Viewpoints on History Activity

1
Viewpoints on History Activity

• Activity Steps
• Work with a partner to paraphrase 3 of the quotes
  in the column to the right.
• Write down the paraphrases.
• Share your written work with another partner
  pair.
• Individually, write back to 1 author, explaining
  why you agree or disagree with his statement.
• Share with your partner.

• 8 very different viewpoints on history
• 1. Those who cannot remember the past are
  condemned to repeat it- George Santayana (1905)
• 2. History is a record of the struggle of the
  advancement of the human mind, the human spirit.
  Jawaharal Nehru
• 3. The history of the world is the worlds court
  of justice Friedrich von Schiller (1789)
• 4. But what experience and history teach us is
  this- that peoples and governments have never
  learned anything from history, or acted on
  principles deduced from it Georg Hegel (1807)
• 5. American history is longer, larger, and more
  various, more beautiful, and more terrible than
  anything anyone has ever said about it James
  Baldwin (1963)
• 6. History is a wonderful thing if only it
  were true Leo Tolstoy
• 7. History is a nightmare from which we are
  trying to waken- James Joyce
• 8. The disadvantage of men not knowing the past
  is that they do not know the present G.K.
  Chesterton

2
Why study history?

• Can you think of just one good reason?

3
History is All Around You

• So, youre learning it anyway.
• Historical sites, memorials, road names, and even
  building names are evidence of the continuing
  influence of history.
• Look around you for evidence of people and events
  that were locally or nationally influential.
• It is important to honor unique contributions,
  particularly those of veterans and heroes.

4
You Pay for It

• If youve ever looked at your paycheck, youve
  probably noticed 15 or more of your money is
  taken out in taxes.
• Wouldnt it be nice to know why the government
  needs to collect so much money?
• Isnt it important to know how your government
  spent (or promised to spend) your money?
• As a nation, we are still paying off government
  loans from before the Vietnam War!
• After all, you vote for the politicians who
  decide how your taxes should be spent.

5
You Have a Say in Government

• Knowledge of history can help you understand the
  actions the government should take or has taken.
• Your knowledge can help you influence the
  government to make a change in the world that you
  like.

6
You Will Choose Our Nations Leaders

• In choosing these leaders, you will determine the
  future of our nation.
• Your knowledge can help you decide who to vote
  for, or how to vote on specific issues. Make a
  change in the world that you like.

7
You have the Right to an Education

• With rights, however, comes the acceptance of
  responsibility.
• Free, public, equal education for all is still
  relatively new in American history.

8
History May Help Your Career

• Studying history
• teaches you how to find information
• Trains you to look for connections between what
  happened in the past, whats happening now, and
  what might happen in the future.
• It teaches you to recognize characteristics and
  patterns in human behavior.
• Consider the following scenarios and how history
  skills might help you
• You are offered two jobs. You like them both,
  but do not know which company will be the most
  financially stable.
• At work, you run into a problem youve never seen
  before. A co-worker says, That reminds me of a
  problem we used to see here a long time ago.
• You inherit some stock, but dont know whether to
  keep it or sell it.

9
The Past Provides Lessons for Today

• People solve lots of problems and make a lot of
  mistakes.
• Large groups of people, like nations and
  governments, solve even more problems and make
  even more mistakes.
• Mistakes can be deadly, ending in war and
  disaster.
• Why not learn how similar problems were solved
  before? Why not learn from the mistakes of
  others?
• Could it possibly hurt anything?
• Could it help?

• Is it easy to find the lessons of history?
• Sometimes it is. Other times, the situation and
  the lesson is complicated and still debated.
• What are some simple, easy lessons?
• Lesson People really dont like taxes.
• Can you find examples from US History proving
  this lesson?

10
Lessons of History Activity

• Historical Events
• The Columbian Exchange
• The American Revolution
• The Great Compromise
• The Bill of Rights
• Alien and Sedition Acts
• The Monroe Doctrine
• Nullification Crisis
• Trail of Tears
• Second Great Awakening
• The Abolitionist Movement begins
• The Seneca Falls Convention
• Mexican-American War
• The Gold Rush
• Bleeding Kansas
• Dred Scott v. Sandford decision
• Election of 1860
• Civil War
• Emancipation Proclamation

• Your teacher will assign you 1-2 of the following
  events to read about and summarize.
• Look up the event(s) in your textbook, using the
  page s provided, and read about what happened.
  Everyone does this.
• Work with a group of 4 people in 4 roles
• Focuser/ Leader
• Recorder/ Reporter
• Turn-Maker/ Encourager
• Artist/ Clock Watcher
• Use the 3 column chart worksheet.
• Discuss the event. Write a 1-3 sentence
  description of each event on the worksheet.
• Discuss what lesson people could learn from the
  event. Write a 1-3 sentence statement about what
  the lesson of this event is.

11
Homework

• Your teacher will assign you one of the following
  people. Your job is to read about the person and
  write 1-2 paragraphs summarizing the important
  info a person should know about him/her.
• The summary is due in the next class.

• Christopher Colombus
• Alexander Hamilton
• Thomas Jefferson
• Daniel Shays
• Andrew Jackson
• James K. Polk
• Sam Houston
• Andrew Johnson
• Abraham Lincoln
• Robert E Lee
• John Brown
• Nat Turner
• Susan B. Anthony
• Fredrick Douglas

12
National Unity

• America is not a nation of any one type of
  person. It was founded by many different types of
  people
• Learning about our history helps us learn how our
  divisions and prejudices made the US weaker.
• One can also see the strength to defend and
  defeat that comes from working together.

