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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Welcome, In this class we will begin to study history. Over the course of our time together we will begin to uncover the relationship between the past, present and future. What kind of story can we tell about the past? What does U.S. history mean to us as human beings in the 21st century? What is history? These questions will help us to begin to understand what kind of relationship we as a people share each and everyday. History is not what happened, but what is happening. We must learn that understanding past events requires each one of us to bravely look at ourselves. Like EmersonĂs quote we must look within ourselves to understand the human experience. This course will be centered on the aforementioned questions during the first semester. During the year we will begin the quest to become historians. Our job is to ask questions about the world around us. Our goal is to understand the many different perspectives that have come to define historical analysis. How shall we decide what to believe? Studying history has been commonly referred to retelling the story of the conquering power. As historians we study, text, events, people, maps and films depicting how things were. It is then our responsibility to accurately recount the most valid interpretations of U.S. history so we can fully understand how this affects our lives today. After attaining these skills we must be prepared to use them in our own community. Our role as historian does not stop inside the classroom. We take the skills of deduction, analysis, perspective and story telling into our communities. We must serve as historians to those we encounter in our lives. Our most common history is our own. Throughout the course of our lives we have moments that constantly reaffirm who we are as people. As our lives change so do our perspectives. We must allow ourselves a time for reflection on what has shaped our character. We must begin to understand that moments that shape our lives are so precious because they are at the same time ours and the world. We must learn to embrace perspective, honesty, and ourselves to fully understand U.S. history. Welcome to U.S. History the study people from the past, present, and future. Sincerely, David Ferrell