Why Study History? 12 Reasons Why It's Important

What is history? <br></br> History is the study of a subject in chronological order. Tracing ideas to their origin and studying the evolution of ideas or events. History is most commonly used to study government and politics, but history can also be used to illuminate other topics, such as science, technology, or law. <br></br> The essence of history depends on three questions: What happened, what happened next and why? <br></br> In this sense, history is not really an academic subject (unlike mathematics, physics and chemistry), but rather a method of understanding the evolution of ideas, the real accomplishment of historical facts in a coherent way, by adding original explanations for why the fact occurred. <br></br> In its least appealing incarnation, history is about memorization of important events and their dates. From the video, the real significance is in understanding the evolution of these ideas and understanding why ideas changed. <br></br> Brief history of America: <br></br> Relations between settlers and Native Americans, who were called Indians, were an uneasy mix of cooperation and conflict. Certain areas saw trade and some social interaction, but in general, as the new settlements expanded, the Indians were forced to move, often after being defeated in battle. <br></br> The American Revolution its war for independence from Britain began as a small skirmish between British troops and armed colonists on April 19, 1775. The British had set out from Boston, Massachusetts, to seize weapons and ammunition that revolutionary colonists had collected in nearby villages. At Lexington, they met a group of Minute men, who got that name because they were said to be ready to fight in a minute. The Minute men intended only a silent protest, and their leader told them not to shoot unless fired on first. The British ordered the Minute men to disperse, and they complied. As they were withdrawing, someone fired a shot. The British troops attacked the Minute men with guns and bayonets. <br></br> Normal differences in politics turned especially bitter after the presidential election of 2000. The popular vote and the Electoral College vote were nearly evenly divided between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush. Thousands of ballots cast in the state of Florida were contested. After a series of court challenges over laws and procedures governing recounts, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a narrow decision that effectively gave the election to Bush. The first black American president was elected and his name is Barak Obama. <br></br> History? History is the window into the past and understanding the past is the key to understanding the present. It keeps us informed on current events as they unfold. It helps us to appreciate multiple perspectives and interpretations. <br></br> Analyzing history strengthens our critical thinking skills. It helps us to gather evidence, and to find pattern and trends. You can apply information from the past to analyze and solve problems in the present. It gives us an understanding of other people and cultures. It challenges us to think outside the box, and be creative. Besides, studying history is fun. History gives us the excitement of discovery, and the reward of solving real world problems. <br></br> This video was created by Joanna Hayes solely for use in the classroom and other educational settings. <br></br> Clips thanks to the history channel, discovery channel, Pepsi, Nike, ‘Babies’ trailer, CNN, AP, NBC, CBS, and archival footage <br></br> Music: Coldplay – Viva La Vida <br></br> Thanks for watching!