What does a cause explain?

What does a cause explain?

• A. Why it happened
• B. When it happened
• C. Who was involved
• D. Where it occurred

Answer: (A)

A cause explains why something happened. In history, identifying the cause means uncovering the reason behind an event—the motive, conditions, or forces that brought it about. The timing, the people involved, and the location describe when, who, and where something occurred, but they don’t tell you why it happened. So the best choice is the one that asks for the reason behind the event. For example, a revolution is analyzed by looking at economic hardship, political repression, or social tensions to explain why it occurred.

A cause explains why something happened. In history, identifying the cause means uncovering the reason behind an event—the motive, conditions, or forces that brought it about. The timing, the people involved, and the location describe when, who, and where something occurred, but they don’t tell you why it happened. So the best choice is the one that asks for the reason behind the event. For example, a revolution is analyzed by looking at economic hardship, political repression, or social tensions to explain why it occurred.