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# A People's History of the United States: An In-Depth Exploration
Keyword: A People's History by Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States has become a landmark work in American historiography. Published in 1980 by HarperCollins, this book offers a radically different perspective on the nation's past, challenging traditional narratives and foregrounding the experiences of marginalized groups. Understanding its significance requires a deep dive into its content, its author's background, and the impact it has had on the way Americans understand their history.
Author: Howard Zinn and His Vision
Howard Zinn (1922-2010) was a renowned historian, playwright, and activist. A veteran of World War II, Zinn's experiences profoundly shaped his worldview and fueled his commitment to social justice. He held a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University and taught at Spelman College and Boston University. Zinn was not simply an academic; he was deeply involved in the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and various other progressive causes. This activism profoundly influenced his approach to historical writing. Unlike many historians who focused on the actions of presidents and political elites, Zinn centered his narrative on the lives and struggles of ordinary people, particularly those who have historically been excluded from dominant historical accounts: Native Americans, African Americans, women, working-class people, and other marginalized communities. His commitment to this bottom-up approach is central to understanding the power and impact of A People's History by Howard Zinn.
A People's History by Howard Zinn: Summary and Main Arguments
A People's History by Howard Zinn fundamentally reframes the American narrative. It challenges the traditional, often celebratory, accounts of American history that focus primarily on the achievements of prominent figures and institutions. Instead, Zinn presents a history from the perspective of those who have historically been silenced or ignored. The book isn't presented as a chronological account; rather, it's a thematic exploration of various aspects of American history, consistently highlighting the struggles against oppression and the pursuit of a more just society.
Some of the book's core arguments include:
The violent conquest of Native Americans: Zinn dedicates significant space to detailing the brutal colonization of Native American lands and the systematic destruction of their cultures. He emphasizes the massacres, displacement, and broken treaties that formed the foundation of the nation.
The hypocrisy of American ideals: Zinn consistently juxtaposes the nation's professed ideals of liberty and equality with the harsh realities of slavery, racism, and exploitation that have characterized its history. He argues that American exceptionalism often obscures the dark underbelly of its past.
The ongoing struggle for social justice: The book is not merely a historical account; it's also a powerful call to action. Zinn highlights the ongoing struggles of marginalized groups to achieve equality and justice, suggesting that these struggles are integral to the American story.
The role of ordinary people: Zinn's work emphasizes the agency and resistance of ordinary people throughout American history. He highlights labor movements, anti-war protests, and civil rights activism, showcasing the power of collective action to challenge oppression.
The critique of power structures: The book implicitly, and sometimes explicitly, critiques the power structures that have perpetuated inequality throughout American history, including capitalism, imperialism, and militarism. He shows how these systems have consistently benefited the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the marginalized.
A People's History by Howard Zinn is not without its critics. Some historians argue that Zinn overemphasizes conflict and neglects the complexities of historical events. Others criticize his selection of sources and his interpretation of historical data. However, even its critics acknowledge its significant impact on public discourse and its contribution to a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of American history. The very fact that it sparked such intense debate underscores its enduring power and relevance.
Publisher: HarperCollins and its Influence
HarperCollins, a major international publisher, played a pivotal role in disseminating A People's History by Howard Zinn to a wide audience. Known for publishing a diverse range of titles, including academic works, HarperCollins's reputation for producing high-quality books contributed to the book's widespread adoption in classrooms and among the general public. The publisher's decision to publish such a controversial and challenging work demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and diverse perspectives, which further contributed to the book's impact.
Editor: The Unsung Role in Shaping "A People's History"
While the specific editor for the initial publication of A People's History by Howard Zinn isn't widely publicized, the editorial process undoubtedly played a crucial role in shaping the final manuscript. Editors work closely with authors to refine arguments, ensure clarity, and improve the overall quality of a book. This often-unseen role is vital, as editors possess expertise in various aspects of publishing, including historical accuracy and readability. The editor's work, though largely behind the scenes, was instrumental in bringing Zinn's powerful vision to fruition.
The Enduring Significance of A People's History by Howard Zinn
A People's History by Howard Zinn continues to resonate deeply with readers because of its powerful narrative and challenging perspective. It has had a profound impact on educational institutions, inspiring a more inclusive approach to teaching American history. Its enduring legacy lies in its ability to spark critical thinking, challenge assumptions, and promote a deeper understanding of the complexities of American history and the ongoing struggle for social justice. The book remains essential reading for anyone seeking a more complete and nuanced understanding of the United States' past and its present struggles. This is why searching for "A People's History by Howard Zinn" remains relevant and crucial. Its legacy extends beyond the pages of the book itself; it has fueled conversations, inspired activism, and encouraged further research into the often-overlooked experiences of those who have shaped the nation.
Conclusion
A People's History by Howard Zinn is more than just a history book; it's a powerful intervention in the ongoing conversation about the American past and its implications for the present. Zinn’s commitment to centering the experiences of the marginalized and his unflinching critique of power structures have made this book a vital text for understanding the complexities of American identity and the enduring struggle for social justice. Its continued relevance and popularity demonstrate the enduring need for a history that accurately reflects the experiences of all Americans, not just those in power.
