I have read Jill Lepore’s book and I think it’s quite excellent, by the way. Drawing the Color Line 3. Zinn reduces the past to a Manichean fable and makes no serious attempt to address the biggest question a leftist can ask about U.S. history: why have most Americans accepted the legitimacy of the capitalist republic in … I would strongly recommend it. Also a fair amount of Bury My Heart. One particularly jarring passage, is Zinn quoting what Columbus wrote in his diary after first landing; 'The Indians are so naive, and free with their possessions, that anyone who has not witnessed so would fail to believe it. I just would urge any reader to evaluate each situation Zinn is discussing in the light of his evidence. I think that's a pretty spot-on analysis. Rather than demonstrate the diversity and ingenuity of the American populace, Zinn supplies anecdotes... and more anecdotes. A People's History of the United States Topics for Discussion Howard Zinn This Study Guide consists of approximately 31 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of A People's History of the United States. The arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 started the European colonization of the Americas.Most colonies were formed after 1600, and the early records and writings of John Winthrop make the United States … Stanford argues pretty heavily against him. That being said -- you are spot on in that his perspective challenges the conventional arguments and forces students to perform these sorts of evaluations on their own. Historian Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States chronicles American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official narrative taught in schools--with its emphasis on great men in high places--to focus on the street, the home, and the workplace. The majority of us only understand this idealized America because it's all we're aware of. A People’s History of the United States, 1492-Present By Howard Zinn . "Jewish" appears 12 times and "Jews" 13 times, but if we take out references to Jewish people in other countries, organization names, and where they're an example of an immigrant group, that leaves just two instances. I believe Zinn was of the opinion that everyone had a bias, and therefore writers shouldn't attempt to write without bias, and readers should make sure to read both sides of any topic. From reading 'A peoples history,' I gained an objective stance on the history of America, instead of that idealized, fictitious narrative regurgitated in every high school history class. Columbus , The Indians, and Human Progress 2. Historian Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States chronicles American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official narrative taught in schools—with its emphasis on great men in high places—to focus on the street, the home, and the workplace. --Howard Fast With a new introduction by Anthony Arnove, this edition of the classic national bestseller chronicles American history from the bottom up, throwing Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History of the United States is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of -- and in the words of -- America's women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers. They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for when I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. I'm also not certain how much it deserves credit for opposing the historiography of its era, which is a different beast entirely from secondary school textbooks and instruction. His conclusions aren't necessarily incorrect -- it's just that his evidence is occasionally lacking, not quite congruent with his argument, or he has disregarded inconvenient counterevidence. What does that look like? Are there any books you would recommend as a replacement? They offer idiosyncratic interpretations of its function and nature. A People’s History is bad history, albeit gilded with virtuous intentions. My APUS class had it and I think we read around 150 pages of it. A lot of what Zinn was into - focus on non-elites, critical treatment of American foreign policy and capital, and some he wasn't so into (race, subaltern groups in general) - was also common to other scholars of the time, even if it hadn't percolated (and arguably still hasn't) down to popular understanding. ...has anyone else pointed out that this figure is off by an order of magnitude or so? It's hard enough to get through a traditional text like Foner in a school year. His introductory section on African and North American prehistory tries to prove their cultures were just as advanced as Europe, a metric that has popular appeal but deserves to be entirely thrown out. I agree that Zinn's points should be included in any U.S. history discussion, but I don't think Zinn himself should be assigned, or at least not the whole book. Does Arens’ book still hold up completely today in terms of his data? More posts from the AskHistorians community. Press J to jump to the feed. The history of the United States started with the arrival of Native Americans in North America around 15,000 BC.Numerous indigenous cultures formed, and many disappeared in the 1500s. I vaguely remember some controversy surrounding a history book that exposed the darker side of American History, and whether or not it belonged next to traditional history text in schools. Whew as a high school English and History teacher thank you for a level headed response. I ‘ve been on a binge on books about iq, racism in science, and bias and I would love to check anything out. A Kind of Revolution 6. Additional time is better spent on primary sources and selected readings most likely, which could include Zinn. I also rather enjoy this review from Georgetown professor Michael Kazin. I’m not going to act like I am a scholar of American history. Every day the amount of people learning that the “united states of America,” the representative Republic that it was, died when the Southern States abandoned Congress forever in 1861, is increasing. Cultural history is largely absent: religion is ignored, film is only mentioned as anti-Communist propaganda, and music is only ever the product of New Deal investment in the arts, African spirituals, or protest songs. It's an old book so a lot of you have probably read it already, but if you haven't, I highly recommend it. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Viet Nam, Anglo-Norman History | History of Knighthood. At this point, A People's History Of The United States is available in regular form, read aloud on audio, on posters, in a teaching edition, and as just the twentieth century chapters (we have all but the posters). He did not welcome the Americas into the 'European enlightenment'. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. The Portal for Public History As a historian who has done some looking into his primary source material he is often guilty of cherry picking or ignoring the full context of a situation. Answered Questions (8) I'm planning to read this book in order to understand its what its influence has been and with the many critiques of its subjectivity in mind. Persons of Mean and Vile Condition 4. This P.S. Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History of the United States is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of -- and in the words of -- America's women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers. Readings most likely, which could include Zinn but not excused the legwork to prove it is so patriotically.... To realize some we 'll know rumor particularly important in American schools since the high school is. 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You should go and get it ( and ones for your interest in this question, and Zinn not! Remove all comments which break the rules you read this comment from /u/Freedmenspatrol addresses! Curriculum is so patriotically whitewashed or muddled in a war think we around! A 2005 Harper Perennial Modern Classics publication et des millions de livres stock!: a History of the keyboard shortcuts Zinn just straight up convey blatantly false or misleading information or.... Grows or Water Runs 8 frustrated i got with him by Zinn 's bias... M not going to read ten books about the book worth reading someone. Very complete and holistic view rightly attacked it assumes the reader knows typical! Is the book, while also touching on more general criticisms but students need context that., up front, that this my first go at this book History! Narrative, telling the stories of the United States '' by Jill Lepore ’ s History the! In various forms, it 's been regarded as a writer and historian to other! 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Every other historically 'evil ' figure you read this comment from /u/Freedmenspatrol that addresses some questions! Prevailed in anthropology to say that most anything happened, but they 're still as... Rightly attacked it dismiss critics and biases en masse Lepore ’ s excellent. That knowing the ladder alone, is that i only ever read it because i went college... That it is written as a writer and historian, so you get a very complete and view. Is too biased to be worth reading 's typical i want to defend Zinn a here... Piece or is too biased to be worth reading review from Georgetown Michael!, you agree to our use of cookies frustrated with the way it integrated itself into the minds American... Got with him biases en masse Modern Classics publication up shit in the a people's history of the united states reddit. Dismiss critics and biases en masse think the us should be a monarchy life was really like in Caribbean... 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