The Use of Historical Method - Term Paper Example

?SEGMENT The historical method aims to understand events that took place in the past through using written records or documents. It requires collecting information and determining facts. Facts should be differentiated from the assumptions and assertions of the historians, because this can enhance the veracity of historical methods and writings. The historical method is different from the scientific method, because of the difficulty in finding answers to historical questions, since subjects and their conditions are not controlled like in experimental studies. The 5’Ws of research are Who, What, Where, When, and Why. Some historians are also interested in asking how and so what. Various questions in history are hard to answer because: 1) sources do not fully describe what happened, or do not honestly explain why they did something; 2) sources sometimes use “couched” or “diplomatic” words to express themselves; 3) history is a complex combination of numerous factors, such as culture, morality, beliefs, et al., that affect language and ways of communicating and understanding each other; 4) definitions are not universally agreed upon; and 5) subjects change throughout time. Proper historical writing seeks out facts. In reality, however, facts can be presented with biases, because historians themselves have different viewpoints on what happened and why/how they happened. Proper historical writing should also differentiate facts from assertions. If historians want to talk about interpretations or arguments, they must be clear about this intention in their writings. History should not be about what they think happened, but what truly happened. In the absence of facts, historians offer conjectures and theories about history. Some fields of science accuse social science as a “phony science,” because it is open to researcher bias and methodological weaknesses. Social science research, however, can respond to these weaknesses and reduce writer bias and methodological flaws, thereby improving the validity of their methods, findings, and conclusions. The problems of social science research are: researcher bias, bad data set, logical fallacies, relativism and normative definitions, level of certainty and variations, credibility of sources, misleading statistics, misinterpretation of facts, conspiracy theories, and other research problems that concern language. Like other research, their analysis and conclusions can also be prone to fallacies in reasoning. Some of the common problems with writing are: 1) not knowing who your audience is, and so the language and writing style do not fit their level of knowledge and expectations, 2) using biased language that alienate or discriminate other groups, 3) not using the right punctuation marks, and 4) not proofreading. Proofreading is essential because it catches and corrects typographical, grammatical, spelling, and usage errors. Student should maximize existing writing centers. These centers can help them make their thesis, outline, and first draft. The advantages of primary source are that writers can interpret the primary sources for themselves, instead of relying on the interpretations of others, and primary sources gather data firsthand, thereby reducing bias from having someone interpret it. Secondary sources are helpful in gathering background or historical information about a topic, and in expanding understanding on events or subjects, by exposing the readers to different perspectives, interpretations, and conclusions. Secondary sources also already synthesize or combine studies and facts, thereby reducing time needed to read them all. What historians add or not add to “history” impact their narration of “facts.” It is interesting how world history books, for instance, include or do not include certain events, people, and conjectures. This may be due to the need of condensing material, but this can also be linked to what the writers and publishers think as important and unimportant. Sometimes, I read history and ask, how about the women? What were they doing and thinking during these times? Their omission in several historical events indicates the patriarchal conditions of their times. I agree with the material that the historical method and social science have data collection and analysis flaws. However, even science is not an exact science, because scientists have biases that impact their analysis of data, and other factors can affect the results and interpretations made from the data. The best thing that social scientists can do is to try to understand how these different factors can affect the research process and outcomes and to be transparent about it. For example, they can offer alternative interpretations, even if it means undermining their own arguments. Or, they can already identify the strongest counterclaims, and from there, find ways of strengthening their own arguments. In addition, I did additional research on common writing problems and using primary and secondary sources as evidence. I learned that proofreading will not work, if the proofreader is not competent in the English language and that primary and secondary sources have advantages and disadvantages. It is best to ask help from others, who are proficient in English, in proofreading writings. It is also recommended to use both primary and secondary sources in studying history and other subjects, so that students can learn from the analysis of others. SEGMENT 2 Fifteenth-century Spain competed with Portugal in finding and owning vast territories of the world. The original motives of the Spaniards in colonizing other territories were: 1) Opening a western trade route to India, which was the source of numerous products traded, 2) The need for glory, fame, and wealth of the conquistadores and the monarchy, and 3) Expanding Christianity around the world. In other words, the main motives were God, Glory, and Gold. Columbus made his way to the Americas, because he was finding a faster trade route to Asia, so that he could cut transportation time and make the trips more profitable. He wanted a quicker trade route that could transport spices and other goods to Spain faster, so he could enrich and impress the monarchs, who commissioned his journeys. However, as the Spaniards discovered valuable human and natural resources in other nations, their motivations changed and became more materialistic and self-serving in nature. The Spaniards realized that they could enslave the natives and steal their land and natural resources, especially gold and silver. The initial Spanish experiences consisted of dominating the usually submissive, decentralized, and unorganized native