FAQs
1. Is A People's History biased? Yes, the book undeniably presents a particular perspective. Zinn's focus on marginalized groups and his critique of power structures lead to a perspective that contrasts with more traditional, mainstream historical narratives. However, acknowledging its bias allows for a more critical engagement with its content.
2. What are the main criticisms of A People's History? Some critics argue that Zinn oversimplifies complex historical events, neglecting the nuances and complexities of the past. Others question his selection of sources and the accuracy of some of his interpretations.
3. Is A People's History suitable for all ages? While the book is accessible to a wide range of readers, its mature themes and challenging content may not be suitable for younger audiences.
4. How has A People's History impacted education? The book has significantly impacted history education, prompting a move towards more inclusive and critical approaches to teaching American history, emphasizing diverse perspectives.
5. What is Zinn's overall message in the book? Zinn’s message is a call for a more just and equitable society. He highlights the persistent struggle for social justice and urges readers to actively engage in creating a more democratic and inclusive future.
6. How does A People's History differ from traditional American history textbooks? Traditional textbooks often focus on the accomplishments of leaders and institutions, while Zinn's work centers the experiences of ordinary people, especially marginalized groups, highlighting their struggles against oppression.
7. Is A People's History still relevant today? Absolutely. The issues of inequality, oppression, and the struggle for social justice that Zinn addresses are still profoundly relevant today. The book's enduring popularity reflects its continued ability to connect with contemporary audiences.
8. Where can I find A People's History? The book is widely available at bookstores, both physical and online, as well as libraries.
9. What other books by Howard Zinn are worth reading? Howard Zinn wrote extensively on history, politics, and social justice. Other notable works include La Vida: A Puerto Rican Memoir, Vietnam: The Logic of Withdrawal, and Declarations of Independence: Cross-Examining American Ideology.
Related Articles
1. The Impact of A People's History on American Education: This article would explore the ways Zinn's book has influenced curriculum development and teaching methods in American schools and universities.
2. Zinn's Methodology and its Critics: An analysis of Zinn's approach to historical research, its strengths and weaknesses, and the criticisms leveled against it by other historians.
3. The Reception of A People's History in the Conservative Media: An exploration of how conservative media outlets responded to and critiqued Zinn's book.
4. The Influence of A People's History on Activism and Social Movements: This article would investigate how Zinn's work has inspired activism and social justice movements.
5. Comparing A People's History with Other Alternative Histories of the United States: A comparative analysis of A People's History with other books offering different interpretations of American history.
6. Howard Zinn's Life and Activism: A biographical exploration of Zinn's life, experiences, and his commitment to social justice.
7. A People's History and the Concept of "Counter-History": This article will explore how A People's History fits within the broader context of "counter-history" and alternative historical narratives.
8. The enduring legacy of A People's History and its relevance in the 21st Century: This article focuses on the book's lasting impact and its continued relevance to contemporary social and political issues.
9. Critical Analysis of Zinn's portrayal of specific historical events: This article will delve into a detailed analysis of how Zinn portrays specific historical moments and their reception by historians and the public.
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, 2003-02-04 Since its original landmark publication in 1980, A People's History of the United States has been chronicling American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official version of history taught in schools -- with its emphasis on great men in high places -- to focus on the street, the home, and the, workplace. Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of -- and in the words of -- America's women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. As historian Howard Zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles -- the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality -- were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance. Covering Christopher Columbus's arrival through President Clinton's first term, A People's History of the United States, which was nominated for the American Book Award in 1981, features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. Revised, updated, and featuring a new after, word by the author, this special twentieth anniversary edition continues Zinn's important contribution to a complete and balanced understanding of American history. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, 2015-11-17 THE CLASSIC NATIONAL BESTSELLER A wonderful, splendid book—a book that should be read by every American, student or otherwise, who wants to understand his country, its true history, and its hope for the future. –Howard Fast Historian Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States chronicles American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official narrative taught in schools—with its emphasis on great men in high places—to focus on the street, the home, and the workplace. Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, it is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of—and in the words of—America's women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. As Zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles—the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality—were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance. Covering Christopher Columbus's arrival through President Clinton's first term, A People's History of the United States features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. This edition also includes an introduction by Anthony Arnove, who wrote, directed, and produced The People Speak with Zinn and who coauthored, with Zinn, Voices of a People’s History of the United States. