Episode 1

 Why does History matter today? 

Take a minute and think about things that have happened in the past. Maybe a particular event sticks out to you. Think about how that event could have shaped the world that we see today. 

This quote stands out about how history has shaped the world we see today and will influence the future. "The past causes the present, and so the future" (Stearns, 1998). This quote is simple, but powerful. Let break it down. Think about the past 100 years and how much the United States has changed.

Here are just a few significant events that changed America.

The Great Depression in the 1930s. This led to high rates of poverty, and the impact of it can still be reflected on today. While we are not on the same level currently, the current economy in America is struggling in certain areas. Like the great depression, people are relying on the government for assistance to help with the cost of living, food, and other aspects to get by.

World War II. After World War II, the United States emerged as a global superpower. While the United States was looked at as a superpower, the Soviet Union was fighting for that spot. This led to decades of Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union that changed how both countries invested in military and formed alliances. Stop and think about several different conflicts the United States has been involved in since 1945. The Vietnam war, the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Ukraine conflict (Pritzker Military Museum & Library, 2025). These are all in one way or another related to a degree to the Cold War. This shows that today we still see the lasting effects of the Cold War. 

Lastly, the Civil Rights Movement. Huge strides have been made in the United States over the last 100 years involving Civil Rights. Segregation laws were eliminated and the rights of people were expanded to where everyone was treated equally. While strides were made, there is still work to be done. We see many fighting for Civil Rights today. This is an ongoing issue that the United States still faces and shows that progress has been made, but more still needs to be done. 

Think back to your initial thoughts on why history still matters today. Did reading this change your thoughts on history? Do you have any event that you feel is significant in todays society? Overall, History is ever changing and will continue to imprint things into the past, but the things that are in the past and present will pave the way for the future. 

References

Stearns, P. N. (1998, January 1). Why Study History? (1998). American Historical Association. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://www.historians.org/resource/why-study-history-1998/

Pritzker Military Museum & Library. (2025, December 26). When the Cold War ended, and why it still matters. https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/resources/blog/when-cold-war-ended-and-why-it-still-matters