Why Study History

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Many people don’t think there is a reason to even look into the past. They live in the present. They look to what the future holds and anticipate what is yet to come. Most schools are required to teach history and even encourage students to study more history than required. But why urge students to do so? What is the justification of studying history? History should be studied because it helps people to understand how the society we live in came to be, it helps understand people in general and societies, and it demonstrates the mistakes people have made in the past allowing people to learn from the mistakes of the past. First off, history helps people understand how the world works and how society turned out the way it has. The past causes the present, as well as the future. Any time we try to know why something happenedwe have to look for factors in the past. We often need to look further back to identify the causes of change. Many people from the past changed how society is today. Back in the day people weren’t treated equal. “Outcasts” in the past didn’t have many freedoms we have. Mary Dyer was one of these people. She made a difference, fought for what she thought was right. As a Quaker, Mary Dyer’s faith was declared illegal by the national Church of England. She decided in order for change, she had to fight for freedom. Women in Massachusetts were now allowed to discuss a sermon, or even voice their own ideas about religion. Mary Dyer and two friends were arrested and tried for their religious beliefs. They were given two days to leave, or else face death. Mary’s son traveled and fought for her life to which the governor granted amnesty to her, forcing Mary to watch her two friends get executed. Mary lived in freedom for a year and wasn’t content so she returned to Boston. Her hanging was scheduled for June 1, 1660, and many people tried to convince her to

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