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: Voices of a People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, Anthony Arnove, 2011-01-04 Here in their own words are Frederick Douglass, George Jackson, Chief Joseph, Martin Luther King Jr., Plough Jogger, Sacco and Vanzetti, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Mark Twain, and Malcolm X, to name just a few of the hundreds of voices that appear in Voices of a People's History of the United States, edited by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove. Paralleling the twenty-four chapters of Zinn's A People's History of the United States, Voices of a People’s History is the long-awaited companion volume to the national bestseller. For Voices, Zinn and Arnove have selected testimonies to living history—speeches, letters, poems, songs—left by the people who make history happen but who usually are left out of history books—women, workers, nonwhites. Zinn has written short introductions to the texts, which range in length from letters or poems of less than a page to entire speeches and essays that run several pages. Voices of a People’s History is a symphony of our nation’s original voices, rich in ideas and actions, the embodiment of the power of civil disobedience and dissent wherein lies our nation’s true spirit of defiance and resilience. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, 2003-02-04 Since its original landmark publication in 1980, A People's History of the United States has been chronicling American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official version of history taught in schools -- with its emphasis on great men in high places -- to focus on the street, the home, and the, workplace. Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of -- and in the words of -- America's women, factory workers, African-Americans, Native Americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. As historian Howard Zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles -- the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality -- were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance. Covering Christopher Columbus's arrival through President Clinton's first term, A People's History of the United States, which was nominated for the American Book Award in 1981, features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. Revised, updated, and featuring a new after, word by the author, this special twentieth anniversary edition continues Zinn's important contribution to a complete and balanced understanding of American history. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of American Empire Howard Zinn, Mike Konopacki, Paul Buhle, 2008-04 Adapted from the critically acclaimed chronicle of U.S. history, a study of American expansionism around the world is told from a grassroots perspective and provides an analysis of important events from Wounded Knee to Iraq. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History for the Classroom Bill Bigelow, Howard Zinn, 2008 Presents a collection of lessons and activities for teaching American history for students in middle school and high school. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: Truth Has a Power of Its Own Howard Zinn, 2019-09-03 American history told from the bottom up by Howard Zinn himself—and the perfect all-ages introduction to his eye-opening viewpoint, published on Zinn’s hundredth birthday Truth Has a Power of Its Own is an engrossing collection of conversations with the late Howard Zinn and “an eloquently hopeful introduction for those who haven’t yet encountered Zinn’s work” (Booklist). Here is an unvarnished, yet ultimately optimistic, tour of American history—told by someone who was often an active participant in it. Viewed through the lens of Zinn’s own life as a soldier, historian, and activist and using his paradigm-shifting A People’s History of the United States as a point of departure, these conversations explore the American Revolution, the Civil War, the labor battles of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, U.S. imperialism from the Indian Wars to the War on Terrorism, World Wars I and II, the Cold War, and the fight for equality and immigrant rights—all from an unapologetically radical standpoint. Longtime admirers and a new generation of readers alike will be fascinated to learn about Zinn’s thought processes, rationale, motivations, and approach to his now-iconic historical work. Zinn’s humane (and often humorous) voice—along with his keen moral vision—shine through every one of these lively and thought-provoking conversations. Battles over the telling of our history still rage across the country, and there’s no better person to tell it than Howard Zinn. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, 2012-11 The Abridged Teaching Edition of A People's History of the United States has made Howard Zinn's original text available specifically for classroom use. With exercises and teaching materials to accompany each chapter, this edition spans American Beginnings, Reconstruction, the Civil War and through to the present, with new chapters on the Clinton Presidency, the 2000 elections, and the War on Terrorism. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the Civil War David Williams, 2011-05-10 “Does for the Civil War period what Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States did for the study of American history in general.” —Library Journal Historian David Williams has written the first account of the American Civil War as viewed though the eyes of ordinary people—foot soldiers, slaves, women, prisoners of war, draft resisters, Native Americans, and others. Richly illustrated with little-known anecdotes and firsthand testimony, this path-breaking narrative moves beyond presidents and generals to tell a new and powerful story about America’s most destructive conflict. A People’s History of the Civil War is a “readable social history” that “sheds fascinating light” on this crucial period. In so doing, it recovers the long-overlooked perspectives and forgotten voices of one of the defining chapters of American history (Publishers Weekly). “Meticulously researched and persuasively argued.” —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A Young People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, 2011-01-04 A Young People's History of the United States brings to US history the viewpoints of workers, slaves, immigrants, women, Native Americans, and others whose stories, and their impact, are rarely included in books for young people. A Young People's History of the United States is also a companion volume to The People Speak, the film adapted from A People's History of the United States and Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Beginning with a look at Christopher Columbus’s arrival through the eyes of the Arawak Indians, then leading the reader through the struggles for workers’ rights, women’s rights, and civil rights during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and ending with the current protests against continued American imperialism, Zinn in the volumes of A Young People’s History of the United States presents a radical new way of understanding America’s history. In so doing, he reminds readers that America’s true greatness is shaped by our dissident voices, not our military generals. