Historical Significance

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the historical significance of an event

Significance

The final step in our DCS analysis is significance. Historical significance examines the importance of an event. What is considered important can change depending on the context. Generally, the historical events believed to be the most significant are those considered important at the time in which they happened. They are the kinds of events that affected a lot of people, and affected them deeply. They lead to other important events or still affect attitudes and beliefs today. When considering the significance of an event, consider the Rs:

  • What makes this person or event remarkable, or worth remembering?
  • What does this person or event reveal about this time period?
  • What are the results from this event?
  • What is the relevance of this event today?

We as a society deem what is significant or not. There are simply too many historical events to put the same weight on every historical event. For this reason, we choose those that are most novel, most noteworthy, or most applicable to the time period or event being studied. For example, if you are writing a paper about women in sports, then Wilma Rudolph, an international sports icon in track and field and Olympian in the 1950s and 60s is going to be a significant player. If you are researching the Vietnam War, however, she will not be significant to your research. Which events are most significant sometimes change throughout history. Before 2020, we had known about the global flu epidemic of 1918, but its significance recently grew because of the related context during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.

So let us now return to Withrop’s “City on a Hill” sermon. Why is it significant? To think of it another way, why are we reading it in a history class almost 400 years later?

In this case there are multiple answers. For one, Winthrop was right. The success of Massachusetts Bay Colony would inspire others to come and settle in America. But the idea of America as a “city on a hill” continued beyond his life, and resonates even today. The United States represents democracy and freedom as a beacon to the world, as a shining “city on a hill.” President Reagan often referred to the United States as that shining “city on a hill,” and in the context of the Cold War, that was a powerful image. Similarly, President Obama likewise made use of that image to describe the importance of American diversity.

As we have seen, understanding a historical event or document is complex, with many different components. DCS–description, context, significance–gives us a tool to break that event or document down, and understand it.

ACTIVITY

For each of the following scenarios, give it a score of 1-5 for how significant you would classify that event. Then write a short paragraph of why you would describe it this way.[1]

Example

How significant were the 9/11 attacks in America?

  1. People thought it was important at the time.   5  /5
  2. It affected a lot of people.   5  /5
  3. It affected people deeply.   5  /5
  4. It still affects attitudes or beliefs today.  5  /5
  5. It led to other important events.  5  /5

Summary paragraph: I would give the 9/11 attacks a 5 on each of the rankings because it was a powerful event that shook American citizens, initially bringing them together against a common enemy, which unfortunately spread from Osama Bin Laden to include Muslim-Americans, and continues to leave an impact on community relations today. Because of the attack, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, and eventually Iraq as well. The U.S. increased security measures, passed the Patriot Act, and created the Department of Homeland Security, all of which continue to affect people today.

Question 1

How significant was the Mayflower Compact? Recall that this document was signed by the Pilgrims and others aboard the Mayflower in 1620. The colonists agreed to enact laws and offices and to work together for the good of society. They also agreed to abide by the laws and live in accordance with Christianity.

  1. People thought it was important at the time. __/5
  2. It affected a lot of people. __/5
  3. It affected people deeply. __/5
  4. It still affects attitudes or beliefs today. __/5
  5. It led to other important events. __/5

Summary paragraph:

There are no right answers to these summaries, but you can jot down your thoughts in the space below.

Question 2

How significant was the Boston Tea Party? Recall that this occurred when the colonists protested the Tea Act, in which Britain essentially granted the favored East India Company a monopoly on the tea trade, forcing the colonists to be taxed (without representation), and undermining the American merchants. In protest, colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into the ocean.

  1. People thought it was important at the time. __/5
  2. It affected a lot of people. __/5
  3. It affected people deeply. __/5
  4. It still affects attitudes or beliefs today. __/5
  5. It led to other important events. __/5

Summary paragraph:

There are no right answers to these summaries, but you can jot down your thoughts in the space below.

  1. Ronald Martinello. "Introducing Historical Thinking Concepts to a Grade 10 History Class in 5 Days—Significance." The Historical Thinking Project. https://historicalthinking.ca/blog/602 ↵