people. The Spaniards organized them and gave them purpose, particularly serving as workers and producers of wealth for Spain, as well as being baptized into Christianity. Other natives, however, were not as compliant. Several North American tribes fought the Spaniards for their right to life, land, and freedom. The Indian population was decimated under Spanish conquest. Millions died because of Spanish battles and sicknesses from the Spaniards. Spaniards gave new diseases to the locals, who did not have natural protection from them. In addition, the natives suffered from the hard labor that they were not accustomed to, as well as the psychological and physical maltreatment from oppressive Spanish colonizers. In Ferdinand’s Letter to Taino Indians, King Ferdinand explained to the Indians, who he is and where he got his powers. He said that God chose St. Peter to be the Pope and other popes who followed him have the same blessing and power from God. These popes decreed that the monarchy owns new territories, including that of the Taino Indians. The letter also enforces the rule of the monarchy over the lives of the Indians. It says that the Indians were vassals to the monarchy, and if they resisted, their rights to life and liberty would be voided, and war would be waged against them. I believe that Columbus should be remembered for all actions that are attributable to him. If he is the first who explored the Americas and named it after Spanish rule, then the merit is his. However, if historical documents showed that he also ordered or allowed numerous crimes against the Indians, such as genocide, rape, and plunder, then he should also be known for these actions. He should be remembered for all his positive and negative contributions to society, not because we should demonize his legacy, but because facts are facts. Class readings and discussions informed me about the motivations of colonization. Fifteenth-century Spaniards wanted to spread their religion, while also amassing wealth, power, and fame. However, their idea of civilization demeaned the existence and validity of other civilizations, especially the cultures of the natives that they conquered. They crushed the spirit and cultures of these people and forced their religions, systems, and beliefs on them. Essentially, their ethnocentricism killed vibrant Native American cultures. I did additional research by reading more about the primary resources during these times. I read Bartoleme de Las Casas’ Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies, and I felt devastated of what Columbus and succeeding Spanish voyagers and troops did to the Indians. These are the original owners of the land and they were massacred and displaced like they were pests. I realized that Columbus should not be treated as a hero, because he was also directly and indirectly involved in these inhumane crimes. SEGMENT 3 Old World superpowers, Spain and Portugal, did not keep their power and wealth indefinitely. During the mid-sixteenth century, the Protestant Reformation weakened the power and influence of Spain. Internal political and economic troubles further dented Spain’s resources and influence on world politics and trade. Soon, the British defeated the Spanish armada and the rise of England began. England’s early motivations in colonizing the new world were: geopolitical, where they wanted to surpass the wealth and power of the Dutch, the French, and the Spaniards; economic, where they aimed to discover and to own valuable natural resources and additional land/fishing grounds; fame and glory, where they yearned to be the new Spain in terms of political reach and economic wealth. English migration promised countless opportunities. Some Englishmen went to and settled at the New World for economic reasons, such as escaping poverty and finding land. The motives of the British changed when they experienced difficulties in the New World. First, gold was not as available as they originally imagined. Second, the British had to deal with resistance from the Indians. Third, many lands had harsh and unforgiving environments and weather. Fourth, the British realized that cultivating the land needed the right people, equipment, and resources. Finally, they also acquired diseases from the natives. Despite these challenges, the British were motivated to persevere, because of opportunities in the land, where new crops and communities could thrive. The Mayflower Compact is a written agreement made through a consensus of the new pilgrim settlers, who arrived at New Plymouth on November of 1620. They had traveled on the ship Mayflower. The Mayflower Compact was designed to promote fair and equal laws, for the general welfare of the settlement and in preservation of the will of the majority. The significance of the Compact is that it suggests political autonomy; it indicates a form of state government, where the people agreed to create their own political body in Plymouth, but one which was still under the British monarchy. Jamestown was the first permanent European settlement in North America. In June of 1606, King James I provided a charter to a group of London entrepreneurs, the Virginia Company, to create a satellite English settlement in the Chesapeake section of North America. By December, 104 settlers left London and sailed to Virginia to find gold and to seek a route to the Orient. On May 14, 1607, the Virginia Company explorers landed on Jamestown Island and founded the Virginia English colony on the banks of the James River. I learned the significance of The Mayflower Compact, where it acted as a covenant that subordinated the rights of individuals to promote social rights and responsibilities. The settlers wanted to create a political and social order for their survival in the New World. For me, the Compact represents the will of the people for self-reliance, collective growth, and independence. I did additional reading on the religious, economic, and royal colonies. I realized that all of these colonies served diverse, and sometimes, incompatible interests. Economic interests conflicted with royal interests, when the settlers slowly realized that they wanted freedom and to own all the products of their labors. In addition, settlers fled political, economic, and religious problems in Britain. In the New World, they could be new people and live independent and better lives. I also learned that the British colonies fared better than the Spanish colonies, because the former has leadership that was more decentralized and lenient than the latter. The British also did not force their religions on the natives; they promoted civil rights and liberty, but not independence, from the monarchy. Read More