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: Debunking Howard Zinn Mary Grabar, 2019-08-20 Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States has sold more than 2.5 million copies. It is pushed by Hollywood celebrities, defended by university professors who know better, and assigned in high school and college classrooms to teach students that American history is nothing more than a litany of oppression, slavery, and exploitation. Zinn’s history is popular, but it is also massively wrong. Scholar Mary Grabar exposes just how wrong in her stunning new book Debunking Howard Zinn, which demolishes Zinn’s Marxist talking points that now dominate American education. In Debunking Howard Zinn, you’ll learn, contra Zinn: How Columbus was not a genocidal maniac, and was, in fact, a defender of Indians Why the American Indians were not feminist-communist sexual revolutionaries ahead of their time How the United States was founded to protect liberty, not white males’ ill-gotten wealth Why Americans of the “Greatest Generation” were not the equivalent of Nazi war criminals How the Viet Cong were not well-meaning community leaders advocating for local self-rule Why the Black Panthers were not civil rights leaders Grabar also reveals Zinn’s bag of dishonest rhetorical tricks: his slavish reliance on partisan history, explicit rejection of historical balance, and selective quotation of sources to make them say the exact opposite of what their authors intended. If you care about America’s past—and our future—you need this book. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, 1999-12-01 Presents the history of the United States from the point of view of those who were exploited in the name of American progress |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: What's My Name, Fool? Dave Zirin, 2011-02 In Whats My Name, Fool? sports writer Dave Zirin shows how sports express the worst - and at times the most creative, exciting, and political - features of our society. Zirins sharp and insightful commentary on the personalities, politics, and history of American sports is unlike any sports writing being done today. Zirin explores how NBA brawls highlight tensions beyond the arena, how the bold stances taken by sports unions can chart a path for the entire labor movement, and the unexplored political stirrings of a new generation of athletes who are no longer content to just ''play one game at a time.'' Whats My Name, Fool? draws on original interviews with former heavyweight champ George Foreman, Olympic athlete John Carlos, NBA player and anti-death penalty activist Etan Thomas, antiwar womens college hoopster Toni Smith, Olympic Project for Human Rights leader Lee Evans and many others. It also unearths a history of athletes ranging from Jackie Robinson to Muhammad Ali to Billie Jean King, who charted a new course through their athletic ability and their outspoken views. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, Kathy Emery, Ellen Reeves, 2003 This brilliant and moving history of the American people (Library Journal) presents more than 500 years of American social and cultural history, going well beyond the wars and presidencies contained in traditional texts to tell the stories of working men and women. Abridged for use in the classroom. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: The Southern Mystique Howard Zinn, 2012-06-04 Howard Zinn examines the politics of the South and his own experiences there. The South has long been surrounded in mystique. In this powerful volume, drawing on Zinn's own experiences teaching in the South and working within the Southern civil rights movement, Zinn challenges the stereotypes surrounding the South, race relations, and how change happens in history. With a new introduction from the author. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: Howard Zinn on History Howard Zinn, 2011-06-14 Howard Zinn began work on his first book for his friends at Seven Stories Press in 1996, a big volume collecting all his shorter writings organized by subject. The themes he chose reflected his lifelong concerns: war, history, law, class, means and ends, and race. Throughout his life Zinn had returned again and again to these subjects, continually probing and questioning yet rarely reversing his convictions or the vision that informed them. The result was The Zinn Reader. Five years later, starting with Howard Zinn on History, updated editions of sections of that mammoth tome were published in inexpensive stand-alone editions. This second edition of Howard Zinn on History brings together twenty-seven short writings on activism, electoral politics, the Holocaust, Marxism, the Iraq War, and the role of the historian, as well as portraits of Eugene Debs, John Reed, and Jack London, effectively showing how Zinn’s approach to history evolved over nearly half a century, and at the same time sharing his fundamental thinking that social movements—people getting together for peace and social justice—can change the course of history. That core belief never changed. Chosen by Zinn himself as the shorter writings on history he believed to have enduring value—originally appearing in newspapers like the Boston Globe or the New York Times; in magazines like Z, the New Left, the Progressive, or the Nation; or in his book Failure to Quit—these essays appear here as examples of the kind of passionate engagement he believed all historians, and indeed all citizens of whatever profession, need to have, standing in sharp contrast to the notion of objective or neutral history espoused by some. It is time that we scholars begin to earn our keep in this world, he writes in The Uses of Scholarship. And in Freedom Schools, about his experiences teaching in Mississippi during the remarkable Freedom Summer of 1964, he adds: Education can, and should, be dangerous. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States (10th Anniversary Edition) Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, 2023-10-03 New York Times Bestseller Now part of the HBO docuseries Exterminate All the Brutes, written and directed by Raoul Peck Recipient of the American Book Award The first history of the United States told from the perspective of indigenous peoples Today in the United States, there are more than five hundred federally recognized Indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the fifteen million Native people who once inhabited this land. The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Now, for the first time, acclaimed historian and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offers a history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples and reveals how Native Americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the US empire. With growing support for movements such as the campaign to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the Dakota Access Pipeline protest led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States is an essential resource providing historical threads that are crucial for understanding the present. In An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, Dunbar-Ortiz adroitly challenges the founding myth of the United States and shows how policy against the Indigenous peoples was colonialist and designed to seize the territories of the original inhabitants, displacing or eliminating them. And as Dunbar-Ortiz reveals, this policy was praised in popular culture, through writers like James Fenimore Cooper and Walt Whitman, and in the highest offices of government and the military. Shockingly, as the genocidal policy reached its zenith under President Andrew Jackson, its ruthlessness was best articulated by US Army general Thomas S. Jesup, who, in 1836, wrote of the Seminoles: “The country can be rid of them only by exterminating them.” Spanning more than four hundred years, this classic bottom-up peoples’ history radically reframes US history and explodes the silences that have haunted our national narrative. An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States is a 2015 PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award for Excellence in Literature. