Why Students Should Study the American Revolution
The American Revolution was an elemental part in our history and arguably the World’s. Students should comprehend and understand how essential the American experiment truly was, and how the ramifications of the Revolution (The Constitution, Bill of Rights) still carry their consequences to this day. Switching from British colonies into an independent nation, the United States stunned the world in setting up its own Constitutional Republic, merging some British ideas with an American experiment. By looking at history, students can see what inspired the creation of the nation they lived in this day (from the ideas of the Enlightenment to other revolutionary thought from thinkers such as Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, etc.). This history creates another sense of moral understanding for students to realize, that if they ever feel their government is being too tyrannical, it is up to the people to ultimately overthrow it. Knowing their own history of how their country comes to be also creates a sense of nationalism, and makes for good citizenship. This in turn makes students connect to the American Revolution with their own identity – being part of a country not afraid to challenge the world. It can otherwise inspire apathetic students to care about the place in which they’re living, to see how much better off they have now than the colonies had it in the past. Even for the mere entertainment value, the story of the American Revolution as the underdog colonies rising against the oppressive yet strongest country in the world is inspiring for all students everywhere. Aesthetically and as a morale booster, that story makes citizens proud to be a part of a nation that stood up to injustice as it happened in the past, and built a democratic system that has endured to this present day.
This history of the American Revolution also allows students to gain skills they might not have otherwise had. This includes the ability to assess evidence, to see the facts and reasoning behind why some supported the revolution and why some others did not. This includes critical thinking skills of matching whether the political rhetoric of the Founding Fathers actually matched the “abuses” the British government actually inflicted upon the American people. Studying the American Revolution can also help students gain an ability to assess conflicting interpretations. This could be of key events during the revolution from the Boston Tea Party to the First Congress. This could also be done in looking at various viewpoints of events during the Revolution from different perspectives: namely the Indian, American, French, and British. In the ever-changing world that we live in, knowing how change happened can give students an ability to assess and analyze how that change can translate into what they see happening in their own lives. The change that occurs in countries in the Middle East in the present day can parallel the struggles the Founding Fathers has as they rebelled against their oppressive government.
The American Revolution was an elemental part in our history and arguably the World’s. Students should comprehend and understand how essential the American experiment truly was, and how the ramifications of the Revolution (The Constitution, Bill of Rights) still carry their consequences to this day. Switching from British colonies into an independent nation, the United States stunned the world in setting up its own Constitutional Republic, merging some British ideas with an American experiment. By looking at history, students can see what inspired the creation of the nation they lived in this day (from the ideas of the Enlightenment to other revolutionary thought from thinkers such as Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, etc.). This history creates another sense of moral understanding for students to realize, that if they ever feel their government is being too tyrannical, it is up to the people to ultimately overthrow it. Knowing their own history of how their country comes to be also creates a sense of nationalism, and makes for good citizenship. This in turn makes students connect to the American Revolution with their own identity – being part of a country not afraid to challenge the world. It can otherwise inspire apathetic students to care about the place in which they’re living, to see how much better off they have now than the colonies had it in the past. Even for the mere entertainment value, the story of the American Revolution as the underdog colonies rising against the oppressive yet strongest country in the world is inspiring for all students everywhere. Aesthetically and as a morale booster, that story makes citizens proud to be a part of a nation that stood up to injustice as it happened in the past, and built a democratic system that has endured to this present day.
This history of the American Revolution also allows students to gain skills they might not have otherwise had. This includes the ability to assess evidence, to see the facts and reasoning behind why some supported the revolution and why some others did not. This includes critical thinking skills of matching whether the political rhetoric of the Founding Fathers actually matched the “abuses” the British government actually inflicted upon the American people. Studying the American Revolution can also help students gain an ability to assess conflicting interpretations. This could be of key events during the revolution from the Boston Tea Party to the First Congress. This could also be done in looking at various viewpoints of events during the Revolution from different perspectives: namely the Indian, American, French, and British. In the ever-changing world that we live in, knowing how change happened can give students an ability to assess and analyze how that change can translate into what they see happening in their own lives. The change that occurs in countries in the Middle East in the present day can parallel the struggles the Founding Fathers has as they rebelled against their oppressive government.