A People's History Of The United States Summary

1. In A People’s History of the United States chapters 1-8 by Howard Zinn. He writes about historic key points in which some history recollections doesn’t truly paint the truth of what happened, why it happened, and how we look at it now with newer, more open minded hindsight. Some of the most important points that Zinn brings to light in his book is that history is never truly written until after the fact and that fact is, history is written by those who deem it fit. With a vision that can at times distort the truth by only revealing or “painting” the events with a more suitable reality. With many events never documented we end up relying on the recounts of members who were either at the event or those that survived. With stories of heroes, adventurers, savages, holy gospel, and religious “rights”, and the fight for equality, what we end up with is fantastical events that are too good to be true and are never derogatory or …show more content…
However the history of events; as unglamorous as it may be, is just as bloody, horrifying, political, and eye opening as the truth. Zinns account through events such as the Spaniards under the order of the Spanish crown decimating South America in the name of God, Gold, & Glory; more so for gold and to expand the Spanish empire. His mind opening retelling of the “Hero” adventurer, Christopher Columbus who brought destruction and death to the Native Americans by bringing diseases and violence but somehow celebrated with his own holiday. Zinn continues to describe in later chapters how entire countries, governments, and even its citizens move entirely on a bias of history. History taught in school and politicized to make history fit a mold of success and progress through a veil of sugary goodness but beneath lies nothing but conquest, racism, and