INTRODUCTION TO US HISTORY

1. INTRODUCTION TO US HISTORY Fall Semester 2013

2. Read these quotes. Take a few minutes to respond to them in your notes. What do you think they mean? • “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” – William Faulkner • “The past is a foreign country – they do things differently there.” – L.P. Hartley

3. Important concepts for this class • The study of history is driven by questions more than answers. • We use information to generate many possible answers to historical questions • History requires you to question your sources – where did this information come from? Why? • History is alive. History is debatable. • History is connected to the present.

4. Thinking like a historian • QUESTION accepted ideas and interpretations • GATHER a variety of sources • ANALYZE the sources to determine credibility • DEVELOP your own ideas and interpretations • DEFEND your ideas with evidence 

5. Thinking like a historian (continued) • TEXT: What does the source say explicitly? What information is plainly visible/readable? • CONTEXT: What events were going on at the time that can help us understand the information? What background information do we have that helps us understand the source? • SUBTEXT: What is between the lines? • Author: Who created this information? What do we know about that person? What point of view is behind it? • Audience: For whom was it created? • Reason: Why was this source produced when it was?

6. Think for a bit – why are these questions important? How do they help us understand the past?Write some ideas in your notes and be ready to discuss.

7. US History – my perspective • (The _____________ of this class.) • I think of myself as a patriotic American. • I think this is basically a good country that has achieved amazing things no one else has • I also think, however, that being a good country requires us to be honest and own up to our mistakes

8. US History – my perspective (continued) • "My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.“ • – Carl Schurz

9. You tell me – accomplishments – What in history makes the U.S. great?

10. You tell me – mistakes – what has this country gotten wrong in history?

11. As we go through history, try to keep a sense of balance between the good and the bad.

12. So, how did we get this far? • This class starts with US History in 1865 and works forward from there. • Why 1865? Ring any bells? • You’ve all had some history classes in the past – what events do you consider important to get to 1865? Where would you start your list? • Together with a partner, brainstorm a list of 5-10 events that you would consider important stepping stones to 1865.

13. Stepping stones? What did you pick? WHY?

14. For tomorrow… • Using the index of your textbook (old school, I know, but still a good skill to have) look up the historical stepping stones on the grid I have handed out to you. Be ready to discuss them tomorrow and compile your answers as a whole class. • Also be ready to argue about whether or not I picked the right stepping stones.

18. Themes of history • SOCIAL—groups, communities, orchestra, tribes, gangs, clubs, school organizations, film club • ECONOMIC—stores, money, banks, taxes, stock market, capital, production, imports, exports, merchandise, corporations, agriculture, investment, prices • POLITICAL—president, campaigns, political parties, form of government, warfare, laws, Congress, voting, foreign relations, power, courts, treaties • CULTURAL—social classes, religion, language, ethnic groups, customs, foods eaten, behavior rules, dress, music, dance, theater, leisure activities, sports, beliefs • SCIENTIFIC/TECHNOLOGICAL—brain accomplishments, inventions, T.V., cell phones, warfare (weapons), appliances, medicine, computers, vehicles, railroad, space shuttle