Summary Of Lies My Teacher Told Me
The author, James W. Loewen, begins the second chapter of his book Lies My Teacher Told Me by discussing one of America’s most well-known “heroes,” Christopher Columbus. Loewen continues the chapter describing that most textbooks are not knowledgeable on Christopher Columbus’ exploration of North America. He claims that textbook authors fill the book with information that “is either wrong or unverifiable” (Loewen 32). He describes that one mistake authors have made is explorers or explorations that occurred prior to Christopher Columbus’ voyage. Loewen lets the audience know that there were other settlers in North America before Christopher Columbus took over the settlement in 1492. Another topic of discussion in the second chapter is Europe …show more content…
A specific example is western dominance in society and how most students do not realize why this statement is true. He describes that textbooks do not include all of the information concerning Christopher Columbus’ journey to North America. The author describes Christopher Columbus’ voyage was not for “exploration or even trade, but for conquest and exploitation” (Loewen 38). Loewen describes factors that textbook authors misinform or leave out in many eras of history, but he always relates the factor to Christopher Columbus. The author continues the chapter to discuss that Christopher Columbus did not start his voyage spontaneously. Much work and effort were put into his voyage and textbooks do not always provide this …show more content…
The chart provides possible expeditions that could have founded North America far before Christopher Columbus’ voyage in 1492. The chart dates back as far as 70,000 B.C. The chart continues giving information such as “to and from” the explorers traveled and the “quality of evidence” of the voyage (Loewen 40). This chart is very interesting considering most students have not heard of any of these voyages. Students have always been taught Christopher Columbus founded North America, and finding that that information is incorrect is astounding. Loewen continues his article and describes the Vikings. He says textbooks once again briefly discuss them and there should be more discussion on them. After introducing the Vikings into the chapter, the reader introduces a very interesting point of view. He uses the Vikings as an example and discusses that just because the Vikings did not have a large or lasting impact on America, they should not completely be voided from history textbooks. Loewen is informing his readers that every aspect of history plays a role no matter the
Summary Of A People's History Of The United States Chapter 3
994 Words | 4 PagesFor example, based on A Young People’s History of the United States, Zinn wrote, “Of the ninety sailors who sailed on the three ships, nearly twenty boys!” (page 4) This gave an insight to the sailors taking more of a younger generation of males to give them an exposure to what the new world was like and as well as give them an early experience. This also ensures a stable future, since these young sailors would now know what to do with the Indians. The textbook mainly talked about other topics such as
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Christopher Columbus
424 Words | 2 PagesRevisionist friar Bartolome de las Casas wrote within 50 years of Columbus’s death that Indians received treatment such as being tortured, killed, and feed to the Europeans’ dogs. Ecologist and historian, Kirkpatrick Sale, wrote in his biography of Columbus, “the Conquest of Paradise,” that Columbus was denounced by the admiral of every transgression including: “lovelessness, avarice, [...] paranoia, ferocity [...].” Sale associates the unacceptable acts of Christopher Columbus to the actions portrayed by Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot. Stated by the revisionists, and the pre-revisionists, students should be taught about the consequential actions of Columbus, and his effect on the Aztec and Inca
Tony Horwitz's A Voyage Long And Strange
1577 Words | 7 PagesAs the goal of the writer was to educate, the book achieved success in both ways as the reader is left much more informed about early America than when they began reading the novel. The book covers the its main topics in three sections, Discovery, Conquest and Settlement. Each section includes information from various geographical regions in America with information pertaining to one of the specific sections above. Each section gave a comprehensive look at the main topic in a way that was easy to understand as well as
Compare And Contrast Zinn Vs Schweikart
944 Words | 4 PagesThe 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.
Summary Of Lies My Teacher Told Me
998 Words | 4 PagesIn the book, Lies My Teacher Told Me, author James Loewen talks about historical misconceptions in American school textbooks. Are these actually misconceptions though? What is the author saying about American history when details or whole events are untold? Lowen delves into these deep topics head on and gives examples as he goes. This book is not only intended for those who have read an American history book, but for those who have never heard the truth.
Early Motivations For Columbus To Oppress The Indigenous People
967 Words | 4 PagesChapter 1: 1. Zinn’s purpose for writing history the way that he did was to give the viewpoints of the people that were affected- not just the people who were in charge like in most history textbooks. He sought to get the most truthful accounts of America since most sources for history lie about the past with bias by omitting facts, stating facts and burying them in a mass of other facts, or just lying outright. 2. Columbus is depicted as heroic in most history textbooks for braving the seas and discovering the Americas for Europe but, in actuality, his intentions were selfish and his means were cruel.
Klosterman's Sex, And Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture
508 Words | 3 PagesChuck Klosterman, the author of “Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto,” presented the novel in intriguing way by examining his intended audience and connecting to readers through things they can understand. As Klosterman connects to his readers, he makes analogies to pop culture or media to provoke a deeper understanding from the reader that is comprehensible. (Klosterman 110) Klosterman draws in the attention of his readers by sharing interesting personal stories that inevitably connect to the reference or point he is going to make.
Why Is Christopher Columbus False Reputation
934 Words | 4 PagesChristopher Columbus was the man that sailed the Atlantic ocean, but was not the man that most people think he was. Most people believe that Christopher Columbus was the man who discovered America. However, others say he was a murderer, he kept slaves, and that he was not as successful as everyone thought he was. Christopher Columbus was not who historians say he is. In fact, he is much worse.
James Loewen Herofication Chapter Summaries
783 Words | 4 PagesAnd Loewen further states how textbooks minimize other expeditions and how those explores are no where near praised as much as Columbus. Rather textbooks, seem to act as if expeditions began in the 1400’s in Europe but they didn’t. As Loewen states, “Most textbooks make no use of primary sources. A few incorporate brief extracts that have been carefully selected or edited to reveal nothing unseemly of the Great Navigator.” (p.63).
Journal Entry Never Cry Wolf
262 Words | 2 PagesNever Cry Wolf Journal Entry Rafid Mirza An old adage states, "There are lies, damned lies and then there are statistics". Write an entry to explain what is meant by this expression and why it relates to the book.
Argumentative Essay: Is Christopher Columbus Worth Honoring?
215 Words | 1 PagesWhen I was younger I was under the impression that Christopher Columbus was a great man and that he discovered America. We celebrate Columbus day because we honor him for “discovering America”. From this new information that I have learned today, Christopher Columbus is not the man iv have been taught about.
Interview With George Plimton E B White Analysis
489 Words | 2 PagesThroughout school history is one of the major subjects we learn about whether it be U.S history or World history; however, we always learn history from an American perspective. When we learn about Columbus discovering the Americas, we read how Columbus and his men discovered this new land that had not been settled on yet and that the men helped the Native Americans. As readers of the textbook we believe this to be true, when another country might have the same information interpreted in a different way. This can be true for all events throughout history; the writers are informing us of the events and influencing our views about how an event
Analysis Of Lies My Teacher Told Me Loewen
268 Words | 2 PagesIn the first chapter Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your AMerican History Textbook Got Wrong, James Loewen explores the common process of heroification within America’s history. The flaws of many individuals, specifically Woodrow Wilson and Helen Keller in this chapter, are usually overlooked when recounting their achievements. Loewen points outs that when heroes are recognized for certain things it only covers a short person of the person’s life. The media and schools filter out the bad to leave room for inspiration and good.
Howard Zinn's The Cruelty Of Christopher Columbus
455 Words | 2 PagesHoward 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.
Analysis Of Columbus The Indians And Human Progress
251 Words | 2 Pages“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.
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