1. A Knowledge of History Is a Civic Necessity
How important is history? America is living in a time of rapid change, a time of progress.
Many Americans prefer to define themselves in terms of where they are going, not where they
came from. The importance of history seems to be an unnecessary obstruction to reaching where
they are going. But how can a nation move forward if it doesn’t know where it’s moving from? It
is critical for citizens who live in a democracy to possess a knowledge of history.
History provides a sense of identity. Just as family trees intrigue people revealing
the immediate origin of where they came from, historical landmarks, such as the Statue of
Liberty, are reminders of our country’s founding. Likewise in today’s political society, citizens
in a democracy identify themselves by their voting parties. Knowing a party’s track record and
how issues on the ballot have been handled in the past helps one to better identify with the party
that embodies his personal beliefs and actions. It is hard to revoke democracy from citizens who
are well informed on their country’s development. For example, if one doesn’t know the
Constitution then his personal rights could be violated. One can't begin to know about himself, to
understand the present, to know the way he lives and why, until he understands something of his
roots.
History provides the proper context for lawmakers. How can Americans begin to
understand laws without understanding why they were created? America’s form of government
is unique in that a common citizen can become president. But a knowledge of history isn’t just
for leaders, because another facet of American government is that it’s run by the people. Laws
have a domino effect. They are the result of laws before them, and they will be the cause for

2. future steps of action. Therefore, is it not important for voters to know history so they know how
their vote will affect the outcome?
History teaches its readers warning signs. The warning signs of today’s crisis can be seen
in similar formulas of the past. However, those ignorant of history will repeat it, which could
create something as colossal and catastrophic as the Holocaust. For example, during WWII
American citizens didn’t oppose the government when they illegally removed American-
Japanese from their homes and placed them into confinement camps. Now today in a recent
video, Trump spoke of how he wouldn’t quickly dismiss the idea of American-Muslims wearing
identification tags. Both were intolerable instances of discrimination. Americans are slow to
recognize warning signs and even slower to do anything about them. Why? Because no one
knows his rights. No one knows if the Supreme Court is operating within the law. And no one
knows how to stand up to the government, specifically the president, when they bypass the
protective system of checks and balances. Many do not stand up against problems in society and
with the government because they do not know the historical context behind what happened.
History equips its readers to knowledgably participate as citizens within this democracy.
The invaluable stories of the past are woven into the tapestry of the present. Yet the fool says
those in history lived in times so different from his own that they are incapable of shedding light
on present experience. But a concerned citizen educates himself in his nation’s political history,
understands the present better, and thereby effectively deals with a present crisis.
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