Introduction to Historical Thinking Thursday January 31st

Historical Significance Election to Office vs. Removal from Office

What’s most significant? The First World War New Brunswick Provincial Election 2010 BP Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico 2011 Earthquake in Haiti 2009 American Invasion of Iraq 2003 The Second World War Sept. 11 th, 2001 Hurricane Katrina 2005 Neil Armstrong landing on the moon 1969 Economic downturn and crisis Nelson Mandela passing away December 2013

Criteria for Significance Prominence at the time Consequences resulting in change – Deep consequences for many people over a long period of time Revealing – Does it explain something about later events or the present Occupies a key place in a meaningful narrative

Evidence – How much do you need? Is this one image enough evidence to prove that a fire occurred? What else is needed?

Evidence Primary Sources: Primary sources are artifacts, first-hand accounts and information about a topic produced by someone directly from the time period being studied. Examples: bones, shards, personal memoirs, government documents, newspaper articles, telecasts, marriage licenses, gravestones, paintings, photographs, and posters

Types of Evidence cont’d A key Primary Source: Artifacts Artifacts can be: – Human-made objects such as: tools, pottery, weapons, jewelry, metal objects, pieces of ruined buildings and architecture.

Primary Sources

Types of Evidence cont’d Secondary Sources: Secondary sources are works that argue, reflect, and discuss earlier times. Examples: secondary sources are works such as journal articles and books by historians and professional scholars, who are interpreting the events and primary sources that are being studied.

Evidence Historical Evidence is not the same as historical information. Evidence is derived from two or more sources of information. Primary Sources are our connection with the past. Information can be drawn from trace or accounts of the past. Validity of Evidence depends on its source and use.

Cause & Consequence Sept 11 th and Airport Security

Continuity & Change 2009 and 2013

Continuity & Change

Historical Perspective Are people in the past really backwards? How did these get built then?

Moral Judgment