Textbooks are a great source of information and are a great resource when learning the basics about various topics. We depend on textbooks quite often to teach us, and we put forth a certain trust in them that they are presenting accurate and thorough information. What if I was to tell you the textbooks lie! History textbooks in matter of fact tend to leave out a lot of information, and present an American bias throughout the readings. This bias is known as American exceptionalism. According to Wikipedia, “American exceptionalism is an ideology that holds that the United States is unique among nations in a positive way, particularly with respect to its ideals of democracy and personal freedom.” Textbooks tend to place America on the podium, …show more content…
The readers are told from the textbook that, “A religious revival among the indians magnified feelings of antagonism toward the British” (Cohen 139). The book fails to acknowledge the importance of the Native religion, and fails to show respect towards it. “The beliefs seem like make-believe, not the sophisticated theology of a higher civilization” (Lies My Teacher Told Me). This differing view caused several attacks to be triggered which is known as Pontiac’s Rebellion. The textbook makes it seem as if these events were well deserved on the Native’s end, and that by believing in a different religion prompted inhumane slaughterings and warfare. The textbook also fails to mention how the harsh press of Christianity made the Natives feel when in reality the indians were rightly angered. Presenting Christianity in an angering manner would be deemed “offensive”. The reader can interpret that the textbook believes that the only proper religion is Christianity, and that the actions the British and the colonists enacted were …show more content…
When focusing on the relationship between the Natives and the British/settlers, we seem to think the Natives are in the wrong for a majority of things. We picture the Natives as the ones who were the aggressors which allow us mentally to provide acceptance to how we treated them. The truth however, is the settlers and the british are at wrong, and readers of The American Promise do not get this vibe. This connects back to the idea of American exceptionalism, and how the textbook only wants the readers to think of the positives, and that the American people are never at fault. When looking at the difference between how the primary sources and the textbook addressed slavery we see the same pattern. The textbook did not want the readers to know the true horror in which we put slaves through in order to keep the exceptionalism mind set. By just reading the textbook, and not referring to other sources the reader is hurting himself, and missing out on other key perspectives which can change the way which we view history as well as our
Reddick’s article and the views of likeminded historians highlight the need to challenge inaccuracies, omissions, distortions and manipulations of factual history within textbooks. If Historians do not challenge these issues then such representations will be perceived as true accounts of "what has
Eventually, the Armed force stifled the Indians and constrained onto reservations, where they were permitted to administer themselves and keep up some of their conventions and culture. However, as white Americans pushed ever westbound, they clashed with Native Americans on their tribal grounds. A number of these white pioneers saw the proceeded with routine with regards to local customs as brutal and heinous. They trusted that union into standard white American culture was the main satisfactory destiny for Native Americans. This conviction was regularly framed in religious terms; many white Christians contended that lone by surrendering their profound customs and tolerating Christian authoritative opinion could the Indians be "spared" from the flames of hellfire.
Three parts. Fifteen chapters with an epilogue conclusion. Every page is documented fully with footnotes providing a magnificent reference to all the people and topics that were discussed. David B. Davis published this book in 1966, which at the time was the apex of the civil rights movement and schools did not teach slavery. Actually being the first book in a complete trilogy, Davis aimed to answer question of why citizens of the West were ‘blind’ to all the injustices of slavery for centuries, but at the turn of 18th century decided to attack it head on.
When Mary Rowlandson was captured by Indians in 1675 she would have never guessed that her perception of Indians would change. She would be partly correct, as demonstrated in “The Sovereignty and Goodness of God.” Mary Rowlandson gains a more accepting view of Indian culture, but she still maintains the rigid Puritan perception that Indians are inferior. Initially, Mary Rowlandson, like most Puritans, views the Indians as inferior and as the enemy.
Exceptionalism of America can actually be dated back to the 1830s when United States and the citizens were first described as "Exceptional" by Alex de Tocqueville. He was the first to use the term in his Democracy in America class work. Tocqueville observed egalitarianism in the American society and stressed individualism which he indicated differed from "group ties" emphasis which characterizes Europe. The notion of American Exceptionalism sets America as having a distinct as well as special destiny that other nations do not posses, the notion has been persistent al all times in the American history. This special character, American Exceptionalism, is sometimes inferred from the 1776-89 period founded American political institutions.
