In the reading of A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, Zinn takes a different approach than most traditional historians. He chooses to concentrate on the personal experiences and struggles of the everyday people, rather than the view of the leaders or “State”
Zinn 's primary position is that if historical education focused on the historical perspective of those who are normally excluded from the usual accounts, students and people would gain a wider and broader understanding of history: “The treatment of heroes (Columbus) and their victims (the Arawak)-the quiet acceptance of conquest and murder in the name of progress- is only one aspect of a certain approach to history, in which the past is told from the point of view of governments, conquerors...leaders.” (Zinn 6) For Zinn this process of reevaluation is vital to understanding history and getting a more accurate depiction. This becomes one of the most important parts of Zinn 's argument as he begins to "question" and better assess what defines "progress”.
A People’s History of the United States begins with a retelling of
…show more content…
Using excerpts from Columbus’ own journals as well as the writings of La Casas, Zinn exposes Columbus as a man who was greedy and hungry for power. He had no hesitation in torturing, enslaving and killing thousands of men, women and children in order to obtain these goals. Columbus and his motivations demonstrate a clear clash of cultures between Europeans and the Arawak. In his writings, Columbus sees that the Native Americans are strong and well-built, but have no means of weapons except spears made of canes. In Columbus’ mind, these factors make the native people the perfect subject to be conquered and made into slaves (Zinn 1). Zinn’s use of Columbus’ own journal adds an element of accountability and authenticity. Using these excerpts strengthens Zinn’s position because he is able to utilize Columbus’ own words to tear down the false persona that historians have given
1491 by Charles Mann is a book about the Native Indians lives in a pre-Colombian America. Throughout the book Mann states that a great deal of the information he is giving is new speculation. However, not all of the speculation has evidence clear enough for one to be sure what he claims is true. Mann’s writing style is thought provoking, intriguing, and engaging. Mann specializes in scientific journalism.
In the book Zinn, The author gives a point of view of Christopher Columbus that is usually not given. Most of the time the story of Christopher Columbus is told from a historian point of view. They usually tell you of his mission, and of the three ships that he takes in order to find gold and other new riches. Zinn informs us that he is not the hero that, that we all think that he is. It shows us that he tortured, abused, and overwhelmingly embarrasses the Arwark Indians.
The first chapter of both APeople’s History of the United States (Zinn, 1980) andA Patriot’s History of the United States(Schweikart and Allen, 2004) tells the story of the discovery of the New World. Beginning with the landing of Columbus in the Bahamas, these accounts are told from two separate perspectives. Zinn often refers to the telling of history as a tale between victims and executioners, saying that in the “inevitable taking of sides which comes from selection and emphasis in History” he prefers to stand on the side of the victim, whereas Schweikart and Allen tend to stand behind the executioner. Much of APatriot’s Historyis spent arguing the accuracy of the number of natives murdered by invading European entities, attempting to minimize the blame reflected on these executioners.
Howard Zinn uses historical writings to explain an imbalance in objectivity, perspective, and justice. History books are written by the victors not the vanquished which makes the perspective of the story teller biased. As the story of Christopher Columbus he has been hailed as a hero especially in public schools and recognized as an historical occasion to have a day off granted by the government. Many as we grow more educational find out this sinister legacy that was swept under the carpet because there is evidence that supports while in the “new world” he destroyed the native peoples of islands he explored and it devastated native populations. There is no justice being done when the perspective does not reveal a whole truth when the objective
Loewen argues, “The authors of history textbooks have taken us on a trip of their own, away from the facts of history, into the realm of myth.” As historical events regress further into the past, writers may misinterpret facts that they may have studied. A story of discovery and friendship or a tale of conquest, murder, and greed, which of these are Christopher Columbus’ true stories? I believe the best method to teach American high school students about Christopher Columbus’ story is through historiography because historiography teaches students to compare and distinguish different outlooks from different writers’ point of views instead of just remembering misinterpreted facts. Historiography would guide and force students to study and learn history through a diverse set of historians who focused on the same subject and come to different conclusions.