13
Citizens have responsibilities

• America has guiding principles and beliefs that
  continue to make it a strong and great nation.
• Americans must learn to put these guiding
  principles into action.
• In learning American history, one sees these
  principles in action, and also the consequences
  of getting off-track.
• As citizens of a strong, powerful, and wealthy
  nation its important that we understand what
  made the US wealthy, strong, and powerful. This
  will help America stay strong.

14
America is Involved in World Affairs

• Americans continue to debate what our role in the
  world should be, as the wealthiest and most
  powerful nation.
• History helps Americans understand the USs role
  and influence in the world, past and present.
• History also helps Americans understand the
  relationship the US has with countries and
  regions of the world.

15
Learn to Ease Conflict and Help Others

• The US has been involved in many efforts to
  either prevent future international wars, or to
  stop them after theyve begun.
• There are many ways an individual can help
  others. Throughout US history, Americans have
  debated what kind of help and how help should be
  provided.
• Different ways to help others Education,
  Environment, Safety, Food and Shelter, Security,
  Equality

16
One Person Can Make a Difference, but So Can Many

• History is filled with the stories of people who
  made a change, made a difference in the lives of
  others.
• History is also filled with the lives and work of
  people who were inspired by others, who took up
  the mantle, joined in, and made sure their heros
  vision wasnt forgotten.
• These groups and movements, however, do not work
  without individuals.

17
Heroes of the Past Can Be Models For Today

• Who are some people or characters that are
  heroic?
• What are the qualities a person must possess to
  qualify as a hero?
• Heroes are defined by their contribution to our
  culture and society. Their vision of a better
  future inspires others.

John Adams Jane Addams Marian Anderson
Susan B. Anthony Neil Armstrong Mary McLeod Bethune
Mother Cabrini Rachel Carson Cesar Chavez
Shirley Chisholm John Dickinson Thomas Edison
Medgar Evers Henry Ford Angelina and Sarah Grimke
Patrick Henry Dolores Huerta Anne Hutchinson
Daniel Inouye Larry Itliong Mother Jones
John L. Lewis Wilma Mankiller George Marshall
Eliot Ness Rosa Parks William Penn
Frances Perkins Molly Pitcher Chief Pontiac
Ronald Reagan Jackie Robinson Caesar Rodney
Eleanor Roosevelt Sequoyah Sitting Bull
Thaddeus Stevens Robert Taft Harriet Tubman
Daniel Webster Ida Wells-Barnett Roger Williams
William Jennings Bryant Abraham Lincoln Dred Scott
18
Heroic Assessment Guide0no, 1somewhat, 2yes

• As a class we will read about Black Bart and
  Nancy Morgan Hart and decide if they are heroes
  or villains using the Heroic Assessment Guide.

Sacrifice Courage Determination Selflessness Honesty Honor
Black Bart
Nancy Hart
19
Hero or Villain Activity

• Sometimes, it is hard to tell the difference
  between the hero and the villain. As a student
  of history, it is important to make these
  personal distinctions.
• You will use the Heroic Assessment Guide to help
  you decide about individuals in early US history,
  classifying them as hero or villain.
• Tell your group about your person. (You know,
  that person you were assigned for homework).
• As a group, classify your person as a hero or
  villain.
• Allow each group member to have time to speak.
• Discuss as a group the outcomes.
• As a class, we will discuss each person and
  decide if they are a hero or villain.

• Christopher Colombus
• Alexander Hamilton
• Thomas Jefferson
• Daniel Shays
• Andrew Jackson
• James K. Polk
• Sam Houston
• Andrew Johnson
• Abraham Lincoln
• Robert E Lee
• John Brown
• Nat Turner
• Susan B. Anthony
• Fredrick Douglas

20
Why study history? Because

• Its fascinating.
• Its the story of real people you, me, them, and
  us.
• History is filled with heroes and villains, drama
  and suspense, romance, and conflict.
• Past problems and solutions can provide insight
  for today.
• The spread of democracy requires informed
  citizens.
• The past has an impact on us today.
• We can learn from the mistakes of the past.
• We interact with people from around the world.

21
Viewpoints of History, revisited

• Earlier, you and a partner paraphrased 8 ideas
  about history. In addition, you responded in
  writing to one of the quotes.
• Go back and re-read your response.
• Do you still feel the same way?
• Revise your work to reflect any new ideas or
  understandings. Share your revisions with at
  least 1 other person.

• 8 very different viewpoints on history
• Those who cannot remember the past are condemned
  to repeat it- George Santayana (1905)
• History is a record of the struggle of the
  advancement of the human mind, the human spirit.
  Jawaharal Nehru
• The history of the world is the worlds court of
  justice Friedrich von Schiller (1789)
• But what experience and history teach us is
  this- that peoples and governments have never
  learned anything from history, or acted on
  principles deduced from it Georg Hegel (1807)
• American history is longer, larger, and more
  various, more beautiful, and more terrible than
  anything anyone has ever said about it James
  Baldwin (1963)
• History is a wonderful thing if only it were
  true Leo Tolstoy
• History is a nightmare from which we are trying
  to waken- James Joyce
• The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is
  that they do not know the present G.K.
  Chesterton