Economics Without The B.S.**: Teaching American History
[** Double entendre intended.]
TEACHING
AMERICAN HISTORY
We study history, as
one branch of knowledge, to understand our place in the universe. The
human animal is the one animal that has a cultural evolution as well as a
biological evolution. We can shape and change that cultural evolution.
We are the one animal that can change its environment and move about
anywhere on Earth and beyond. The study
of history is the link between the Past, the Present, and the Future – the link
between knowledge and progress. Our progress as a species is linked to
our quest for knowledge; and, technological advance and an understanding of our
past is the key to the pace of that quest.
As one branch of knowledge, history
involves inductive as well as deductive reasoning. But unlike the sciences, which rely on
empirical evidence and are objective in their analysis and conclusions,
historical analysis is subjective but never-the-less still relies on making a rational
argument. The study of history is
influenced by the social movements that affect people at any particular
time. So in our history, the role of the
individual in a society and the role of government in that society, the
expansion of the American nation westward and the conflict of cultures between
a native inhabited people and new settlers, slavery and civil rights struggle,
the industrialization of the American economy from a rural/agrarian economy
along with labor/management issues in a corporate setting, immigration, the
participation of women in society to include politics, are all topics , among
others, that get discussed and can be influenced by the particular generation
that deals with these issues.
The American experience is a unique
experience in the historical context.
The fundamental principle of our nation’s founding was that people could
govern themselves. We are not the oldest
democracy; and, we are not the only republic that was ever created. But our founders did create a system for
governing with the consent of the governed while respecting dissenting opinions
– a constitutional, democratic, republican form of government.
Unlike other societies in history, institutionally
and culturally we are not a status quo nation.
Institutionally we
have a federal system of government that not only divides power among the
branches of government but also between the federal government and state and
local governments. That division of power may cause competitiveness in
our political system; but, it means that in order for something to get
accomplished cooperation rules and the game plan is to build viable
coalitions. Those political leaders that can forge a consensus are
successful in our political system.
In addition to the
institutional framework of our governing system there is also “We the
People”. While we are a representative
democracy and not a direct democracy we do have a civic engagement of the
governed. Culturally we have always been
a diverse nation, right from our beginning. Very quickly in our history
we spanned the continent to become a contiguous continental nation. We
have always had a mixture of people in our nation, non-English speakers and not
of a European origin. We are probably the only nation in history that is
not defined by an ethnic or religious makeup but instead by a loose governing
concept.
In our founding
documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, you will find
a variety of values stated: liberty, equality, promoting the general welfare,
life and the pursuit of Happiness. They
are neither defined, delineated, nor ranked in order. They can at times
conflict with one another. Sometimes we lean one way during a conflict;
and, sometimes we lean the other way. We are constantly re-examining our
values. During Andrew Jackson’s
Presidency was the first deviation from the founding fathers, giving a Western/frontiersman interpretation
to liberty, rugged individualism mixed with an egalitarian spirit, and the
‘Common Man’ mythology that departed from the Jeffersonian concept of an
educated, almost an elite, citizen. Each
generation that comes along does this, a re-evalution of our traditional values
in a contemporary setting. Even newly
arrived immigrants eventually figure this out.
That is what makes us unique and has contributed to our
greatness.
The dynamism in our
culture that comes from our makeup and institutional framework feeds our
innovative spirit that drives our economy and well-being. The competitiveness in our fragmented system
allows individual initiative to function in an institutional setting. The advancement of creative enterprise
depends on the ability to convince others and gain cooperation. For change to take effect and bring progress,
the old order will likely be upset. The
American experience has linked progress with the individualistic enterprise
found in a capitalistic economic system and the liberty and civic engagement of
a democratic political system.
An understanding of American history
does not come naturally. It takes
effort. Our diversity can pull us
apart. We have had a historical common
thread as one nation, with its faults, but never-the-less with progress
shown. For the most part, the American
people through history have not been won over by an idealistic notion of
existence. The collectivist society of
New Harmony couldn’t make it for even twenty years. And the fate of an idealistic New Liberty on
the style of the Cato Institute or Koch Brothers would likely have no better an
outcome. Instead, Americans, for the
most part, have been a practical people who have fumbled their way forward,
sometimes making mistakes, but ever trying to right the way and do a practical
justice for their forebearers and progeny.
If a teacher fails to drag (or is lead a better word) students, either
children or adult learners, through this process of inquiry, they are failing
in a good civics lesson; and, we are teaching ideology and not history.
Hopefully, in studying the Past, we
will come to understand ourselves better and where we are at Present. The Past is not always Prologue. As human animals we can learn from our Past
and master our Present rather than be trapped by our Past. We are capable of change.
The living shall not be in peace,
When
the Past is not at rest.
The
Present holds the Future's lease,
When
We give not our best
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