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: The Indispensable Zinn Howard Zinn, 2012-12-11 A “well-chosen anthology of the radical historian’s prodigious output,” from A People’s History of the United States and lesser known sources (Kirkus Reviews). When Howard Zinn died in early 2010, millions of Americans mourned the loss of one of the nation’s foremost intellectual and political guides; a historian, activist, and truth-teller who, in the words of the New York Times’s Bob Herbert, “peel[ed] back the rosy veneer of much of American history to reveal sordid realities that had remained hidden for too long.” A collection designed to highlight Zinn’s essential writings, The Indispensable Zinn includes excerpts from Zinn’s bestselling A People’s History of the United States; his memoir, You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train; his inspiring writings on the civil rights movement, and the full text of his celebrated play, Marx in Soho. Noted historian and activist Timothy Patrick McCarthy provides essential historical and biographical context for each selection. With a foreword by Noam Chomsky and an afterword from Zinn’s former Spellman College student and longtime friend, Alice Walker, The Indispensable Zinn is both a fitting tribute to the legacy of a man whose “work changed the way millions of people saw the past,” and a powerful and accessible introduction for anyone coming to Zinn’s essential body of work for the first time (Noam Chomsky). |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the World Chris Harman, 2017-05-02 Building on A People’s History of the United States, this radical world history captures the broad sweep of human history from the perspective of struggling classes. An “indispensable volume” on class and capitalism throughout the ages—for readers reckoning with the history they were taught and history as it truly was (Howard Zinn) From the earliest human societies to the Holy Roman Empire, from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, from the Industrial Revolution to the end of the twentieth century, Chris Harman provides a brilliant and comprehensive history of the human race. Eschewing the standard accounts of “Great Men,” of dates and kings, Harman offers a groundbreaking counter-history, a breathtaking sweep across the centuries in the tradition of “history from below.” In a fiery narrative, he shows how ordinary men and women were involved in creating and changing society and how conflict between classes was often at the core of these developments. While many scholars see the victory of capitalism as now safely secured, Harman explains the rise and fall of societies and civilizations throughout the ages and demonstrates that history moves ever onward in every age. A vital corrective to traditional history, A People's History of the World is essential reading for anyone interested in how society has changed and developed and the possibilities for further radical progress. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the U.S. Military Michael A. Bellesiles, 2012-09-11 In A People's History of the U.S. Military, historian Michael A. Bellesiles draws from three centuries of soldiers' personal encounters with combat—through fascinating excerpts from letters, diaries, and memoirs, as well as audio recordings, film, and blogs—to capture the essence of the American military experience firsthand, from the American Revolution to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Military service can shatter and give meaning to lives; it is rarely a neutral encounter, and has contributed to a rich outpouring of personal testimony from the men and women who have literally placed their lives on the line. The often dramatic and always richly textured first-person accounts collected in this book cover a wide range of perspectives, from ardent patriots to disillusioned cynics; barely literate farm boys to urbane college graduates; scions of founding families to recent immigrants, enthusiasts, and dissenters; women disguising themselves as men in order to serve their country to African Americans fighting for their freedom through military service. A work of great relevance and immediacy—as the nation grapples with the return of thousands of men and women from active military duty—A People's History of the U.S. Military will become a major new touchstone for our understanding of American military service. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the Supreme Court Peter Irons, 2006-07-25 A comprehensive history of the people and cases that have changed history, this is the definitive account of the nation's highest court featuring a forward by Howard Zinn Recent changes in the Supreme Court have placed the venerable institution at the forefront of current affairs, making this comprehensive and engaging work as timely as ever. In the tradition of Howard Zinn's classic A People's History of the United States, Peter Irons chronicles the decisions that have influenced virtually every aspect of our society, from the debates over judicial power to controversial rulings in the past regarding slavery, racial segregation, and abortion, as well as more current cases about school prayer, the Bush/Gore election results, and enemy combatants. To understand key issues facing the supreme court and the current battle for the court's ideological makeup, there is no better guide than Peter Irons. This revised and updated edition includes a foreword by Howard Zinn. A sophisticated narrative history of the Supreme Court . . . [Irons] breathes abundant life into old documents and reminds readers that today's fiercest arguments about rights are the continuation of the endless American conversation. -Publisher's Weekly (starred review) |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of World War II Marc Favreau, 2011 Presents interviews, photographs, letters, oral histories, stories, eyewitness accounts, and excerpts from historical writings from different perspectives on a wide variety of topics related to the Second World War. