Howard Zinn "A People's History of the United States

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A.P. U.S. History Summer Assignment Mr. Campeau Zinn Chapter 1, pp. 1-11 1. According to Zinn, his main purpose for writing A People's History of the United States was to 2. Zinn's thesis for pages 1-11 is that we must not accept the memory of states as our own and because we are living in a world of conflict it is our job to not be on the side of the executioners. 3. According to Zinn, Columbus is portrayed in traditional history books as an important and heroic man who greatly contributed to our nation and must therefore get a day in our calendar to commemorate his brave journey, discovery and achievements. 4. Zinn disputes Henry Kissinger's statement: "History is the memory of states" because he proceeded to tell the history of of 19th century Europe from the viewpoint of the leaders of Austria and England instead of the millions who suffered from those satemen’s policies. From his perspective peace that Europe once had was now restored but for those everywhere except in the upper class it was a world of violence, hunger and so much more. 5. Zinn's basic criticism of historian Samuel Eliot Morison's book, Christopher Columbus, Marineris that although he mentions the truth about Columbus he quickly goes on to cover other things more important to him and not put much emphasis or importance to the truth. Samuel Eliot in Zinn’s perspective covers up the truth with non-important facts misleading readers to think that “yes, mass murder took place, but it’s not that important.” 6. The major issues that Bartolome de las Casas brought up regarding Spanish expeditions in the Caribbean involved the anxiety of Columbus to please the King that led him to commit irreparable crimes against the Indians and the need for Spaniards to become more conceited every day. Their total control over the Indians led to their cruelty over them. 7. One early and one subsequent

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