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

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

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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 2 Examples
Consensus School Conflict School

8. 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

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