This is my kind of American history: A peer edited collection of scholarly articles on some of the main myths in American history. There are so many myths regarding our history. Do other countries have such myths regarding their history? I suppose so.
The book does leave out some of the biggest myths of all. Like this country was founded as a Christian nation. Like the settler colonialism that led to the European takeover of the continent. the myth being that is not true. It's corollary: that the continent was a vast wilderness with no inhabitants. CRT is nowhere here with white total control at the beginning the myth being this country was not founded on thee basis of white supremacy. The corollary is the myth that the country was founded on the Declaration of Independence. Decidedly not. The City on a Hill nonsense, and many others.
This book is necessary because the U.S. is in the midst of period of bad history. Since history is not taken as seriously as it used to be and since people don't read anymore, the people are more gullible than ever before to mythical history. Add to that MAGA fascist versions of history. Right-wing politicians have fanned the flames of white resentment and work to weaken the social safety net.
History is being right-wind politicized in our schools. Republicans disdain education and the teaching profession. Anybody can teach! Republicans try to insist that American history should be taught only their way regardless of the facts.
INTRODUCTION
We live in the age of disinformation.
Chapter 1 American Exceptionalism by David Bell
Exceptional how? A complex idea. No way to be objectively clear about what we mean by exceptional. The idea that the United States is exceptional has mainly been used to exploit political ideology in a conservative way. The shorts answer is that America is not exceptional.
Chapter 2 Founding Myths by Akhil Reed Amar
This is the weakest chapter in the book. The author contends that Washington rather than Madison should be considered the father of the Constitution. He ignores the Bill of Rights which Madison is clearly given credit for. If anyone mentions the Constitution today it is usually one of the Bill of Rights that is mentioned. The author goes out of his way to emphasize the democratic nature of the document within the context of the late 18th Century rather than popular economic interpretations as he harkens back to Charles Beard. Me thinks economics considerations if not interpretations are still very relevant. Gordon Wood said that one factor for those 55 men was too much democracy in the states. Nothing on this from Amar especially in regard to state issued paper money. No mention of Madison's Virginia Plan, which jumpstarted the discussion in Philadelphia. He says that republicanism and democracy were synonymous at the time. Not so sure. I cannot believe that those 55 wealthy, prosperous men wanted to democratize the Articles of Confederation. Democracy to them had to have focused what was demarcraticfor people in their station of life. No mention of Woody Hilton who says the delegates were concerned about the country's credit rating.
Amar's Myths
1- James Madison is the father of the Constitution. No, it's George Washington. My view---only partly true.
2- The key Federalist essay in #10. No, #2 thru #8 are more important. I have no uneducated opinion.
3- The farmers believed in republics but disdained democracy. Contrary the framers believed in and practiced popular self-government. I am doubtful in that they wanted to reign in the states rather.
4- The Constitution was indeterminate on the question of secession. No. Not sure if he is right.
5- The Constitution was designed by the rich for the rich. Beard is bunk. Not so sure. An economics interpretation is viable not necessarily Beardian but still economic.
Chapter 3
Ari Kelman Vanishing Indians.
By vanishing Indians the author plays off of the famous book from 1970 called Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown which leads the reader to think that the Wounded Knee massacre made American Indians suddenly vanish whereas we know that despite diminished numbers and terrible treatment American Indians still exist of course today. The vanishing theme would lead Americans to disregard Indians today with the attitude that they no longer exist.
The founding white generation generally believed that the natives would gradually vanish as a matter of natural course What can be more melancholy than their disappearance said Joseph Story. Foundational white European myths made the vanishing seem right and inevitable. The Trail of Tears was just part of how it happened. Occupation of Alcatraz today would be a simple matter of lawbreaking.
Founders overlooked settler violence and genocide in favor of founder myths of innocence and God given rights of conquest to school and educate the heathen. P. 44
While the Congress passed landmark legislation during the Civil War that made the US en empire from coast to coast the natives fought for their lives and well-being. P. 45
Indians disappeared under Frederick Jackson Turner’s frontier thesis. P. 46
Dee Brown created the impression in his book that Indians had vanished by the start of the 20th Century. Obviously not true.
The myth of the vanishing Indian. P. 52
Chapter 4
Immigration
They keep coming. Political debates over immigration are long-standing in this country.
This myth distorts and obscures complete realities. P. 56
Successive groups over the yrs have been demonized. Immigration debate has always been racist discriminatory. P. 53
The “They Keep Coming” myth has deep roots in our country. P. 57
Franklin was anxious over German immigration. P. 57
How did non-English settlers fit into a colonial white society peopled by white English settlers featuring white settler colonialism, slavery, and white supremacy. P. 57
A growing white population becoming increasing dependent on black slavery. P. 57
Some Protestant preachers like Lyman Beecher said the Pope was sending Catholics to the States like an invading force. P. 58
Real Americans, original Americans, have traditionally been considered white, Anglo-Saxon Protestants, although the Catholic bias seems to have finally subsided. One of the favorite Know Nothing sayings was “Americans must rule America.” P. 58
The Chinese were a difference race of homo sapiens and the while West Coast might become a colony of China. :) P. 59
Chapter 7
The Border
I only skimmed this chapter as this subject, important in American history for sure, does not greatly interest me.
Chapter 19 The Reagan Revolution
Long story short: the so-called Reagan Revolution is vastly overrated. Praise of Reagan is mainly based on using his so-called legacy to promote a current political agenda. He was never as broadly popular as his worshippers content.
Chapter 20 Voter Fraud by Carole Anderson
Trump's flagrant lie about rampant widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election is the easiest lie to see right now in real time. Gingrich points to urban areas where the fraud occurred without evidence where whites are in the minority.
Proof os widespread voter fraud is the Republican Loch Ness monster. It simply does not exist. It's just political for voter suppression in Democratic areas.
Historically in the South disenfranchising people of color was carried out under the rubric of creating free and fair election. They WERE made free and fair for whites.starting, for example, in Mississippi in 1890.
No comments:
Post a Comment