People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present (P.S.) 
asked by linda on November 8, 2006 3:03 AM
Consistently lauded for its lively, readable prose, this revised and updated edition of A People's History of the United States turns traditional textbook history on its head. Howard Zinn infuses the often-submerged voices of blacks, women, American Indians, war resisters, and poor laborers of all nationalities into this thorough narrative that spans American history from Christopher Columbus's arrival to an afterword on the Clinton presidency.
Addressing his trademark reversals of perspective, Zinn--a teacher, historian, and social activist for more than 20 years--explains, "My point is not that we must, in telling history, accuse, judge, condemn Columbus in absentia. It is too late for that; it would be a useless scholarly exercise in morality. But the easy acceptance of atrocities as a deplorable but necessary price to pay for progress (Hiroshima and Vietnam, to save Western civilization; Kronstadt and Hungary, to save socialism; nuclear proliferation, to save us all)--that is still with us. One reason these atrocities are still with us is that we have learned to bury them in a mass of other facts, as radioactive wastes are buried in containers in the earth."
If your last experience of American history was brought to you by junior high school textbooks--or even if you're a specialist--get ready for the other side of stories you may not even have heard. With its vivid descriptions of rarely noted events, A People's History of the United States is required reading for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at the rich, rocky history of America.
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Helen Keller, writing to a friend in England, captured the theme of this book (pg. 345):
"Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means that we choose between two bodies of real, though not avowed, autocrats. We choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee..."
Professor Zinn, with this quote, and many other passages describes the path America has been on since Columbus. In his scholarly approach Zinn yanks open dusty curtains in dark rooms of our past, letting in the light on history our high school teachers never talked about. This is a history book for the unwashed multitude, for women, Indians, immigrants, labor, farmers, blacks, Mexicans, and poor white trash -- those who are invited to the party through the service entrance.
What was especially startling were the quotes of those beloved "marbleized" men; those whose biographies are promoted by the literary elite as examples of the best that man can become. Eugene Debs was an ordinary man who started out as a railroad union organizer in Terre Haute, Indiana. He evolved into a socialist after being imprisoned for his participation in the 1894 Pullman strike in Chicago. In 1906 Debs spoke out against anti-miner activities in Idaho; he described it as a hellish outrage. His article was published in a paper. `Theodore Roosevelt, after reading this (Deb's speech), sent a copy to his Attorney General, W.H. Moody, with a note: "Is it possible to proceed against Debs and the proprietor of this paper criminally?" (pg. 341)'
Rather than fight, Roosevelt chose to adopt the ideas of the Socialist and convince voters so they could stay in power. Otherwise, the Communist revolution of 1918 would have been preceded by one, in this country, in 1916. The Republicans may have adopted the ideas but that was it. Just like other politicians before and since, you can write laws establishing an EPA but secretly cut their funding, or as in the case of the Bush and Clinton, Reagan, and Carter administrations, choose not to follow the law at all to appease a powerful elite. So, we see that the Teddy Roosevelt we love in the history books is really only a shrewd politician.
Later, the Wilson administration (a Democrat) rounded up the socialist and locked them away for their comments against sedition laws and child labor abuses. On his way to prison, Debs said, "I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free."
Capitalist thought they'd crushed labor again by eliminating its voice. In the 20's and 30's, workers discovered they could shut out the scabs by taking over the factories -- they created the "wild-cat strike." These strikes went against the union leadership, which then, and now, are often controlled by forces disinterested in worker's rights. The wild-cat strike is what broke capitalism not big labor unions; this is one of the fallacies that Zimm exposes.
In his conclusion, Professor Zimm ends on a shrill note. He seems uncertain where our dream of America will take us. Will we see a reckoning where the 1% that rule, the autocrats and plutocrats, must share more with the rest of us? Zimm's utopian predictions seem far-fetched for societies divving up scarce resources. Or, will they continue to play groups off against each other while bribing a smaller and smaller portion of the middle class to play along? This has been a successful strategy so far; as you will see if you read the book.
