Editorial

Why Is History an Essential Part of American Education?

Many students indeed find history to be a boring subject. So unless you are interested to know about the past, you may question the necessity to study history. However, it is a multifaceted subject that has several implications in our everyday lives. 

By studying history, students can gain a range of skills such as critical thinking research abilities and general knowledge. It also allows students to become informed citizens that can help them in a range of disciplines and career options. In this article, we are going to talk about the various advantages of studying history.

History Is More Than Learning About Event Dates and Locations

Many students think that studying history is all about remembering when and where an event took place, along with the names of the people who were involved in it. Although these aspects are necessary to remember, education of history is more about how the event happened and why. Historians are more interested to find out the chain of development that led to the historical event.

They also want to find out what happened after the episode and how it impacted society as we know it. That is why historians try to find out about the occurrences that took place around the event so that they can understand the other related aspects.

For example, everyone knows that the declaration of independence was signed on July 4th, 1776. But how was the document written? What was the chain of events in the American Revolution that led to writing down the grievances against King George III of England? What happened after Thomas Jefferson and the committee of five signed the declaration of independence?

Historians try to find clues and evidence that can create theories about historical events and prove or disprove the existing ones. 

As students of history, you are also expected to follow a similar manner of education. You might be partially taught about the events in the classroom, but you would have to find out more from other resources.

One of the most convenient ways to do that is to look for historical answers on Homeworkmarket. You will be able to learn about many facts associated with the historical event that can impress your professor and get you the grades you want. 

Studying of History of the Key to Several Careers

A major in history can open doors to make career options. Some of the lucrative jobs that need a degree in history are:

  • Department of foreign affairs
  • Immigration and anthropology
  • Various NGOs
  • Teaching
  • Media and journalism
  • Hospitality and tourism
  • Heritage consultancy
  • Museum jobs
  • Maintenance of archives
  • Public history project management

Other than these, several business leaders also have degrees in history, such as:

  • Ken Chenault, CEO of American Express
  • Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett Packard
  • Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs
  • Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America
  • Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube
  • Brian Hartzer of Westpac

There are several celebrities and politicians who have also completed a major in history. 

Historians Can Have a Great Impact on the World

When people ask why it is essential to study history, most of the time the answer is “To learn from the mistakes of the past. ” The answer might sound like a cliche, but it is quite true. One of the most important jobs of historians is to find out the mistakes that leaders and societies committed so that we do not repeat them in the future. 

Every historical evidence is not a pleasant one. For example, the Chernobyl disaster was the worst-case to date when humans released radioactive elements into the environment unintentionally. Even though the deaths resulting directly from the incident are only about a hundred, historians have estimated that more than 4000 people have died indirectly from the radiation.

Although people might think only scientists would be involved in the study of such incidents, historians also play a significant role in understanding the mistakes so that they don’t get repeated.

So as you can see, studying history allows us to develop a better knowledge and understanding of the formation of various aspects of the present world. It will give you an insight into the positive and negative aspects of the steady progress of human society.

The study of History will also enable you to understand the adjoining factors that impacted or got affected by the events. It will enable you to appreciate the present world that you live in and give you the knowledge to make it better. Studying history will also improve your writing skills, critical thinking, and ability to research.

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