The History Wars

History Wars! Sounds almost tautological, doesn't it? So much of our History syllabus is built around wars; World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Cold War... As Australians, our historical identity is constructed in relation to each of the 'great' wars of the 20th Century. One needs only look at ANZAC celebrations each year to see the near-religious fervour and respect that surrounds this aspect of Australian culture. 

The 'History Wars' themselves only have a tertiary relationship with war though, the term instead refers to the metaphorical battles fought by historians, journalists, and politicians over what the 'official' version of history should be for a nation. Many countries have their own versions of this debate. Japan continues to navigate a delicate relationship with their imperial past as the 'rapists' of Nanking, China. Quite recently, the U.S. senate intervened in plans for the Smithsonian museum to depict the less savoury aspects of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And the less said about Turkey's foreign relations during the 19th century, the less likely you are to incite vehement argument from Greeks, Cypriots and Armenians.

A look at the Australian History Wars is often a great way to involve students in the contestability that forms so much of the crux of History Extension.

Our nation's history has been heavily contested over the last 30-40 years, and provides an excellent opportunity for Extension students to really grapple with the front-lines of historical discussion and argument. The debates that continue to fuel the History Wars are also demonstrative of the sort of debate we'd like to see students spearhead for their own History Extension Project.

Some examples of various aspects of the History Wars in Australia are:

• The political debates surrounding what content should be taught to students in Australian schools.
• Keith Windschuttle, and his footnote-debunking attacks on Left Wing historians (such as Lyndell Ryan).
• The ongoing arguments over whether the decline of Indigenous Australian culture and population constitutes genocide or not.
• The 'black armband' (Left Wing/Apologist) school of historians vs. the 'three cheers' (Right Wing/Traditionalist) school.
• Whether the 'Frontier Wars' between colonists and Indigenous Australians should be included in Australia's 'official' list of wars (and, by extension, whether the War Memorial should acknowledge these conflicts).
• The concept of 'Terra Nullius'.
• Were the Aboriginal people the first Australians?

Anyway, below you'll find an introductory powerpoint to go through with students. While you discuss each slide the students can fill in the graphic organiser with their thoughts and notes.

Resources:
The History Wars PPT

History Wars Graphic Organiser