Eleven key principles of history chosen by readers

The votes are in. From a list of 38 suggested possibilities, our readers were asked to choose 10 general principles of historical knowledge they considered most suitable for teaching to students in school. Identifying a sample set of enduring principles of history is a preliminary step in preparing to experiment with teaching such principles in classrooms.

General principles of knowledge form the basis of learning in school subjects other than history and in virtually all productive human endeavors. General principles of history (which might also be termed historical tendencies, recurring patterns in history, or lessons of history) are a key component of Future-Focused History teaching, which is designed to fulfill the fundamental purpose of education by imparting knowledge useful in the future

Four principles of history tied for first place in our survey, and seven tied for second place, leaving us with a recommended list of 11 key principles of historical knowledge. Fourteen people participated in the survey, casting 119 votes. While the 11 leading picks represented only 29% of available selections, they garnered 53% of votes cast, indicating solid support for these choices.

Teachers wishing to experiment with bringing Future-Focused History into their classrooms now have a curated set of general principles they can draw from. Teachers may wish to teach any or all of these principles or to teach other principles of their own choosing. Next, we can consider how principles of history might be taught effectively.

ELEVEN SAMPLE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE CHOSEN BY READERS:

• Humans have long manifested an instinctual yearning to explore, to learn, and to develop new technologies to improve their lives.

• People tend to promote their self-interest and the interest of their group, so bias is all around us.

• Humans tend to position themselves along a political spectrum that ranges from conservative to liberal.

• Major events usually result from multiple causes, some long-term and some more immediate.

• Taking control of the media makes it possible to brainwash large numbers of people.

• When a country’s government is toppled by internal revolution or an external enemy, civil war may break out as factions in the country compete to fill the power vacuum.

• Humans exhibit an instinct to resist external control.

•  Humans exhibit a propensity to fear, dislike, kill, subjugate, and discriminate against people from groups different than their own.

• Government actions tend to produce unintended consequences.

• Major cultures and empires have followed a general pattern of growth, flowering, and decline throughout history.

• Mismanagement of the environment will be paid back by loss of resources.  

See also:
Mike’s five additional principles of history
Original list of 38 suggested principles of history

Related information:

• More about general principles of historical knowledge
• How to teach general principles of history
• “Historical Thinking Skills: A Second Opinion”
• About Future-Focused History (and why teachers need to take charge)
• Future-Focused History is alive outside history class
• “Historical Thinking Skills: A Second Opinion”