Based on new curriculum, this class looks at North American and European history to 1919. We explore how factors such as the physical environment and new ideas/ideologies influence changes in societies. One example is the French revolution. We also examine the development of nation-states, particularly the Confederation of Canada, and the continuing effects of imperialism and colonialism on indigenous peoples. We consider immigration and the discriminatory policies and attitudes that accompanied it, then end with World War One.  Possible additional topics: the slave trade and imperialism in Africa and Asia. Throughout, students are expected to participate in classroom discussions; adopt historical roles; explore their ideas with research; present their findings through a variety of media; and polish their written communication.