What is History?

1. What is History?

2. What is History • History is the study of the past, focused on human activity and leading up to the present day • Social, economic, and political history… • Economic: the study of economic change, and of economic phenomena in the past • Social: an area of historical study considered by some to be a social science that attempts to view historical evidence from the point of view developing social trends • Political: is what most people refer to as history. It is history with and emphasis on the state.

3. Why Do We Study History? • Our Identity: • To know who we are and the choices we make in life is to understand our background and history • Important to be aware of them if we are to understand why we act and behave the way we do

4. Sources – how we study history * Must watch for bias (already having your mind made up about something

5. Terminology & Definitions • Assimilation: The process whereby a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture • Discrimination: Treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit or unfair treatment of a person, racial group, or minority • Prejudice: A judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge • Racism: Discrimination or prejudice based on race

6. Canada & Aboriginal Nations • Paternalism: Government taking on role of “parents” to manage affairs of their children • Law was passed allowing the gov’t to confiscate sections of reserve lands • Post 1885 – policy of assimilation • Banned traditional events e.g. potlatch & sundance • Assimilation began in high gear • Creation of residential schools – separated from parents, no native language or practices, abuse common • Schools remained until late 1980s

7. French-Canadians • Issues re: separate schools (religious & language rights) arose, between French Catholics & English Protestants in On. & Man. • Laurier – public school system would be est. but schools were to provide religious instructions at the end of the school day • This did not satisfy Fr. Catholics, it reinforced their feelings of minority outside Quebec (the only area where the survival of Fr. culture & language could be ensured) • Issue of Fr. language & culture repeats throughout Canada’s history