Citizens need to be historically informed because it encourages them to be more active in community activities. It is the responsibility of any citizen to engage in all aspects of the community to make it a better place for themselves and others. By being historically informed, citizens can organize themselves to discuss pertinent issues that affect the community and enhance their ability to offer solutions to current problems. Citizens might need historical inquiry skills such as being investigative and the ability to analyze and interpret both primary and secondary sources of history. These skills can be complemented by conducting historical research, which can help them understand past events more clearly and improve their ability to address current global challenges (Historical Association, n.d.). For example, citizens can address global problems such as racism by understanding its origins and how it affects current generation. Most people have decided to condemn racism after getting an excellent historical insight through historical research.
I live in Longview, Texas, an area historically known as the Gold Dollar City because it owes its heritage to the goodwill of a local farmer who gave out 100 acres of his land for one gold dollar for the city’s development. Longview, Texas, is faced with various challenges, including access to healthcare and aging infrastructure. A person who is historically informed about Longview, Texas, would understand that it’s a rural town that stemmed from humble beginnings. They will also know that the city has a higher percentage of the aging population who are farmers (Collins, 2017). They will conclude that the town cannot develop itself due to a slow growth rate and a lack of adequate resources to meet its own needs. A historically informed person will strive to recommend government support and financing in helping this town improve its infrastructure and access to medical care for its population.
References
Collins, C. (2017). The 7 most pressing issues facing rural Texas. Texas Observer. Retrieved from The 7 Most Pressing Issues Facing Rural Texas (texasobserver.org)
History and Citizenship. (n.d.). Historical Association. Web.