Changes

The key to mastering history is to find what you like and understand, and then use it as your foundation to learn everything else.  In other words, first find and learn what you like, and then learn everything else by connecting it to what you know.  This is the same technique that we all use for directions:  pick a landmark or a place that you know how to get to, and then figure out how to go from there to where you need to go.

The key to mastering history is to find what you like and understand, and then use it as your foundation to learn everything else.  In other words, first find and learn what you like, and then learn everything else by connecting it to what you know.  This is the same technique that we all use for directions:  pick a landmark or a place that you know how to get to, and then figure out how to go from there to where you need to go.

For example, if you are most interested in religion, then learn about the 13 colonies based on their different attitudes towards religion.  If you are most interested in one colony, then learn about it and how it related to other colonies.  If you like military history, then use that as your starting point.  Perhaps you enjoy mysteries; in that case, use our list of [[Essay:Greatest Mysteries of American History|Greatest Mysteries of American History]] (it is a link in the homework) to motivate you.

For example, if you are most interested in religion, then learn about the 13 colonies based on their different attitudes towards religion.  If you are most interested in one colony, then learn about it and how it related to other colonies.  If you like military history, then use that as your starting point.  Perhaps you enjoy mysteries; in that case, use our list of [[Essay:Greatest Mysteries of American History|Greatest Mysteries of American History]] (it is a link in the homework) to motivate you.  If you like [[economics]], then much of history can be learned by viewing it through an economic perspective.  The [[American Revolution]] (or "Revolutionary War"), for example, happened during difficult economic times in the colonies.  Even sports fans can learn history through their favorite sport:  baseball, for example, began during the [[Civil War]].

Perhaps you like politics the most.  In that case, you'll want to memorize the presidents and leaders of Congress, and relate historical events to their times in office.  Or perhaps you enjoy legal issues, and reading about famous trials and court rulings.  If so, then you may want to focus your attention on the major rulings of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] throughout American history, and relate other historical events to those decisions.

Perhaps you like politics the most.  In that case, you'll want to memorize the presidents and leaders of Congress, and relate historical events to their times in office.  Or perhaps you enjoy legal issues, and reading about famous trials and court rulings.  If so, then you may want to focus your attention on the major rulings of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] throughout American history, and relate other historical events to those decisions.