A Defense of Alternate History

 

                    

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Yeah Okay There's Some Weird Stuff

To many historians and social studies teachers the genre of alternate history has often been thought of at best as an amusing distraction or at worst a futile effort in science fiction and fantastical theories about alternate worlds. 

I do respect this viewpoint and don't deny that much of alternate history is often drowning in unknowable butterfly effects and prone to absurdist elements. While a series from Harry Turtledove where aliens invade during World War Two and become addicted to ginger might be an entertaining read on the weekend, I wouldn't advocate for it to be used in the classroom. I would argue though that thinking about alternate paths and what ifs in history could be useful when used in a constrained way that encourages students to examine the causes of historical events or inspires them to look at history in a new way. 

A Positive Example 

What if Napoleon Never Came to Power?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3M7DVkGNf4

An example of alternate history content that would perhaps be a useful tool in the classroom would be the channel AlternateHistoryHub on Youtube as it is known for its focus on historical topics as well as engaging and colorful graphics. A great feature of these videos is that the actual timeline of historical events is always detailed in the first half of the video before the alternate diversion of history is discussed. This gives important context and information delivered in a humorous and visually engaging style before it goes into possible different paths.

This particular video on Napoleon and what if he never rose to power would be a useful tool to show students towards the end of a unit on the French Revolution or the Napoleonic Wars. While I don't want to promote a sense of great man history in my teaching it is undeniable that some individuals have had an outside effect on the course of history. It is not unthinkable to imagine a bad bout of disease or a stray bullet could have easily ended Napoleon's career short and had a large ripple effect on history, 

What Would Students Gain From It? 

Using the video stated above students could write a list of the many changes that would have happened if Napoleon didn't gain power. This could then be easily turned into a list of the impacts of Napoleon's wars and his rule of France had on the course of history. However instead of a routine review session the students instead go over this information through an entertaining thought exercise delivered in a relatable and visually engaging medium. 

One of the first questions a student might ask is if it wasn't Napoleon then would someone else have just taken his place? In order to explore this further the student would need to research the troubled state of the First French Republic at that time, how it became so dysfunctional, and what specific methods Napoleon used to gain power. This way the student is guiding their learning through their own curiosity instead of just being told the information.  

Engagement through Imagination 

The use of a student's curiosity and imagination is perhaps one of the strongest aspects of using alternate history as a tool in the classroom as it counteracts one of the most widely heard stereotypes of social studies. Many students often complain that history seems to be a dry retelling of events that have already happened or that it hardly ever seems relevant. 

Introducing alternate history could be a way for a teacher to demonstrate to students how what we know about history could have easily been changed by a few different circumstances. It shows that history is not a series of events set in stone but a result of human decisions, weather conditions, and so many other factors which helps make history feel more exciting and alive. It also puts the students in an active learning role as they are encouraged to use historical evidence and their own opinions to imagine a different way history might have played out. 

How Would I Use it?

While I would probably never have it as the main focus of a unit or class I would like to use alternate history thought experiments in my teaching as a fun and interactive way for students to look at history in a different way. I hope that in this post I have convinced you of the possible benefits of it as a teaching tool in social studies and how it can inspire students. If you're interested in more I will list some ideas of activities centered around alternate history below that might be useful in lessons. 

• American Revolution Unit- Students will imagine a world where the United States turned out similar to Canada and stayed a British colony for much longer. They must then list at least 5 ways the British could have changed a specific policy or reacted differently during the lead up to the American Revolution to possibly make this outcome happen. (Students look at causes of American Revolution as well as specific events) 

• World War 1 Unit- After watching a Crash Course video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd2ch4XV84s) on the causes of World War 1 students will try to imagine how the war could have been stopped and list what would need to be changed. (Students examine causes of World War 1 and gain deeper understanding of the many different factors that caused the conflict.)

• Medieval England Unit- After watching an Oversimplified video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl3K63Rbygw) about the Battle of Hastings and the three claimants to the English throne at the time students will then choose either Hardrada or Godwinson and imagine what England might have looked like if they had won the throne. (Students look at the social and cultural layers of England at that time and also understand how it was changed by the new French influence)