It is not that all historical text books or sources do this heroification but the ones that do are still taught in schools which means the students are being denied a full story of their heroes. The books and the movies examined talked about George Washington, the first president of the United States. The movie examined, George Washington: the man who wouldn’t be king shows some good qualities of this hero but had no problem displaying the many flaws he had as well, showing that George Washington was not a leader without flaws. While the movie had no problem showing flaws McDougal Littell’s text book showed some flaws of George Washington. For example, his ownership of slaves and negative opinion towards freeing slaves and his struggles throughout wars but doesn’t show his failure in building a fort in the French and Indian war and having it flooded to only then blame this on two of his subordinates. Additionally the movie depicted Washington as someone who was politically ambitious, who couldn’t accept defeat, and who only intervened in affairs when it concerned his land or interests. Furthermore, the text book does not mention that George Washington took the land gained in the French and Indian war as his instead of leaving it for the veterans. Littell’s text book does more heroification than not especially in the following passage “British leaders made mistakes in judgement. Many had obtained their jobs through personal connections not ability. Washington on the other hand was an excellent leader. He also kept his spirits through such difficult times in the winter of valley forge.” (pg. 214, Littell) although these statements may have been true the lack of flaws shown in the text book itself makes this heroification. However, the second
It is not that all historical text books or sources do this heroification but the ones that do are still taught in schools which means the students are being denied a full story of their heroes. The books and the movies examined talked about George Washington, the first president of the United States. The movie examined, George Washington: the man who wouldn’t be king shows some good qualities of this hero but had no problem displaying the many flaws he had as well, showing that George Washington was not a leader without flaws. While the movie had no problem showing flaws McDougal Littell’s text book showed some flaws of George Washington. For example, his ownership of slaves and negative opinion towards freeing slaves and his struggles throughout wars but doesn’t show his failure in building a fort in the French and Indian war and having it flooded to only then blame this on two of his subordinates. Additionally the movie depicted Washington as someone who was politically ambitious, who couldn’t accept defeat, and who only intervened in affairs when it concerned his land or interests. Furthermore, the text book does not mention that George Washington took the land gained in the French and Indian war as his instead of leaving it for the veterans. Littell’s text book does more heroification than not especially in the following passage “British leaders made mistakes in judgement. Many had obtained their jobs through personal connections not ability. Washington on the other hand was an excellent leader. He also kept his spirits through such difficult times in the winter of valley forge.” (pg. 214, Littell) although these statements may have been true the lack of flaws shown in the text book itself makes this heroification. However, the second