Essential Question: Why is historiography important and how can it be used?

Historiography- the study of how history is written & its various perspectives / biases

Central idea: Facts are integral to the study of history, but equally important is the meaning we give historical information

Dominant Schools of Historiography Consensus or traditional- Argues that change results from consensus among various groups in society. Division & class interest, etc. exist but are not central to the process of change.

Conflict or revisionist- Opposite view It views conflict among groups, classes, race, and gender, etc. as central to the process of change. Foner’s central argument is connected to this school

This textbook emphasizes the Conflict School This textbook emphasizes the Conflict School . Eric Foner’s Central argument: Freedom/liberty in its many forms developed from the colonial period to the Reconstruction era , however many groups were denied freedom.

2 Examples Consensus School Conflict School

The acronym below provides a good way to organize your thoughts and content knowledge, reading, notes, and responses to historical questions: P olitical E conomic R eligious M ilitary/ diplomatic S ocial

Example of Historiographical Schools Social Political Economic Diplomatic Military Constitutional Marxist / Conflict Gender Eurocentric Environmental Determinism