We all love American history but history class is the most hated subject taught in school. “Just memorize the notes, and you’ll be fine on the test,” said every history teacher I have ever had in my schooling. What do we really learn and reflect on from history class? Is it the teacher who can not teach or is the textbook that makes it boring? In “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James Loewen, he criticizes how textbooks distort American History in a way that corresponds with the mindset of rich white Americans through the “heroification” of historical figures and America itself, the mistreatment of Native American peoples, and the enslavement of African American peoples.
American history textbooks have been prone to make historical figures into …show more content…
Loewen argues how textbooks characterize Native Americans as primitive and uncivilized.They were “savages” and in desperate need of European enlightenment. Before the arrival of Europeans, Native Americans were doing just fine. Each group had their own religion, culture, and traditions, but Europeans felt they had to conquer them. This is an injustice to Native Americans because many were forced to forget their prior identities to fit European lifestyles. Many were removed from their sacred lands to make room for Europeans. Because of the rapid changes made to Native American culture, much of it was lost instead of integrated. For example, Loewen writes, “Other Native skills began to atrophy. Why spend hours making a watertight basket when in one-tenth the time you could trap enough beavers to trade for a kettle?” (102). Natives were exposed to different methods of achieving daily goals that caused them to lose their need to retain skills that were passed on for generations. Europeans used Native Americans to kill or disassemble neighboring tribes. Europeans used this narcissistic technique to gain control of lands for themselves. Textbooks leave out these facts falsify the fair treatment of Native Americans. Textbooks usually list the benefits Native Americans received from adopting European cultures, such as horses, but fail to list the negative effects. Loewen continues arguing how textbooks distorted history so that Native Americans appeared stubborn and unwilling to compromise in the matter over land. Europeans basically claimed the land as their own even though it was already inhabited by Native Americans. In the Louisiana purchase, France is the seller but they did not even own the land. It belonged to the Native Americans. In textbooks, France is always the seller and it is as if the Native Americans are the reason for selling the land.
American history textbooks have been prone to make historical figures into …show more content…
Loewen argues how textbooks characterize Native Americans as primitive and uncivilized.They were “savages” and in desperate need of European enlightenment. Before the arrival of Europeans, Native Americans were doing just fine. Each group had their own religion, culture, and traditions, but Europeans felt they had to conquer them. This is an injustice to Native Americans because many were forced to forget their prior identities to fit European lifestyles. Many were removed from their sacred lands to make room for Europeans. Because of the rapid changes made to Native American culture, much of it was lost instead of integrated. For example, Loewen writes, “Other Native skills began to atrophy. Why spend hours making a watertight basket when in one-tenth the time you could trap enough beavers to trade for a kettle?” (102). Natives were exposed to different methods of achieving daily goals that caused them to lose their need to retain skills that were passed on for generations. Europeans used Native Americans to kill or disassemble neighboring tribes. Europeans used this narcissistic technique to gain control of lands for themselves. Textbooks leave out these facts falsify the fair treatment of Native Americans. Textbooks usually list the benefits Native Americans received from adopting European cultures, such as horses, but fail to list the negative effects. Loewen continues arguing how textbooks distorted history so that Native Americans appeared stubborn and unwilling to compromise in the matter over land. Europeans basically claimed the land as their own even though it was already inhabited by Native Americans. In the Louisiana purchase, France is the seller but they did not even own the land. It belonged to the Native Americans. In textbooks, France is always the seller and it is as if the Native Americans are the reason for selling the land.