Alternate History Club (19th and 20th centuries)
This ongoing class will examine "what might have been" if the history we know took a different path.
David Armstrong M.A.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(16)
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1 hour per week. Each class will cover a new topic. Knowledge of "what if's" covered in previous lessons is not needed. Prior to class, student will be given an historical situation to study; i.e. The first months of World War One, Theodore Roosevelt's Presidency, or the Mexican-American War. They will be given a one outline of the basics of the given topic.They will be required to learn the basics of the subject. They can find their own sources or explore from a suggested list. They should know the basic outline of what actually happened before we meet. Students will be asked to think of historical alternatives that they would like to explore in future sessions. These will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Intermediate Level
The class is intended to act like an after-school type club for history lovers. Student may join (as long as there are spaces available) or leave as the wish. The idea is to have fun and use our imaginations while learning what we love! Have you ever imagined what life would be like if history had taken a different path? A different decision, a chance meeting, an untimely accident are all things that could have altered the history we know and the future we live in. Each class is "stand alone" and will cover a new topic. Knowledge of "what if's" covered in previous lessons is not needed. Each week, students will learn about what really happened and then discuss alternative possibilities. Discussions will be free ranging. Students will be encouraged to analyze various historical scenarios and postulate what they think could have been the result. Would a change radically alter the world we know, have a minor effect, or would the pattern of history as we know reassert itself? Students will also be asked to think of their own historical "what ifs?" for future class discussions. My wish for this club to be a mostly “student-lead” endeavor in which we can indulge our imaginations while exploring the topic we love, history! The next series of topics are: The week of October 6 - What if WWII in Europe began in 1938? The week of October 13- What if "Operation Unthinkable" had actually happened? The week of October 20 - What if the North had won the Civil War outright in 1862? The week of October 27 - What if The United States had stayed out of WWI? The week of November 3 - What if Vladimir Lenin had not been returned to Russia in 1917? The week of November 10 - Teacher unavailable The week of November 17 - What if there had been no Spanish-American War? The week of November 24 Thanksgiving break The week of December 1 - What if the British had stayed in Vietnam longer after WWII ended? The week of December 8 - What if the Watergate break in had not been discovered? The week of December 15 - Frederick III of Germany does not die early in his reign.
Learning Goals
The main goal of the this course is for students to learn critical thinking and analysis skills. They will do so while engaging their imaginations while learning about important historical events. They will learn to consider what is a logical possibility and what is fanciful thinking.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Obviously, warfare will be a common subject discussed. The thoughts, ideas, and motivations of historical figures will often be considered. Some of those ideas can be challenging to our modern sensibilities, disturbing, or even repugnant. Warfare is a violent and ugly affair. These subjects and ideas will be examined as far as needed to explore the given topic but gratuitous, bloody imagery and explanations will be avoided.
For example: No detailed descriptions of carnage will be given in class. For instance, there will be no playing of the opening act of "Saving Private Ryan."
Supply List
There will be a one or two-page handout for each class. This will include the subject at hand and one or two suggested "what ifs?" I will also list s few book on the real history being discussed if the student wishes to study further.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2020
4.9
16reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I hold a Master of Arts in Military History. My focus is mainly on military and political theories of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.Reviews
Live Group Class
$19
weekly1x per week
55 min
Completed by 38 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
3-8 learners per class