While for Columbus monuments it is taken by most Americans, and Europeans as a commemorative thing in which it celebrates the actions, and deeds that Columbus had done in discovering America, and how it led to the founding and present time of the United States, but for other such as Native Americans it has been received as oppression, and the close annihilation of their people in which they were enslaved, killed, and imprisoned by Columbus and his people, shown in Document J. This example shows the effects in which the monuments have had on the people of today and the outcries and protests against Confederate and Columbus monuments in which debate of the actions, deeds, and meanings behind these monuments and the interpretation of them by people of different races, and
On the day that the United States of America declared to became independent, everything has changed since then. That day was one of the most significant historical events in the US history line; people of US began to have a completely different life. Thus the difference of political situation after the declaration of independence, US began to refresh everything that was necessary, and the law took the priority. Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove both were a writer, editor, and social activist that was best known for the anti-war movement.
Inclusively, the professor explained that stories such as the flat earth, and the challenges Columbus faced while discovering America, only help to empower the concept of heroification. Surprisingly, Loewen explains that these and other erroneous stories are learned through history textbooks. Dr. Jendian explained that these misconceptions, keep students unaware of the real nature of history. According to Loewen (32), “The authors of history textbooks have taken us on a trip of their own, away from the facts of history, into the realm of myth.” As mentioned previously, Columbus is presented to us as a symbol of heroification, demonstrating how history textbooks contain errors about his real life.
Historians who practice historiography agree that the writings from the beginning of what is now known as the United States of America can be translated various ways. In James H. Merrell’s “The Indians’ New World,” the initial encounters and relationships between various Native American tribes and Europeans and their African American slaves are explained; based on Merrell’s argument that after the arrival of Europeans to North America in 1492, not only would the Europeans’ lives drastically change, but a new world would be created for the Native Americans’ as their communities and lifestyles slowly intertwined for better or worse. Examples of these changes include: “deadly bacteria, material riches, and [invading] alien people.” (Merrell 53)
Q1: A. According to Las Casas, the Spaniards had one influence that encouraged such acts of cruelty and that was greed. The Spaniards wanted gold. As much gold as they could get their hands on. Las Casas stated that by becoming rich so fast, the Spaniards hoped that this would lead to a “rise to a high estate disproportionate to their merits” (3).
Growing up in America, every child in school is taught about Christopher Columbus, the man who discovered America. They learn how this great Italian explorer who was in search for a faster, but while looking for this new trade route, he in turn “discovered” a new land. However, the story of Christopher Columbus is not this simple and most of the true story is left out of the schools because it puts the supposed discover of America in a bad light. Nevertheless, that does not mean the true history of Columbus’s discovery of America should be forgotten or avoided because it sheds a light on the interactions between the Europeans and the true discovers or inhabitants of this new land. Although at the time there were no cameras to document what
Throughout history, there have been many literary studies that focused on the culture and traditions of Native Americans. Native writers have worked painstakingly on tribal histories, and their works have made us realize that we have not learned the full story of the Native American tribes. Deborah Miranda has written a collective tribal memoir, “Bad Indians”, drawing on ancestral memory that revealed aspects of an indigenous worldview and contributed to update our understanding of the mission system, settler colonialism and histories of American Indians about how they underwent cruel violence and exploitation. Her memoir successfully addressed past grievances of colonialism and also recognized and honored indigenous knowledge and identity.
Howard Zinn takes the perspective that Christopher Columbus is not the hero that many people perceive him to be. He views him as a cruel and greedy leader who went to the Americas causes death in his wake for his unquenchable search for gold. Columbus took advantage of the Native Americans because at first they were "so naive and so free with their possessions"() by forcing them to collect gold for him else face the punishment of death. While Columbus may or may have not been as heartless as he is made out to be, he is not truly the one to blame for the harsh treatment of the natives on the Caribbean Islands. Almost every other European (at that time) that could have been in his position would have undoubtedly done the same things as Columbus.
Argumentative Essay Outline I. Claim: Celebration of Columbus Day should be abolished due to Columbus’ harsh treatment toward the Native Americans and fallacies in his exploration. II. Sub-Claims: A) Reason: Columbus’ exploration was not meant to discover America but to conquer and exploit existed American civilizations.
“Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress”, chapter one of “A People’s History of the United States”, written by professor and historian Howard Zinn, concentrates on a different perspective of major events in American history. It begins with the native Bahamian tribe of Arawaks welcoming the Spanish to their shores with gifts and kindness, only then for the reader to be disturbed by a log from Columbus himself – “They willingly traded everything they owned… They would make fine servants… With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.” (Zinn pg.1) In the work, Zinn continues explaining the unnecessary evils Columbus and his men committed unto the unsuspecting natives.