Why Study History? - Chp. 8-A

Front

They claim that trained historians and informed history graduates are vital to a healthy _____ society.

Back

democratic, democracy

Front

History study, per our authors, accomplishes all of the following except: Builds on Cultural Identity, Evaluates Social Analogies, Increases Polarization, Recognition of Opportunity

Back

Increases Polarization

Answer explanation

The discipline's social value is based in part on its key skills, including the ability to spot fake news (and fake claims of fake news). History builds on what we know about assessing analogies, which crop up so often in public life, and the cultural construction of identity.

Front

Our authors claim that international pressure makes it difficult to look objectively at recent history (20-30 years).

Back

Change "international pressure" to "nationalist passion"

Answer explanation

Our authors point out that most U.S. citizens knowledgeable about the 2003 invasion of Iraq admit that it was a mistake based in poor intelligence and decision making.

However, our authors go on to say that nationalistic passion, and to a certain level, patriotism, prevents this issue from being explored extensively in public school history.

The recent past is more controversial, because people have been around to live in it, and it is more likely to have a direct causative impact on current political decisions and sociocultural discourse.

The image on the left is of then Secretary of State Colin Powell discussing "weapons of mass destruction" at the United Nations as a key factor in driving U.S. plans for invasion in 2003.

Front

Our authors indicate a new field called "Progress Science", where economists seek historical understanding no longer as a warning what not to do, but what to do to achieve progress.

Back

Correctly Summarized from Authors' Work

Answer explanation

Yes, Progress Science may be a new and burgeoning field, but our authors also point out that it is difficult to tease out causal factors. It is not fully possible to use past situations as analogical "blueprints" for the present, even if some of the lessons may translate.

For example, looking to industrialization's history for hints on moving forward positively may fail to grasp some of the negative impacts of the past.

Front

What happened, in 1995, when the Smithsonian Institute planned a presentation that would question the necessity of dropping atomic bombs on Japan 50 years earlier?

Back

Veterans and nationalist groups forced the presentation to be altered.

Front

True to form, our authors continue to advocate for the study of history as a foundation that works in a plethora of careers. They do this by asserting that history study contributes an understanding of the following to a variety of subject areas and career fields: Patterns of Change & Continuity, Understanding of Accuracy & Reliability, Pursuit of Power & Influence, Evaluation of Policies & Practices

Back

Patterns of Change & Continuity

Answer explanation

We must remember that the title of our reading this term is "Why Study History?", and therefore our authors have been upfront and center with their persuasive goal.

They want more students to go into seemingly nebulous college majors and minors in history, and have been attempting to build the argument that earnings, prestige, and job satisfaction are similar to most other fields.

What do you think of our authors' argument now that the final chapter of reading is underway?