A Brief Introduction to Historiography:

Everyman His Own Historian an address to the American Historical Association

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Use the following link to access Carl Becker’s address to the American Historical Association. Read through the article and answer the following questions. This article helps us gain a better understanding of how the historical profession has changed over the years. This speech was given at a time when historians began to consider the idea that history is open to interpretation. Historians were no longer accepting sources at face value.

http://www.historians.org/info/AHA_History/clbecker.htm

I

1. What are the two histories, which Carl Becker speaks of in his address? (1)

2. Finish Carl Becker’s statement: “For all practical purposes history is….” (1)

3. Carl Becker has a problem with the term, "History is the knowledge of events that have occurred in the past". Why and how would he change the term? (4)

II

4. In your own words, define the “specious present”. (2)

5. The American Constitution was signed on the 2^nd of August and not the 4^th of July, yet this is of little concern to Mr. Everyman. Why? (2)

III

6. In your own words discuss Carl Becker’s statement: “Each of us is subject to the limitations of time and place”. (2)

7. History written by historians is a blend of what two elements? (2)

8. In your own words finish this statement: “Facts are meaningless until…” (2)

9. Becker notes that: “Mr. Everyman is stronger than we are” and therefore, what must the historian do work with Mr. Everyman. (2)

10. Did you like the article? Why? (2)