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of Modern Europe William A. Pelz, 2016 From the monarchical terror of the Middle Ages to the mangled Europe of the twenty-first century, A People's History of Modern Europe tracks the history of the continent through the deeds of those whom mainstream history tries to forget. Europe provided the perfect conditions for a great number of political revolutions from below. The German peasant wars of Thomas Muntzer, the bourgeois revolutions of the eighteenth century, the rise of the industrial worker in England, the turbulent journey of the Russian Soviets, the role of the European working class throughout the Cold War, student protests in 1968 and through to the present day, when we continue to fight to forge an alternative to the barbaric economic system. With sections focusing on the role of women, this history sweeps away the tired platitudes of the privileged upon which our current understanding is based, and provides an opportunity to see our history differently. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of Poverty in America Stephen Pimpare, 2011-06-07 In A People's History of Poverty in America, political scientist Stephen Pimpare brings the human lives and real-life stories of those who struggle with poverty in America to the foreground, vividly describing life as poor and welfare-reliant Americans experience it, from the big city to the rural countryside. Prodigiously researched, A People's History of Poverty in America unearths rich, poignant, and often surprising testimonies—both heart-wrenching and humorous—that range from the early days of the United States to the present day. Pimpare shows us how the poor have found food, secured shelter, and created community, and, most important, he illuminates their battles for dignity and respect in the face of the judgment, control, and disdain that are all too often the price they must pay for charity and government aid. In telling these hidden stories, Pimpare argues eloquently for a fundamental rethinking of poverty, one that includes both a more nuanced understanding of the history of the American welfare state, and a meaningful—and truly accurate—new definition of the poverty line. Hailed by Kirkus Reviews as an “illuminating history of America's poor” and a “useful counter against those who blame the poor for their bad luck,” A People's History of Poverty in America reminds us that poverty is not in itself a moral failure, but our failure to understand it may well be. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of England Arthur Leslie Morton, 2014 |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, 2019-07-23 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Young Adult Honor Book 2020 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People,selected by National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children’s Book Council 2019 Best-Of Lists: Best YA Nonfiction of 2019 (Kirkus Reviews) · Best Nonfiction of 2019 (School Library Journal) · Best Books for Teens (New York Public Library) · Best Informational Books for Older Readers (Chicago Public Library) Spanning more than 400 years, this classic bottom-up history examines the legacy of Indigenous peoples’ resistance, resilience, and steadfast fight against imperialism. Going beyond the story of America as a country “discovered” by a few brave men in the “New World,” Indigenous human rights advocate Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz reveals the roles that settler colonialism and policies of American Indian genocide played in forming our national identity. The original academic text is fully adapted by renowned curriculum experts Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza, for middle-grade and young adult readers to include discussion topics, archival images, original maps, recommendations for further reading, and other materials to encourage students, teachers, and general readers to think critically about their own place in history. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: The Other Civil War Howard Zinn, 2011-03-15 The Other Civil War offers historian and activist Howard Zinn's view of the social and civil background of the American Civil War—a view that is rarely provided in standard historical texts. Drawn from his New York Times bestseller A People's History of the United States, this set of essays recounts the history of American labor, free and not free, in the years leading up to and during the Civil War. He offers an alternative yet necessary account of that terrible nation-defining epoch. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A Patriot's History of the United States Larry Schweikart, Michael Patrick Allen, 2004-12-29 For the past three decades, many history professors have allowed their biases to distort the way America’s past is taught. These intellectuals have searched for instances of racism, sexism, and bigotry in our history while downplaying the greatness of America’s patriots and the achievements of “dead white men.” As a result, more emphasis is placed on Harriet Tubman than on George Washington; more about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II than about D-Day or Iwo Jima; more on the dangers we faced from Joseph McCarthy than those we faced from Josef Stalin. A Patriot’s History of the United States corrects those doctrinaire biases. In this groundbreaking book, America’s discovery, founding, and development are reexamined with an appreciation for the elements of public virtue, personal liberty, and private property that make this nation uniquely successful. This book offers a long-overdue acknowledgment of America’s true and proud history. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: Failure to Quit Howard Zinn, 2002 A selection of Howard Zinn's most popular and accessible essays on history and politics. In this lively collection of essays, now with a new afterword, Zinn discusses a wide range of historical and political topics, from the role of the Supreme Court in U.S. history to the nature of higher education today. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn, 2010-01-26 “It’s a wonderful, splendid book—a book that should be read by every American, student or otherwise, who wants to understand his country, its true history, and its hope for the future.” —Howard Fast, author of Spartacus and The Immigrants “[It] should be required reading.” —Eric Foner, New York Times Book Review Library Journal calls Howard Zinn’s iconic A People's History of the United States “a brilliant and moving history of the American people from the point of view of those…whose plight has been largely omitted from most histories.” Packed with vivid details and telling quotations, Zinn’s award-winning classic continues to revolutionize the way American history is taught and remembered. Frequent appearances in popular media such as The Sopranos, The Simpsons, Good Will Hunting, and the History Channel documentary The People Speak testify to Zinn’s ability to bridge the generation gap with enduring insights into the birth, development, and destiny of the nation. