Nathan Evans Dr. Mayes AMH 2010 5 Oct 2011 Part I: B. Why did England decide to establish colonies in the New World and what challenges did early colonists face? The Age of Discovery was a time when droves of modern man dared to leave the safety of his homeland and journey into the unknown. The Spanish were the first to set sail, followed by the English, the French, and the Dutch; each a major European power in pursuit of their own individual interests. While establishing the colonies was a universal hardship suffered by all prospective settlers, a closer inspection of various internal and external factors will allow us to understand why it was England that emerged as the dominant presence of the New World.
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 Grapes of Wrath has been publicly accepted as a reflection of society in that time period. It includes many interactions between the two main groups at the moment, the older group, known as the Lost Generation and the GIs. One of the most heated debates among historians and sociologists has been whether or not the Greatest Generation was as noble and ethical as it has come to be known. Members of that generation are those born after 1902 all the way to those who were old enough to fight in World War II. Several authors have expressed their opposing viewpoints in their book chapters and essays.
To achieve this America first had to rid itself of the Navigation Acts. New England would set the tone; “Massachusetts bay officials regarded the colony as a “free state” subject only to laws of their making” (Lambert31). America’s fight for independence in the Atlantic started with its fight for independence politically first. Parliament enacted acts such as the Sugar and Stamp Act to try and combat these issues of American trade smuggling. But Americans were not backing down; in fact it was the exact opposite.
"We heard that you were a people come from under the world, to take our world from us," replied Amorolek. As the remnant Moncacan tribe of Amherst County notes today, this prophetic statement stands as the sadly accurate description of all Native Americans’ ultimate fate. It was this native man who provided much of the data from which was compiled the famous Smith Map of 1612, the first extensive, accurate diagram of the new continent’s interior. In fact, identifying our town by it’s Monacan name, Amorolek gets credit as the one who literally first put Charlottesville on the map. Much has changed in my adopted state since way back then.
In the book, Loewen decribes it as, "A generative process that makes people over into heroes. (11)". In “Lies My Teacher Told Me” they use Christopher Columbus as an exmple. Christopher is portrayed to be and immaculate, and have no bad flaws or intentions but, in reality, American textbooks leave out huge chunks of information that would leave you thinking differently about him. Some more prime examples of heroification are our presidents.
Although this essay is historically accurate it lacks important details, which might paint a different view of Columbus. Boorstin writes favorable of Columbus and depicts him as a heroic and determined figure who helped shape history, but he neglects to include Columbus’ unethical acts committed in the world that was not supposed to exist, the Americas. When Columbus first discovered the New World, he took care that the royal standard had been brought ashore and he claimed the land for Spain in front of all, including the indigenous population who had been sighted even before Columbus made landfall. According to the medieval concepts of natural law, only those territories that are uninhabited can become the property of the first person to discover them. Clearly this was an unethical act.
Common Sense. By Thomas Paine. iBooks Public Domain Edition (1776; Salt Lake City: Project Gutenberg) Thomas Paine’s forty-eight page pamphlet provided a radical argument for American independence from the crown. His main goal was to convey that the colonies would receive no additional benefit if the association with England was not severed. He composed his pamphlet utilizing vernacular and simple ideas, targeting the common man.
Finally, Bailey attempts to make a creation of unbiased opinion by taking a middle ground. Bailey’s goal is to create a reputable textbook for learning. Based on these observations, events in history can be interpreted in many different ways using the same historical evidence and statistics to support their opinion. A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn discusses how the discovery of the Americas and the treatment of the Native Americans was a devious and corrupt act by the Europeans. Zinn characterized the actions of Columbus as dehumanizing and materialistic upon the discovery of the New World.
Mohsin Hamid, author of the ‘Reluctant Fundamentalist’ implicates the reader within his controversial novel, to consequently highlight through the modern reader’s predetermined judgments, the ramifications of simple a misunderstanding between two cultures. The reader’s own outlooks are heightened by the use of dramatic monologue, accelerating and intensifying the tension between the characters in the novel, but also between the reader and the author himself. Hamid concentrates primarily on the imperialism of the American society and the demise, embodied within his symbolic stereotypical characters: representing their part within the fallen American empire accordingly. The 2007 novel accentuates the diverse, peculiar and differentiating qualities each one of Hamid’s characters posses and how each one aids in foreshadowing the events leading up to the deterioration of the parasitic relationship between America and Pakistan, both symbolically and literally post 9/11. Historically America has been depicted as the superior nation, deeming surrounding countries as inadequate and inferior.