In today’s society having a slave is unacceptable, so for many people they wonder what made people once think that having a slave was right. This letter allows students and scholars to get a first-hand look on a slave holders perspective of owning slaves. It allowed readers to try to understand slaveholder’s motives for believing slavery is tolerable. Reading the Letter to an English Abolitionist with an open mind is significant because it allows readers to have a better grasp on American history when studying
History has traditionally portrayed Indians as savage and uncivilized barbarians who committed violent acts against white colonists. In contrast, historians depict the English colonists as morally superior Christians whose desire to colonize was motivated by the salvation of Indian souls. Furthermore, history suggests that once the Indians had received an education and were adapted to the English lifestyle, they would abandon their previous savage life, which was inferior by comparison. James Axtell argues the Indians had stronger moral values than the white settlers, and thus acted in a more Christian manner compared to the colonists’ behavior. Furthermore, Axtell claims the kind and respectful disposition of the Indians compelled the
God was the source of help and relief for them and these people always tried to remain strong in order to show the power of Christianity to Native Americans. Their boundless faith in God inspired them in their efforts to support other captives. Secondly, all three main characters of the considered captivity narratives had a strong understanding of the fact that this period of life was a punishment for the sins of all Christians. Consequently, they needed to pay a heavy price for sins of those people who forgot about God. Moreover, these authors also realized that their captivity experience could be useful to others.
In this book, John Smith talks about converting the Indians. He says of the Indians, “If he have any grain or of faith or zeal in religion, what can he do less hurtful or more agreeable to God than to seek to convert those poor savages to know Christ” (Smith 21). The other time Smith is friendly with the Indians is after
The speech that was read by Chief Red Jacket to defend the religious beliefs of his people is a powerful piece of literature that is underrated. The speech describes the feelings that were caused by the religious intolerance from the Americans. Currently, the United States have started to appreciate the impacts of the Native Americans and other minorities in history. However, a piece of history that has been quite hidden is the religious intolerance of Native Americans. Chief Red Jacket utilizes repetition, pathos, and rhetorical questions to convince the Americans to tolerate the religion of the Native Americans.
By using this reference, it illustrated the severity of the alienation of blacks in the Southern United States. In 1619, a Dutch ship “introduced the first captured Africans to America, planting the seeds of a slavery system that evolved into a nightmare of abuse and cruelty that would ultimately divide the nation”. The Africans were not treated humanely, but were treated as workers with no rights. Originally, they were to work for poor white families for seven years and receive land and freedom in return. As the colonies prospered, the colonists did not want to give up their workers and in 1641, slavery was legalized.
Many assume that the Whites gave the Indians many freedom when conquering their land. The standard way of thinking about how Whites treating Indians has it by biased history. It is often said by the Native Americans that they are forced to do actions without their actual opinion on them. The standard way of thinking about religion is allowing people to express themselves in the beliefs and get worship on their own. Chief Red Jacket’s 1805
From this, derives a bond with the reader that pushes their understanding of the evil nature of slavery that society deemed appropriate therefore enhancing their understanding of history. While only glossed over in most classroom settings of the twenty-first century, students often neglect the sad but true reality that the backbone of slavery, was the dehumanization of an entire race of people. To create a group of individuals known for their extreme oppression derived from slavery, required plantation owner’s of the South to constantly embedded certain values into the lives of their slaves. To talk back means to be whipped.
Rachael Goodson Professor Kathrine Chiles ENG & AFST 331 15 February 2018 William Apess In the nineteenth century, America was at one of its peaks of racial debate, with people starting to question whether it was right for the African Americans to stay enslaved, or if it was time to start the process of freeing the slaves and allowing them to live a better life. However, most people did not even question how the Native Americans were being treated or forced to change almost every aspect of their lives to “please,” as if they could ever be, the white people. William Apess’ The Experience of Five Christian Indians is an example of some of the harsh ways that Indians were treated before and even after they were “forcibly” converted to Christianity.
From this, derives a bond with the reader that pushes their understanding of the evil nature of slavery that society deemed appropriate therefore enhancing their understanding of history. While only glossed over in most classroom settings of the twenty-first century, students often neglect the sad but true reality that the backbone of slavery, was the dehumanization of an entire race