Zinn -- MIddle Chapters

12. Is Zinn being fair to our Founding Fathers in his opening of Chapter 4 (this might be a better question to ask after we finish reading the chapter in Brinkley... so file this question away, for now)?

13. Zinn states that the cause(s) of the revolution, "... was not a conscious conspiracy, but an accumulation of tactical responses." I ask each of you to name one of those "responses" without repeating what your colleagues have already commented (so read what your colleagues write!).

14. On page 60, Zinn refers to the "elements" that were in place for conflict between the colonies and Great Britain... as in question #13, what does he refer (name one).

15. Discuss the point Zinn is attempting to make by all the evidence he presents for middle and lower class discontent. List one of Zinn's supporting "evidence" for discontentment. Again, do not repeat what any of your colleagues have written, and if you cannot present anything new, then agree or disagree with one of your colleagues' comments (of course, in a respectful way).

16. Note a cause leading to the "Boston Massacre."

17. Why does Zinn refer to the Declaration of Independence as a, "myth of a unified people?"

18. According to Zinn, how did the Revolutionary War allow the rich to manipulate the poor?

19. How did the Revolutionary War effect Native Americans?

20. How did the Revolutionary War effect Blacks?

21. How did the ratification benefit the rich (keep your answer short here, since it could go on and on... and again, do not repeat any answers already commented on by your colleagues)?

22. Come up with one sentence that explains Shays' Rebellion?

23. What argument dies James Madison use for having a government which can maintain peace and avoid continuous disorder?

Howard Zinn -- A People's History of the United States

Introduction

You'll find Zinn's book far different then the Boostin book, however I also think you'll find it easier reading. Please approach the Zinn book with an open mind since I'm not asking you to "buy in" to everything his says. You find it a much different perspective then the class text well begin in 16 days (but who's counting).

Anything that you read in this class, it is important to understand bias and point of view. Zinn in the very first chapter admits his bias and explains his point of view, therefore take it for what it's worth -- a very different perspective.

It is also important to recognize the themes Zinn covers compared to Boorstin. Such as, how does each deal with slavery, or Bacon's Rebellion (Boorstin barely mentions Bacon!). I'm going to ask you to come back and visit this later in the year (also by looking at Brinkley, our text author).

Well shall we get to some things to look at?

Early Chapters

1. Would it be incorrect to assume that you all were taught in your earlier classes what a great man Christopher Columbus was. We even have a holiday for him. However, Zinn focuses more on Columbus' more "human" qualities. Please list one of those qualities, and do not repeat one that has already been posted by your classmates.

2. Identify one of Zinn's biases and point of view?

3. If you remember, Boorstin causally mentions "King Philip's War," whereas Zinn identifies it's causes. Please make note of that but you do not need to comment here.

4. What does Zinn say about racism in America? Look at Edmund Morgan's view on racism on p. 56. Would you agree? Zinn then asks, "Is it possible for blacks and whites to live together without hatred?" What do you think, given what Zinn has written?

5. It is important to note the behavior of the residents of Jamestown during the "starving time." No comment needed here.

6. Pay attention to Zinn's quotation by Edmund Morgan on p. 25.

7. What were some of the differences in how slaves were treated in Africa (by Africans) and in the colonies?

8. Why were Africans better fitted fro slavery then Indians?

9. What were some of the methods Africans slaves used to escape?

10. What ways were the treatment of indentured servants similar to African slaves?

11. Give an example of how colonial America was similar to feudal Europe, or operated more as an aristocracy.