A Peoples History Of The United States By Howard Zinn

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Recommended: White privilege in today's society

History has been written from the viewpoint of victors in every history textbook up to this point. In A Peoples History of the United States, Howard Zinn presents a report of history told from the perspective of the oppressed American people. It begins with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 and concludes with the result of the Gore and Bush 2000 presidential election. Zinn gives the unfiltered truth from educators in today's school systems. By establishing a perspective of everyday common people, as opposed to the familiar victors students have been taught in school systems, Zinn creates a recap of history that informs his readers on well known historical subjects. It describes scenarios overlooked by mainstream class books, and speaks for the voiceless. This engaging process of teaching is mind-altering, demonstrating how the roles of wealth, race, and gender play a role in American history.
Why did Howard Zinn choose to base his novel on the oppressed people throughout history as opposed to the “heroes”? Zinn makes an important distinction from the start about his values towards the perspective and experiences of the oppressed over the view of the oppressor. Zinn prefered to recap the history of the US that was formerly swept under the rug. Zinn writes to show the outlook that is not presented in majority of history books, but he considered that his point of view is not the only one worth perceiving. He resolves that, “I don't want to invent victories for people's movements...I believe, emphasize new possibilities by disclosing those hidden episodes of the past when, even if in brief flashes, people showed their ability to resist, to join together, occasionally to win”(Zinn 11). Zinn intends to display the angle o...

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...mansions; persons "of Quality" traveled in coaches or sedan chairs, had their portraits painted, wore periwigs, and filled themselves with rich food and Madeira..."In Newport, Rhode Island, Bridenbaugh found, as in Boston, that "the town meetings, while ostensibly democratic, were in reality controlled year after year by the same group of merchant aristocrats, who secured most of the important offices..."(Zinn 48). White Americans would describe this time period in a positive approach, due to the evidence that they have significance in the government. The victors have definite rights, wealth, and all the work drops on the backs of their slaves. In this time period, a person's social class and race determines what they experience throughout their lifetime. These actions arrange an altogether different story and outlook than those who endured a different lifestyle.

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