I found this book thoroughly troubling. In the end, as a soldier, an intellectual, and a member of the middle class, with deep roots in this country (since 1642), I find myself still hopeful that the American dream is out there. Now, thanks to Professor Zimm, I am perhaps more politically savvy. Because of this text, I am resolved more than ever to look at my fellow American, white, black, or whatever, with fresh hope. We must put aside our differences and make America anew.
"It is a race in which we can all choose to participate, or just to watch. But we should know that our choice will help determine the outcome. (pg. 688)." I should add that by sitting on your hands you affect the outcome but it may not be to your liking.
If this was helpful in your purchase, please vote.
"Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means that we choose between two bodies of real, though not avowed, autocrats. We choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee..."
Professor Zinn, with this quote, and many other passages describes the path America has been on since Columbus. In his scholarly approach Zinn yanks open dusty curtains in dark rooms of our past, letting in the light on history our high school teachers never talked about. This is a history book for the unwashed multitude, for women, Indians, immigrants, labor, farmers, blacks, Mexicans, and poor white trash -- those who are invited to the party through the service entrance.
What was especially startling were the quotes of those beloved "marbleized" men; those whose biographies are promoted by the literary elite as examples of the best that man can become. Eugene Debs was an ordinary man who started out as a railroad union organizer in Terre Haute, Indiana. He evolved into a socialist after being imprisoned for his participation in the 1894 Pullman strike in Chicago. In 1906 Debs spoke out against anti-miner activities in Idaho; he described it as a hellish outrage. His article was published in a paper. `Theodore Roosevelt, after reading this (Deb's speech), sent a copy to his Attorney General, W.H. Moody, with a note: "Is it possible to proceed against Debs and the proprietor of this paper criminally?" (pg. 341)'
Rather than fight, Roosevelt chose to adopt the ideas of the Socialist and convince voters so they could stay in power. Otherwise, the Communist revolution of 1918 would have been preceded by one, in this country, in 1916. The Republicans may have adopted the ideas but that was it. Just like other politicians before and since, you can write laws establishing an EPA but secretly cut their funding, or as in the case of the Bush and Clinton, Reagan, and Carter administrations, choose not to follow the law at all to appease a powerful elite. So, we see that the Teddy Roosevelt we love in the history books is really only a shrewd politician.
Later, the Wilson administration (a Democrat) rounded up the socialist and locked them away for their comments against sedition laws and child labor abuses. On his way to prison, Debs said, "I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free."
Capitalist thought they'd crushed labor again by eliminating its voice. In the 20's and 30's, workers discovered they could shut out the scabs by taking over the factories -- they created the "wild-cat strike." These strikes went against the union leadership, which then, and now, are often controlled by forces disinterested in worker's rights. The wild-cat strike is what broke capitalism not big labor unions; this is one of the fallacies that Zimm exposes.
In his conclusion, Professor Zimm ends on a shrill note. He seems uncertain where our dream of America will take us. Will we see a reckoning where the 1% that rule, the autocrats and plutocrats, must share more with the rest of us? Zimm's utopian predictions seem far-fetched for societies divving up scarce resources. Or, will they continue to play groups off against each other while bribing a smaller and smaller portion of the middle class to play along? This has been a successful strategy so far; as you will see if you read the book.
I found this book thoroughly troubling. In the end, as a soldier, an intellectual, and a member of the middle class, with deep roots in this country (since 1642), I find myself still hopeful that the American dream is out there. Now, thanks to Professor Zimm, I am perhaps more politically savvy. Because of this text, I am resolved more than ever to look at my fellow American, white, black, or whatever, with fresh hope. We must put aside our differences and make America anew.
"It is a race in which we can all choose to participate, or just to watch. But we should know that our choice will help determine the outcome. (pg. 688)." I should add that by sitting on your hands you affect the outcome but it may not be to your liking.
If this was helpful in your purchase, please vote.
reviewed by ronmiller on November 24, 2006 1:33 AM
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This is a book which should be read by all Americans. It is our history, but not the history and historical perspective taught in our textbooks. Well written, engaging and thot provoking.
reviewed by 78704 on November 27, 2006 4:48 AM