Causes and Consequences in History
Work out why past events happened and what happened because of them: suggest possible reasons, notice that big events usually have more than one cause, and trace the consequences that followed
What a learner can do afterwards
- Give a sensible reason why a historical event happened (e.g., 'The Great Fire spread because the houses were wooden and close together')
- Name more than one cause for the same event when asked what led to it
- Describe what changed as a result of an event (e.g., 'After the fire, London was rebuilt with brick')
The lesson
Historical events do not just happen by themselves. Something makes them happen. That is called a cause. Once something happens, other things change because of it. Those changes are called consequences. Big events almost always have more than one cause.
Think about the Titanic sinking in 1912. It was not only the iceberg. The ship was also going very fast, and it did not carry enough lifeboats for everyone. Three causes together caused the disaster. Afterward, new laws said every ship must carry enough lifeboats for all passengers. That was the consequence.
When you learn about an event, ask two questions. Why did it happen? Look for more than one reason. And what happened next because of it?
Good history detectives hunt for every cause behind an event, and every consequence that followed.
Watch it
Where it sits
Learn first
This opens up
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.