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: Vietnam Howard Zinn, 2012-11 Zinn's compelling case against the Vietnam War, now with a new introduction. Of the many books that challenged the Vietnam War, Howard Zinn's stands out as one of the best--and most influential. It helped sparked national debate on the war. It includes a powerful speech written by Zinn that President Johnson should have given to lay out the case for ending the war. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: The Immigrants Howard Fast, 2010-03-01 A most wonderful book...there hasn't been a novel in years that can do a job on readers' emotions that the last fifty pages of The Immigrants does.—Los Angeles Times The first book in bestselling author Howard Fast's beloved family saga, The Immigrants is a transcendent work of historical fiction. In this sweeping journey of love and fortune, master storyteller Howard Fast recounts the family saga of roughneck immigrants determined to make their way in America at the turn of the century. Quick to ascend from the tragic depths of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Dan Lavette becomes the head of a powerful shipping empire and establishes himself among the city's cultural elite. But when he finds himself caught in a loveless marriage to the daughter of San Francisco's richest family, a scandalous love affair threatens to destroy the empire Dan has built for himself. The first novel of a compelling family saga, The Immigrants is fast-paced, emotional historical fiction that captures the wide range of relationships across Immigrant America during the tumultuous defining events of the early twentieth century. NOW A MOTION PICTURE |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: Bitterly Divided David Williams, 2010-04-16 The little-known history of anti-secession Southerners: “Absolutely essential Civil War reading.” —Booklist, starred review Bitterly Divided reveals that the South was in fact fighting two civil wars—the external one that we know so much about, and an internal one about which there is scant literature and virtually no public awareness. In this fascinating look at a hidden side of the South’s history, David Williams shows the powerful and little-understood impact of the thousands of draft resisters, Southern Unionists, fugitive slaves, and other Southerners who opposed the Confederate cause. “This fast-paced book will be a revelation even to professional historians. . . . His astonishing story details the deep, often murderous divisions in Southern society. Southerners took up arms against each other, engaged in massacres, guerrilla warfare, vigilante justice and lynchings, and deserted in droves from the Confederate army . . . Some counties and regions even seceded from the secessionists . . . With this book, the history of the Civil War will never be the same again.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “Most Southerners looked on the conflict with the North as ‘a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight,’ especially because owners of 20 or more slaves and all planters and public officials were exempt from military service . . . The Confederacy lost, it seems, because it was precisely the kind of house divided against itself that Lincoln famously said could not stand.” —Booklist, starred review |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of the Vietnam War Jonathan Neale, 2001 Presents an overview of the Vietnam War from the perspective of those on both sides of the battlefront, as well as those in the United States. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: The Twentieth Century Howard Zinn, 2009-10-13 “Professor Zinn writes with an enthusiasm rarely encountered in the leaden prose of academic history....[His] chapter on Vietnam—bringing to life once again the fire-free zones, secret bombings, massacres, and cover-ups—should be required reading.”—New York Times Book Review Containing just the Twentieth Century chapters from Howard Zinn’s bestselling A People’s History of the United States, this reissue is brought up-to-date with coverage of events and developments since 2001, analyzing such incidents in modern political history such as the Gulf War, the post-Cold War “peace dividend,” and the continuing debate over welfare, the Clinton presidency, and the “war on terrorism.” Highlighting not just the usual terms of presidential administrations and congressional activities, this book provides readers with a “bottom-to-top” perspective, giving voice to our nation’s minorities and letting the stories of such groups as African Americans, women, Native Americans, and the laborers of all nationalities be told in their own words. Challenging traditional interpretations of U.S. history, The Twentieth Century is the book for readers interested in gaining a more realistic and complete picture of our world. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: The Zinn Reader Howard Zinn, 2011-01-04 No other radical historian has reached so many hearts and minds as Howard Zinn. It is rare that a historian of the Left has managed to retain as much credibility while refusing to let his academic mantle change his beautiful writing style from being anything but direct, forthright, and accessible. Whether his subject is war, race, politics, economic justice, or history itself, each of his works serves as a reminder that to embrace one's subjectivity can mean embracing one's humanity, that heart and mind can speak with one voice. Here, in six sections, is the historian's own choice of his shorter essays on some of the most critical problems facing America throughout its history, and today. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: The Great Republic Winston Churchill, 2001 Draws on the previously published four-volume, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, as well as essays and speeches, to present the British statesman's interpretation of American history. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: Founding Myths Ray Raphael, 2014-07-04 First published ten years ago, award-winning historian Ray Raphael’s Founding Myths has since established itself as a landmark of historical myth-busting. With the author’s trademark wit and flair, Founding Myths exposes the errors and inventions in America’s most cherished tales, from Paul Revere’s famous ride to Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech. For the seventy thousand readers who have been captivated by Raphael’s eye-opening accounts, history has never been the same. In this revised tenth-anniversary edition, Raphael revisits the original myths and explores their further evolution over the past decade, uncovering new stories and peeling back additional layers of misinformation. This new edition also examines the highly politicized debates over America’s past, as well as how school textbooks and popular histories often reinforce rather than correct historical mistakes. A book that “explores the truth behind the stories of the making of our nation” (National Public Radio), this revised edition of Founding Myths will be a welcome resource for anyone seeking to separate historical fact from fiction. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: A People's History of American Empire Howard Zinn, Mike Konopacki, Paul Buhle, 2008-04 Adapted from the critically acclaimed chronicle of U.S. history, a study of American expansionism around the world is told from a grassroots perspective and provides an analysis of important events from Wounded Knee to Iraq. |
