Access to History for the IB Diploma: Political development in the U.S. and Canada (1960 - 2020) (NYP October 2026))

Access to History for the IB Diploma: Political Developments in the USA and Canada (1960–2020)

Fully updated for first assessment in 2028

Access to History for the IB Diploma: Political Developments in the USA and Canada (1960–2020) provides authoritative, engaging, and curriculum-aligned coverage of six decades of political transformation in North America. Revised for the updated IB DP History curriculum (first teaching 2026), this edition helps students understand how shifting ideologies, party politics, social movements, economic pressures, and global events shaped governance in the United States and Canada from the 1960s into the 21st century.

Written by experienced historians and IB specialists, this volume combines clear narrative, multi-perspective analysis, and inquiry-driven activities to prepare students for the conceptual and analytical demands of the 2028 IB History assessments.

Key Features

Comprehensive coverage of political change in North America

Students examine major developments including:

• The evolution of liberalism and conservatism

• Civil rights legislation and expanding rights movements

• The growth of federal power and constitutional debates

• Canada’s constitutional reforms and federal–provincial relations

• Economic transformations and policy responses

• Foreign policy shifts and the global role of the USA and Canada

• Contemporary political polarization and social challenges

This broad coverage helps students make meaningful comparisons across time and between the two nations.

Aligned with the 2026 IB History curriculum updates

The book is structured around the IB’s four required historical concepts:

• Cause and consequence

• Continuity and change

• Perspectives

• Significance

These concepts support historical thinking and exam readiness for Paper 2, Paper 3 (The Americas), and the Internal Assessment.

Clear, authoritative narrative with diverse perspectives

Students encounter viewpoints from political leaders, policymakers, activists, journalists, Indigenous communities, and underrepresented groups. This multi-layered approach helps learners understand not only political structures but also the lived experiences that shaped political change.

Skills-based historical inquiry

Through a wide range of primary and secondary sources, students build essential skills:

• Source interpretation and evaluation

• Comparative and analytical writing

• Constructing and critiquing arguments

• Identifying patterns of continuity and change

• Synthesizing evidence from multiple decades and contexts

These skills are central to the updated IB assessment model.

Integrated TOK and ATL support

Theory of Knowledge prompts encourage students to question how political narratives are constructed, how bias influences interpretation, and how historians analyze political decision-making. ATL tasks develop research, communication, and critical-thinking skills aligned with IB expectations.

Focused preparation for the 2028 IB assessments

To ensure student success, the book includes:

• Exam-style practice questions

• Annotated sample responses

• Revision summaries

• Study-skills guidance aligned with the updated markschemes

Why This Book Is Ideal for IB DP History Students

• Fully aligned with the new DP History curriculum

• Supports HL regional study (The Americas) with depth and clarity

• Builds strong conceptual understanding and comparative analysis

• Provides balanced U.S.–Canada political coverage missing from many resources

• Suitable for classroom teaching, independent study, and exam revision

A Trusted, High-Quality Resource for the IB History Classroom

Access to History for the IB Diploma: Political Developments in the USA and Canada (1960–2020) delivers the clarity, rigor, and inquiry-driven approach that teachers and students rely on. It equips learners to understand the complexities of North American politics and to excel in the 2028 IB History examinations.