Why Don't You Just Tell Us the Answer? - Ch. 2

Chapter 2: Introducing Historical Thinking: Nat Turner's Rebellion of 1831

"... the notion that history is alive, debatable, and connected to the present affords my students the opportunity to realize that although the key figures and events of the past are gone, their influence lingers today and defines many of the political, social, and economic characteristics of the modern world." - Bruce Lesh

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This is a quote that I want to share with my students. This is why the past is important! Every action in the past was a choice. Every choice had an impact, big or small. Each of those choices have changed the world in which we live in today. Historical investigation can help us see the connections and determine how our choices can also have an impact on the world.

In this chapter, Lesh walks the reader in detail through the first historical investigation that he does with his students every year. There is a great deal of substance in this chapter and it really spells out how to implement this strategy with success.

One tip that he gives is to "ensure that text sources are used in conjunction with visual elements" because this allows students to make connections and analyze different types of sources. Lesh also points out that many students are more used to interpreting visuals than textual sources, so including images can play to the strengths of those students.

Lesh includes a culminating activity where students determine whether Nat Turner was a hero or a villain. This part of the activity drives home the point that history is the result of interpretation and perspective. Depending on the sources used and the perspective of the person analyzing those sources, the conclusions reached about a historical event can vary widely.