Changes

== Organizing History ==

== Organizing History ==

From 1789 until today, we have had an American President.  He is not more important than others.  If I had to name the ten most important Americans in history, I would only include one president in the list (the first one, [[George Washington]]).  But memorizing the list of 43 presidents can help you organize all the other facts.  When someone asks me what was happening in 1962, I think of who was president and then remember the issues of that time.  The presidents become like drawers in a cabinet where you might put your clothes.  In the "cabinet" of presidents, each drawer is filled with issues and events that happened during his presidency.

From 1789 until today, we have had an American President.  He is not more important than others.  If I had to name the ten most important Americans in history, I would include only one president in the list (the first one, [[George Washington]]).  But memorizing the list of 43 presidents can help you organize all the other facts.  When someone asks me what was happening in 1962, I think of who was president and then remember the issues of that time.  The presidents become like drawers in a cabinet where you might put your clothes.  In the "cabinet" of presidents, each drawer is filled with issues and events that happened during each presidency.

But before 1789 there was no president.  How are we going to organize that?  One way is to focus on the three most important colonies, [[Virginia]] (1607), [[Massachusetts]] (1620) and [[Pennsylvania]] (1681), and relate the other 11 colonies and events to them.  Another way is to look at the battles that occurred before the [[American Revolution]], such as the [[French and Indian War]] in 1754-60.

But before 1789 there was no president.  How are we going to organize that?  One way is to focus on the three most important colonies, [[Virginia]] (1607), [[Massachusetts]] (1620) and [[Pennsylvania]] (1681), and relate the other 11 colonies and events to them.  Another way is to look at the battles that occurred before the [[American Revolution]], such as the [[French and Indian War]] in 1754-1760.

Regardless, by the end of this course, you will be able to hear an event and describe what was going on at that time.  You will be able to tell me what happened before the event, and what happened afterward.

By the end of this course, you will be able to hear an event and describe what was going on at that time.  You will be able to tell me what happened before the event, and what happened afterward.

Don't try to memorize hundreds of dates.  Instead, when you see a date, think what happened before and after it.  There are only about ten dates that you need to know.  All other dates, such as those in the event list, are there just for the purpose of ordering events.  For example, no one will ask you when Georgia was founded as a colony.  But you may be asked whether it was the first or last colony founded.  (It was the last colony established.)  Another example:  [[Quebec]] was founded in 1608.  Don't remember the 1608 date, but remember that Quebec was founded one year after [[Jamestown]] was established (1607 – one of the few dates you should memorize!)

Don't try to memorize hundreds of dates.  Instead, when you see a date, think what happened before and after it.  There are only about ten dates that you need to know.  For example, no one will ask you when Georgia was founded as a colony.  But you may be asked whether it was the first or last colony founded.  (It was the last colony established.)  Another example:  [[Quebec]] was founded in 1608.  Don't remember the 1608 date, but remember that Quebec was founded one year after [[Jamestown]] was established (1607 – one of the few dates you should memorize!)

== Pre-Columbian Period ==

== Pre-Columbian Period ==