The Uses and Abuses of History

Margaret MacMillan
Read the chapter titled History and Identity, where MacMillan explores how the
concept of identity, or imagined community, can affect our understanding of both
history and the present. Follow along with her multiple examples and case studies,
from Fascists and Nazis to Canadian war contributions and the deaf community,
Islamic fundamentalists, Hindu nationalist scholars, the Irish, and more.
General Reading Questions:
1. How can history affect the present? How can our present or the context in which
we live affect our understanding of history?
2. How can we assess the effect of identity, or imagined community, on the
interpretation of history? Specifically, how can it affect existing accounts as well
as how we as historians interpret history?
3. Are there values or positives that identity can bring to the study of history?
Questions directly related to MacMillans examples:
1. Osama Bin Laden: How might we view history differently by switching
perspectives? What if we switched positions with Osama Bin Laden, or with
Muslims in general what if we felt shame and suffering at the hands of
another culture?
2. What are the values and limitations of understanding history emotionally?
3. Canada and Vimy Ridge: How can identity shape what we see as significant?
4. What factors are at play with the Communist Party of Chinas view of their
national history?
5. French-Canadians: How can a national identity lead to the formation of a history
by ommission? What is MacMillan suggesting the effect is of support for Fascists
in Quebec?
6. Kennewick Man: How can historical accounts be assessed?
7. How can we compare the different types of evidence here?
8. The Umatilla tribemember claims to know the vital aspects of his tribes history
through oral knowledge. How does he know? How can this evidence be
evaluated?
9. India: Historians who pointed out the manifest flaws in this picture of Indias
past were condemned as Marxists or simply as bad Indians, (82). Why might it
matter to be condemned as a bad Indian?
Reader Response Questions:
1. Which is the greatest abuse of history from Macmillans examples?
2. Find another example of identitys effect on history that stuck out to you and
comment on why that might be so.