Extend Your Learning
Historical Interpretations
In this session, we explored some of the major factors that influenced people in the colonial period to stay loyal to England or to support the patriot cause. As we reflect on their decisions, however, the challenge lies in looking at their choices through their perspective -- without the benefit of knowing the outcome of events as we do today.
Dr. Harold Selesky, University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, reflects on the importance of trying to understand the colonists' decisions from their point of view:
"At every point along the way, tens of thousands of individuals faced the necessity of making decisions about their future and what, if any, action they would take to influence it. The Revolution is best seen as the collective product of the decisions of many people, some more influential than others, but all participating in creating the outcome. The question, then, becomes how to understand how those people made their choices, and especially to think about how many people it took to make a revolution.
"...What I ask of you...is to think seriously about and to evaluate carefully the thoughts, aspirations, and actions of men and women whose lives we can never fully comprehend. The best we can do is to remember that they thought and acted without knowing whether or not they were right -- whatever 'right' might have meant in a particular context -- or if they would be successful -- again, whatever 'success' might have meant at a certain time or place. Given what we can know about them, what would we have done in their place?"
Present Your Historical Interpretation
As you think about the colonial period and the revolution, how would you go about answering Dr. Selesky's question, "What would we have done in their place?" Reflect on your answer, then discuss your conclusions with your colleagues or record them in your journal.
Optional
If time allows, discuss with your colleagues or reflect on the following question in your journal:
Students sometimes understand history to be a matter of great events put into action by famous individuals, but the quotation suggests that individuals -- ordinary individuals -- had to make decisions about what course they or their communities would take on the questions of their era. Think of other periods in history for which it's vital to enter imaginatively into the world of an individual facing a difficult choice, such as whether to enter into armed conflict against another country. How can a historian discover what making that choice was like?