| a peoples history by howard zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train Howard Zinn, 2018-09-18 If you’re both overcome and angered by the atrocities of our time, this will inspire a “new generation of activists and ordinary people who search for hope in the darkness” (Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor). Is change possible? Where will it come from? Can we actually make a difference? How do we remain hopeful? Howard Zinn—activist, historian, and author of A People’s History of the United States—was a participant in and chronicler of some of the landmark struggles for racial and economic justice in US history. In his memoir, You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train, Zinn reflects on more than thirty years of fighting for social change, from his teenage years as a laborer in Brooklyn to teaching at Spelman College, where he emerged in the civil rights movement as a powerful voice for justice. A former bombardier in World War II, he later became an outspoken antiwar activist, spirited protestor, and champion of civil disobedience. Throughout his life, Zinn was unwavering in his belief that “small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” With a foreword from activist and scholar Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, this revised edition will inspire a new generation of readers to believe that change is possible. |
A People's History of the United States - libcom.org
A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 1492—PRESENT HOWARD ZINN. To Noah, Georgia, Serena, Naushon, …
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THE SECOND WORST HISTORY BOOK IN PRINT…
Judging by the History News Network's online vote conducted in 2012, many American historians loathe Howard …
A People's 1. Columbus, The Indians, and Human Progre…
"UH, OH. WE MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE" - An Emergency Message from History Is A Weapon (please click) A PEOPLE'S …
Undue Certainty: Where Howard Zinn's A People's …
the loopholes in the Sherman Antitrust Act, what does A People’s History teach these young people about what it …
A People's History of the United States - libcom.org
A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 1492—PRESENT HOWARD ZINN. To Noah, Georgia, Serena, Naushon, Will—and their generation. Contents Cover Title Page Chapter 1 – …
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THE SECOND WORST HISTORY BOOK IN PRINT? …
Judging by the History News Network's online vote conducted in 2012, many American historians loathe Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. More than 600 historians who …
A People's 1. Columbus, The Indians, and Human Progress …
"UH, OH. WE MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE" - An Emergency Message from History Is A Weapon (please click) A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES by Howard Zinn Table of …
Undue Certainty: Where Howard Zinn's A People's History …
the loopholes in the Sherman Antitrust Act, what does A People’s History teach these young people about what it means to think historically? A People’s History stretches across 729 …
A Peoples History Of The United States Howard Zinn - Saturn
A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn,2003-02-04 Since its original landmark publication in 1980 A People s History of the United States has been chronicling American …
TEACHING GUIDE A Young People’s History of the United Stat
A Young People’s History of the United States explains history from the viewpoints of everyday people who rose up in solidarity for justice and democracy. This includes the letters, songs, …
A People’s History of the United States
A People’s History of the United States 1. Columbus, The Indians, and Human Progress Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder, emerged from their villages onto the …
A Peoples History Of The United States By Howard Zinn
People's History of the United States Declarations of Independence A People's History of the United States A People's History of the United States The Politics of History A People's History …
A Peoples History Of The United States Chapter 1 - Howard …
In the tradition of Howard Zinn's classic A People's History of the United States, Peter Irons chronicles the decisions that have influenced virtually every aspect of our society, from the …
A Peoples History Howard Zinn (Download Only)
A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn,2003-02-04 Since its original landmark publication in 1980 A People s History of the United States has been chronicling American …
TEACHING WITH Voices of a People’s History of the United …
In 2003, when A People’s History of the United States sold its millionth copy, it was clear that Howard Zinn had pioneered a new way of thinking about American history.
A People's History of the United States, Howard Zinn
Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder, emerged from their villages onto the island's beaches and swam out to get a closer look at the strange big boat. When Columbus …
A Peoples History Of The United States Chapter 1 Howard …
In the tradition of Howard Zinn's classic A People's History of the United States, Peter Irons chronicles the decisions that have influenced virtually every aspect of our society, from the …
Howard Zinn, The People's Historian
In a 1966 article published in the New York Times, he rejected the role of the disinterested scholar, instead defining himself as a historian-citizen. "In a world hungry for solutions, we …
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A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn,2003-02-04 Since its original landmark publication in 1980 A People s History of the United States has been chronicling American …
Voices of a People's History of the United States PDF
"Voices of a People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn brings to life the powerful and poignant narratives of Indigenous peoples of America, offering an unfiltered glance at their …
Chapter 03 - People's History of the United States - Howard …
Chapter 03 - People's History of the United States - Howard Zinn Persons of Mean and Vile Condition In 1676, seventy years after Virginia was founded, a hundred years before it …
A people's history of the American Revolution - libcom.org
Howard Zinn's critical history of the American Revolution against British rule and its impact on ordinary people. Around 1776, certain important people in the English colonies made a …
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lectures delivered by the late historian Howard Zinn in illustrations or graphic form and includes a combination of primary source documents, photographic images, maps, political cartoons, and …
