Everything Has a History

In his December 2015 column in Perspectives on History, AHA executive director James Grossman introduced the hashtag #EverythingHasaHistory. History can inform our understanding of everything and historians' voices are essential in conversations about current events.

Bringing Historical Context to Current Events

These compilations of AHA resources provide historical context to important current events.

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The History of Racist Violence in the United States

In response to ongoing racist violence in the United States, we have compiled a list of AHA resources on the history of racist violence. Teachers can use them in classrooms to help students understand the history of the present; journalists can draw on them to provide historical context for current events; researchers can draw on them to inform future scholarship.

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The Assault on the Capitol in Historical Perspective: Resources for Educators

We know teaching the events of January 6, 2021—which are not a “moment,” but the product of a long history—presents a familiar, yet unusually urgent, challenge: how can students use historical knowledge and thinking to understand current crises? Here are some resources that might help, published by the AHA on January 7, 2021.

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Ukraine, Russia, and the Cold War and its Legacies: Resources from the American Historical Association

In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in March 2022 we compiled a list of AHA resources on the history of Ukraine, Russia, and the Cold War and its legacies.

From the Executive Director’s Desk

AHA executive director Jim Grossman offers reflections on current issues before the AHA.

Vetted Bibliographies

Professionally vetted bibliographies of works by historians connecting the past and present.

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A Bibliography of Historians' Responses to COVID-19

In 2020-21, the AHA compiled a professionally vetted bibliography of historians’ responses to COVID-19 as a resource for the public, teachers, and scholars seeking historical perspectives on the current crisis and its local and global impacts.

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Historians on the Confederate Monument Debate

In the wake of the Charlottesville tragedy in 2017, historians across the country provided important historical context and insight to the public. The AHA compiled statements that our members, fellow historical societies, Council members, and staff made in op-eds, interviews, and other media conversations about the importance of historical thinking and knowledge within the current debate.

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What Does It Mean to Think Historically?

This 2007 Perspectives on History article by Thomas Andrews and Flannery Burke introduced the “five C's of historical thinking”: the concepts of change over time, causality, context, complexity, and contingency.

History Behind the Headlines

History Behind the Headlines is a webinar series featuring prominent historians discussing the history behind current events. Webinars in this series are generously sponsored by AHA member Jared Brubaker.

The Role of Historical Thinking in Public Culture

Jim Grossman and 2017 president Tyler Stovall discussed the role of historical thinking in today's public culture (2017).

Everything Has a History Video Library

This YouTube playlist features videos of historians providing historical context on current events, including the 2016 presidential election.