Year 12 Government & Politics

Week beginning 20th July -Socialism origins & USA Federalism

This week's TWO video seminars - Political Ideas and USA

If the video won't play in full screen, click "Watch on Loom".

Scroll down for this week's tasks.

Learning intentions

  • To undestand the origins of Socialism

  • To understand Federalism in the USA

Total study time this week: 4 hours

Office hours

If you have any questions or need support, please email your teaching staff at any time.

Mr Davies will be available to answer your questions at the following time:

Tasks to be submitted by 4pm on Friday:

Political Ideas tasks:

  1. Watch the video above for guidance

  2. Complete the activities due on Google Classroom.

USA Tasks:

All tasks are on Google Classroom.

Click here for the John Harris link


Week beginning 29th June

Political Ideas tasks:

  1. Read the information on Betty Friedan here and also on page 35 of your textbook and make notes on her.

  2. Go to Google Classroom and complete the 3x 9 mark questions on liberalism. P 37 will help you in your textbook.

USA Tasks

All tasks are on Google Clasroom

Week beginning 22nd June

Political Ideas tasks:

Task 1

Watch the video lecture above

Answer these questions:

  1. Describe Adam Smith's approach to the economy.

  2. According to Smith, how can a free market benefit everyone in society?

  3. Describe and explain New liberalism's approach to the economy.

  4. Explain what is meant by Keynesian economics.

  5. How is the approach of the 'monetarists' different from both Keynesian and classical liberal economics?

Task 2

Click Here to listen to Philosophise This! podcast episode 48 on Adam Smith pt. 1 (available on other podcast platforms also)

Answer these questions on episode 48:

  1. What is specialisation?

  2. What are the benefits of self-interest motivated, specialisation to society?

  3. How does specialisation link to the concept of the free market?

Task 3

Click Here to listen to Philosophise This! podcast episode 49 on Adam Smith pt. 2 (available on other podcast platforms also)

Answer these questions on episode 49:

  1. Explain the concept of mercantilism

  2. What criticisms does Smith have of the mercantilist system?

  3. What will incentivise workers according to Smith?

  4. How does an incentivised workforce benefit all of society?

  5. Who is Scrooge McDuck? (add image if you feel it necessary)

USA Tasks

Please watch the Loom video recording and read the last 5 pages of the PDF document for today's lesson. I would like you to complete the 9 mark question on the final slide and e-mail to me for Thursday June 25th at midday. If you need any support my office hours are 3-4pm on Wednesdays for sixth form via google meet but please do continue to e-mail as you have been doing throughout the week for support.

Previous Weeks

Week beginning 15th June


Answer these questions:

  1. What is the tyranny of the majority? Can you give examples of where the majority may suppress the rights of minorities?

  2. Do you agree with Mill's view that giving more votes to better educated people would protect individual rights?

  3. Give examples of how liberal governments are structured to prevent the state from having too much power.

  4. How does modern liberalism's approach to state intervention differ from John Locke's theories?

  5. Is liberalism's fear of a powerful state justifiable? Is it stil a threat nowadays or are there greater threats?

Answer these questions (These questions are in the same order as they are discussed in the podcast):

  1. Explain what Hobbes advocated

  2. What did Burke say about a rational political systems?

  3. Describe Wollstonecraft's ideas on reason

  4. How does Wollstonecraft criticise Burke's views of the state?

  5. What are Wollstonecraft's observations on the relationships between men and women?

  6. What were Wollstonecraft's ideas around education?

  7. How is Wollstonecraft a Liberal?

USA Tasks

This week's work is on Federalism. Please watch the loom of TDS discussing the powerpoint and then use the PDF document to read through the examples of different presidency's view on Federalism. Collate these in the Venn Diagram whilst researching examples of the current President's federalism and send the work back to TDS for June 18th.


Week beginning 8th June - Liberal view on society


  • Watch the video lecture

  • Watch this link here on John Rawls 'Veil of ignorance'

  • Click Here to listen to a podcast concerning the differences between John Stuart Mill and John Rawls (classical liberalism vs. modern liberalism). Complete a recall sheet whilst you listen - it'll help you remember. Click Here for the sheet.

  • Answer this question with your own thoughts (500-1000 words):

Is liberalism fundamentally mistaken in allocating a central role to the individual in its social and political theory?

For this question you will need to include the beliefs of classical and modern liberal thinkers. You must also provide contextual examples to illustrate your points. You can argue for one side throughout but do give some recognition or show some understanding of the other side of the argument. This isn't an exam style question - I'm after your thoughts and to see what you know.