Why Study History?
History is more than a study of the past events, people, and places. History is the study of human movement and culture. It is often said that one studies history as to not repeat the mistakes of the past. As much as this is true, I think a better saying is, “the key to the present is in the past.” To understand how a culture or society operates one must look at how that group of people came to be. This requires the study of history. Most of what is happening in our world today has a lineage that followed. Having an understanding of how different societies function is a crucial aspect of history. History asks many questions, “What were the causes of The Civil War?” and “Why did Abraham Lincoln issue The Emancipation Proclamation” One must research available historical evidence and information to answer these questions. Reading primary sources as a way to interpret history also provides basic critical-thinking skills that are essential for becoming an informed member or society. Considering a sources context, content, authorship, and the ability to corroborate is a skill that is useful when reading all sorts of information provided to society in an age of information and the Internet. Studying history provides the practice of critical-thinking analysis that is important for non-conformity and maintaining individuality when decoding information. History is about investigating, evaluating, and corroborating evidence in order to people to think for themselves. History provides the ability for people to reflect on their own moral sense as it compares to past societies.
The study of history allows students to be presented with different viewpoints from their own. In order for democracy to thrive, society must have informed citizens who understand the complexities and plurality of society. Not everyone has the same viewpoints on the same issues. Many times there are many viewpoints on one issue and sometimes they are conflicting. This fact is important for students to understand. Seeing history through others eyes is an important part of building empathy for historical figures.
The Civil War is considered by some historians to be the most important historical event in United States History next to the creation of the nation itself. Many people take for granted the fact that the United States could have been two nations instead of one. The Civil War was a war that almost tore the nation into two because of the institution of slavery. The Southern states had a whole culture and way of life that was surrounded by slavery. Understanding their economy and culture helps to understand why they felt they needed to protect such a horrible institution such as slavery. After the end of The Civil War and the assassination of Lincoln, post-Reconstruction lead a new era in racial politics that stretches all the way to the civil rights era of the 1950s and 1960s. After the Understanding the events of The Civil War is essential to understanding race relations in the United States today.
Until 2015, the Confederate Flag was hung in South Carolina’s state capital. Many Southerners today were upset by the removal of the flag as they felt it disrespected the memory of fallen Confederate soldiers. Others felt it was a symbolism of The U.S.’s bigotry past. Needless to say, it’s an issue that dates back to the days of Southern succession. We’re still dealing with The Civil War today.