Historical Significance
The past consists of everything that ever happened to everyone everywhere, but we cannot remember or learn it all. Consequently, at the core of the study of history are questions about what events and people from the past are important and why they are important. In other words, when considering historical significance we ask: What and who should be remembered, researched and taught? Historians, authors and educators must select what and whom to study, decide what details to include in their descriptions and determine how important these events and people are in relation to other aspects of the past.
Students will understand that:
- historical significance depends on three criteria:
- how notable the event was at the time
- how widespread and lasting the consequences of the event were
- how symbolic or representative of historical issues or trends the event were1
- what is historically significant to one group of people is not necessarily significant to others
For whom is it significant?
- Global: Most everyone in the world should know about it
- National: Most everyone in the country where it occurred should know about it
- Regional: Most everyone in the region or who belongs to a specific group(s) should know about it
- Individual: Only the descendants and family of the people involved need know about it
- Not at all significant: No one needs to remember it
Student activity sheet
For whom is it significant?
Use the following scale of significance to determine who ought to know about the events and people listed below.
Scale of significance Who would judge it significant?
Global Most everyone in the world should know about it
National Most everyone in the country where it occurred should know about it
Regional Most everyone in the region or who belongs to a specific group(s) should study it
Individual Only the descendants and family of the people involved need know about it
Not at all significant No one needs to remember it
How significant are these events and people?
- Canada becoming a nation
- British Columbia joining Canada
- The first person to go into outer space
- The person who invented the computer
- The current Prime Minister of Canada
- Women receiving the right to vote in national elections for the first time
- The invention of gunpowder
- The invention of perfume
Internment in Canada
Event #1
Canada was involved in a major war. When it started, there were 171 000 people living in Canada who had arrived, or whose ancestors had arrived, from countries that were
considered enemies of Canada. Many of these people had been born in Canada and spoke English as their main language. During the war, 80 000 of these individuals were forced to register with the police and report back to them as often as once a month. Failure to report resulted in fines or even imprisonment.
Almost 8000 of these Canadian residents, including 81 women and 156 children, were taken to one of 24 internment camps across Canada and were held without trial as “enemy aliens.” The government took all of their property and money. It forced many of these individuals to work for little pay and, in some cases without any pay even though the law required that people working on all government projects were to be paid. They were made
to do difficult work including building roads and railways, and clearing trees and rocks from land.
Some of the internment camps closed after a couple of years because there was a shortage of labour and not enough workers to keep them running. This demand for workers also meant that the internees were loaned out to private companies and sent all across Canada without their families. They were forced to work at whatever jobs the company needed them to do. Other camps remained in operation until 18 months after the war ended; some people lived as long as six years in these camps.
Event #2
There were 23 224 people of a particular cultural group living in Canada when we became involved in an international war. These people or their ancestors were from a country considered to be an enemy of Canada. More than half of these people had been born in Canada and many spoke English as their main language. During the war, the Prime Minister publicly questioned the loyalty of these Canadians and all over the age of 16 were forced to register with the police.
A year later, thousands of individuals of this particular group were ordered to leave their homes. They were allowed to take one suitcase each. The rest of their property was turned over to the authorities where it was sold and used to pay for the costs of their internment. Some were made to live in cow barns for a time. Many families were separated when men over 18 were sent to work in road camps, on farms or to Prisoner of War (POW) camps surrounded by barbed wire. They were paid a small wage, and forced to pay for food and housing out of that wage. Twelve thousand women, children and elderly were transported to ghost towns, to live in conditions unsuitable for the bitter winters. Some of these people were set free once the war was ended; others were deported to their country of origin.
Rating an event’s significance
Event: Event #1
Criteria 1 2 3 4 5
Not at all significant Very significant
How notable it was at the time:
Was it noticed at the time as having importance?
How long did it exist or operate?
Significance 1 2 3 4 5
Evidence:
How widespread and lasting the consequences were:
How deeply felt was it? How widespread was it?
How lasting were its effects?
Significance 1 2 3 4 5
Evidence:
How symbolic it is:
How has it been memorialized?
Does it represent a historical issue or trend?
Significance 1 2 3 4 5
Evidence:
Considering the ratings above, this event is:
- Not at all significant: No one need remember the event
- Individually significant: Only the descendants and family of the people involved should know about the event
- Regionally significant: Most everyone in the region or who belongs to the specific group(s) affected should know about the event
- Nationally significant: Everyone in the country where it occurred should know about the event
- Globally significant: Most everyone in the world should know about the event
Reasons:
Rating an event’s significance
Event: Event #2
Criteria 1 2 3 4 5
Not at all significant Very significant
How notable it was at the time:
Was it noticed at the time as having importance?
How long did it exist or operate?
Significance 1 2 3 4 5
Evidence:
How widespread and lasting the consequences were:
How deeply felt was it? How widespread was it?
How lasting were its effects?
Significance 1 2 3 4 5
Evidence:
How symbolic it is:
How has it been memorialized?
Does it represent a historical issue or trend?
Significance 1 2 3 4 5
Evidence:
Considering the ratings above, this event is:
- Not at all significant: No one need remember the event
- Individually significant: Only the descendants and family of the people involved should know about the event
- Regionally significant: Most everyone in the region or who belongs to the specific group(s) affected should know about the event
- Nationally significant: Everyone in the country where it occurred should know about the event
- Globally significant: Most everyone in the world should know about the event
Reasons: