Why Learning History Matters

As a Social Studies teacher, and enthusiast, "Why do I have to learn about some dead person," and, "History is so boring... memorizing all those dates and stuff..." are common complaints- And hey! I get it. But there is much more to learning about the past than that. You don't need to be a historian or a fan of history to find value in what it can add to your life. Here are some (possibly) unexpected reasons how history can help you.

1. Stress reduction. That's right, having some knowledge of the past can keep that anxiety down. Skeptical? Let me show you. Have you ever watched the news and thought, "dang, we're all doomed." Or have you heard your friends and family argue about politics? Have you ever thought how life must've been better in the 'good ol' days' or how this younger generation are all a bunch of ungrateful jerks? Do you feel stressed out when these thoughts start to eat away at you? Look no further, for HISTORY is here!

Dang, we're all doomed: I think many of you will agree that life in the past (generally, and worldwide) was much worse than today. If you don't agree, or are unsure, here are some facts and quotes for you to munch on. I've added links so you can check the sources (like a real historian!).

• "No country in the world has a lower life expectancy than the countries with the highest life expectancy in 1800. Many countries that not long ago were suffering from bad health are catching up rapidly." https://ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy

• "As a young man, I lived through the Great Depression, when banks failed and so many lost their jobs and homes and went hungry. I was fortunate to have a job at a canning factory that paid 25 cents an hour." -James E. Faust

• "How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can't scare him--he has known a fear beyond every other." - John Steinbeck (on the Great Depression)

• "Imagine a world without institutions. No governments. No school or universities. No access to any information. No banks. Money no longer has any worth. There are no shops, because no one has anything to sell. Law and order are virtually non-existent because there is no police force and no judiciary. Men with weapons roam the streets taking what they want. Women of all classes and ages prostitute themselves for food and protection." -Keith Lowe https://www.npr.org/2013/07/24/204538728/after-wwii-europe-was-a-savage-continent-of-devastation

And these events are from my grandparent's generation. There are much worse times than these to be a human.

Have you heard your friends and family argue about politics?: Check out these morsels from American historical politics and tell me that intense political division is a new phenomenon.

• "And this was a period [1790s] when people really feared that if the other side took control that something would go wrong, that something would, would, would, would slide backward. and it was a period of violent conflict" -Robert Liebermann https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/podcast/americas-contentious-presidential-elections-a-history

• "John Adams and the Federalist Party [early 1800s] espoused their own versions of the apocalypse that would result should Jefferson become president. They were horrified at what had happened during the French Revolution and were convinced that the election of Jefferson would lead to “anarchy, atheism and then tyranny,” according to the historian Edward J. Larson. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2016/10/18/the-most-negative-campaign/

• "In 1827 supporters in both the Adams and Jackson camps began concerted efforts to undermine the character of the opponent. Even though the two candidates had strong differences on substantial issues, the resulting campaign turned out to be based on personalities. And the tactics employed were outrageously underhanded." https://www.thoughtco.com/the-election-of-1828-1773861

You can see this polarization and political division has been going on since our early years as a country. Also remember the election of Lincoln in 1861 literally caused a civil war... and we're still here!

This younger generation are all a bunch of ungrateful jerks: This one makes me chuckle. Just check it out.

• “[Young people] are high-minded because they have not yet been humbled by life, nor have they experienced the force of circumstances... They think they know everything, and are always quite sure about it.” -Aristotle, 4th century B.C.

• “Modern fashions seem to keep on growing more and more debased … The ordinary spoken language has also steadily coarsened. People used to say ‘raise the carriage shafts’ or ‘trim the lamp wick,’ but people today say ‘raise it’ or ‘trim it.’ -Yoshida Kenkō, 1330-2

• “… I find by sad Experience how the Towns and Streets are filled with lewd wicked Children, and many Children as they have played about the Streets have been heard to curse and swear and call one another Nick-names, and it would grieve ones Heart to hear what bawdy and filthy Communications proceeds from the Mouths of such…” -Robert Russel, 1695

• “The free access which many young people have to romances, novels, and plays has poisoned the mind and corrupted the morals of many a promising youth…” -Reverend Enos Hitchcock, 1790

• “We defy anyone who goes about with his eyes open to deny that there is, as never before, an attitude on the part of young folk which is best described as grossly thoughtless, rude, and utterly selfish.” -Hull Daily Mail, 1925

Sound familiar?

The 'good ol' days: I'm not exactly sure what you may mean by this, but I hope you don't mean...

I think you get it. Depressed? That's kind of my point. History teaches us gratitude. Instead of being stressed, be thankful.

2. History is for EVERYONE. Whether you're interested in music, art, sports, politics, science, technology, business, weather and climate, military, medicine, food, disasters, animals, inspirational individuals, fashion, economics etc. (the list goes on and on!) Guess what? Those all existed in the past too. Some of what you may find in your chosen category can enrich your understanding of that same topic today! Here are some examples I pulled on each of those topics I listed. I personally find all of these to be fascinating. I tried to use a variety of media. Enjoy!

• Music: The story of how one of Classical music's greatest composers was deaf: https://www.californiasymphony.org/composer/beethoven/the-whole-story-of-beethovens-deafness/

• Art: The most famous paintings and the stories behind them: https://stacker.com/stories/3484/50-famous-paintings-and-stories-behind-them

• Sports: Jesse Owens and Hitler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwd6DBpVPOE

• Politics: The assassination of Julius Caesar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XBxMk_plhA

• Science: The persecution of Galileo: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/galileo-is-accused-of-heresy

• Technology: Chinese inventions ("The Chinese did it!" *cough* South Park): https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/four-great-invention.htm

• Business: The Homestead Strike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eecI3FhCOI

• Weather and Climate: The year without a summer: https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2016/05/26/year-without-a-summer-1816-mount-tambora/84855694/

• Military: Hannibal and Cannae: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsKWEyFBzwg

• Medicine: US presidents and (some) bad medicine: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/10/how-past-presidents-battled-illness-in-office/

• Food: The luxurious banquets of Ancient Rome: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/05/20/712772285/the-lavish-roman-banquet-a-calculated-display-of-debauchery-and-power

• Disasters: The Johnstown Flood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q62vlcFLLlM

• Animals: When did dogs become wolves? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-wolves-really-became-dogs-180970014/

• Inspirational Individuals: Nelson Mandela: https://www.biography.com/political-figure/nelson-mandela

• Fashion: History of Indian fashion: https://www.pure-elegance.com/blogs/arts-culture/the-rich-history-of-indian-fashion

• Economics: The richest person (and people) in history: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47379458

3. Studying the past is studying the present. If you think there's no reason to learn about some dead guy or some place that you've never heard of before that's been engulfed by the sands of time, then think again, friend. What is around us today comes from the past. The present is the past. Everything you are, your family is, your environment, your community, your country, your world, are all products of those dead people and lost places. To better understand the past is to better understand the present.

I hope I left you at least with a, "huh... that's at least better than memorizing dates."

History is just that, a story- a story of us. If you want to know where you are, you have to know where you've come from.