Historical Thinking Skills

Looking at two or more events, people, or societies to identify similarities and differences.

Looking the U.S. government to the government of ancient Athens—both are democracies, but Athens had direct democracy while the U.S. has representative democracy.

Examining why events happened, identifying short-term and long-term causes, and their effects.

The invention of the car led to suburbs and traffic accidents

Understanding an event by looking at what else was happening at the same time and place.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech makes more sense when you know it was delivered during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

Recognizing what has stayed the same and what has changed across different eras.

Communication has changed from handwritten letters to emails and texts, but people still use written words to share information.

Analyzing and supporting claims with sources like documents, images, or artifacts.

If you claim World War II affected civilians, you might use rationing posters and diary entries from the 1940s as evidence.