic 6: The end of the Cold War and new world order to present
Events of 1989 (essay): Gorbachev’s reforms, Eastern Europe, fall of Berlin Wall, Soviet disintegration, and impact on South Africa.
Term 3 topics
Weeks 1-11
Assessment: SBA Task 5: Standardised test 2 (one source-based and one essay question; 50 x 2 = 100). Task 6: Preparatory examination (Paper 1 and Paper 2, 150 marks each, 3 hours).
A new global world order
Globalisation (source-based): definition, balance of power and impact on Africa, dominance of global capitalism, emerging economies (BRICS), and responses to globalisation.
Revision: essay topics and source-based topics
Revision of essay and source-based topics for both papers, including the Cold War, Independent Africa, civil society protest, apartheid resistance, TRC, negotiated settlement, and the end of the Cold War/new world order.
Preparatory examination structure
Paper 1 and Paper 2, each 150 marks, 3 hours. Learners answer three questions with source-based and essay components; topics listed in the ATP for each paper.
A new global world order
Globalisation (source-based): definition, balance of power and impact on Africa, dominance of global capitalism, emerging economies (BRICS), and responses to globalisation.
Revision: essay topics and source-based topics
Revision of essay and source-based topics for both papers, including the Cold War, Independent Africa, civil society protest, apartheid resistance, TRC, negotiated settlement, and the end of the Cold War/new world order.
Preparatory examination structure
Paper 1 and Paper 2, each 150 marks, 3 hours. Learners answer three questions with source-based and essay components; topics listed in the ATP for each paper.
Term 4 revision focus
Assessment: Final examination (Paper 1 and Paper 2).
Revision and examination preparation
Revision and examination preparation.
Final examination
Final examination with Paper 1 and Paper 2 topics as in Term 3.
Revision and examination preparation
Revision and examination preparation.
Final examination
Final examination with Paper 1 and Paper 2 topics as in Term 3.