lecture 1

Why study it?

"whether the purpose of American history is to make Americans proud of the nation's glorious past or to encourage citizens to reflect on its moral failures"

Dr. Davis discussed the purposes of history and gave examples of where there are evolving understandings of the past (sometimes that challenge what we think we knew), why some mythologies or representations of history persist, and how they are relevant to the past. Which one of her examples did you find most interesting or surprising? Can you think of other examples of these same trends?

I found the comparison about the pandemic in 1918 to our current pandemic interesting. To me what captured my attention was how in 1918 summertime came around and they all were so eager to go back to their normal life. As if no repercussions were to come. But of course in 2020 some of us had the same belief or eagerness to be done with this pandemic. Which lead to the raging increase of Covid-19 cases. Another example that comes to mind is how separated democrats and republicans are today in America. The comparison to this that I thought of was the civil war. Just the belief that if you believe one side or the other that makes you wrong or right, or someone that you can't be friends with.

What is the only remaining Confederate monument remaining on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia (at least as of August 2020)?

Robert E. Lee

Dr. Davis went to school with a descendant of

Stonewall Jackson

Can it change?

Yes, our understanding of it can change, or whose side of the story we hear from. Primary source or secondary? and what is the difference between the two?

According to the 1918 sign regarding influenza, spit is equated with _____.

death

What is purpose of history?

history doesn't repeat itself but it rhymes-mark twain

examples of different versions of history and the relevance to the present.

protest in Minneapolis George Floyd vs Boston tea party

Dr. Davis compared the protests in Minneapolis following George Floyd's murder to

the Boston tea party

In the document Dr. Davis showed regarding Martin Luther King, Jr., what was the message or intent?

to encourage Dr. King to commit suicide