Preview

Compare And Contrast Zinn Vs Paul Johnson

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
257 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Compare And Contrast Zinn Vs Paul Johnson
Howard Zinn Vs. Paul Johnson

While Paul Johnson focuses on the accomplishments of the colonists, Howard Zinn’s work is more focused on the atrocities the colonists committed. Howard Zinn starts out his novel with the innocent Arawaks greeting Columbus with a bountiful amount of gifts to which Columbus responds selfishly by demanding they show him where the gold is located. After that, things rapidly decline. Zinn proceeds to highlight the enslavement and harsh treatment of the natives by Columbus and the ruthless genocide of the Indians. However, Paul Johnson starts off his novel by optimistically stating how the U.S. is one of the greatest civilizations of all time and highlights Columbus’s determination and accomplishments.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    William Clark Chapter 3 Summary
    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages

    William Clark Chapter 3 Summary

    Jones recounts the atrocities, hardships, and motives of both the Indians and the Americans in a far more balanced manner than either Zinn or S&A. He also doesn’t shy away from or overemphasize facts for the sake of pushing an agenda, though that maybe just as much to do with having to keep a more narrow focus on biographical material as it does with not advocating a sociopolitical agenda. As equally enjoyable is the privilege I get to learn about a man whose influence on the shaping of America extended beyond his trek across the areas west of the…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    History Not Taught Is History Forgot: Christopher Columbus
    • 197 Words
    • 1 Page

    History Not Taught Is History Forgot: Christopher Columbus

    In Ward Churchill’s “History Not Taught is History Forgot: Columbus’s Legacy of Genocide”, depictions of the European’s genocide and greed are numerous. Christopher Columbus nearly caused the extinction of the native Taino’s people. He used slavery as the premiere method of extinction. Upon his arrival, the Taino’s population ranked eight million. When he departed, that number had dwindled to 100, 000. His successors carried on his policies, and the natives were further decimated to a mere 22, 000 in the year 1514. By the year 1542 they were reduced to 200 individuals, rendering them virtually extinct. The consequences of Columbus’ policies indirectly led to an absolute extermination of an entire culture.…

    • 197 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Review of Chapter 4 of "American Holocaust" by David Stannard
    • 1126 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Review of Chapter 4 of "American Holocaust" by David Stannard

    "American Holocaust" by David E Stannard was first published and distributed in 1992, the same year that celebrated the quincentenary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. The release date would not have been decided upon by happenchance, but would have been part of a well thought out marketing strategy to take best advantage of the five hundredth anniversary of American 'civilisation '. The book is highly controversial in its choice of theme, in that it shows the American people of the time as a barbarous, murdering race, which, at its zenith of policy making, instigated a deliberate tactic of extermination and genocide against the native Indian tribes by the leaders of the new United States, such as Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. Americans of today are taught to revere the leaders of the past, to elevate their memories to almost mythical status, to see them not as mortal men but as nearing the level of demi-gods. For someone to portray their iconic figures of this time in any other way than civilised and beneficent, for a large percentage of the modern day United States, would be as a minimum seen as disrespectful to their memory and for the majority would be seen as bordering on blasphemous and seditious dissertation. It is also shown in this book that the everyday common folk in eighteenth and nineteenth century America, although not necessarily direct advocates of a genocide policy, allowed it to happen, either with the excuse of the soldier when following orders of the slaughter of natives or by the malaise of the man in the street that is seen as guilty by his own inaction. This also would not have pleased 1990s Americans, being told that their direct ancestors were as guilty as the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, even if they had had no direct effect on the outcome. Even one of their favourite authors, L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz is shown as being a radical Indian hater and exponent of racial cleansing who urges the…

    • 1126 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comparing and Contrasting Two Analyses of Indian-European Interactions
    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Comparing and Contrasting Two Analyses of Indian-European Interactions

    “Columbus, The Indians, and Human Progress,” was written in 1999 by Howard Zinn, and it discusses some of the early interactions between Europeans arriving and colonizing the Americas and the Native Americans who lived there. Zinn quite clearly states the viewpoint of this article, saying he tries, in telling history, “not to be on the side of the executioners.” In other words, Zinn’s article focuses primarily on the effects of the Europeans on the Native Americans, highlighting specific cruelties committed intentionally by the Europeans more than the effects of disease. As far as historical context goes, Zinn covers a wide range of areas, from Peru to the Eastern Coast of North America, and a relatively large range of dates, from Columbus' original…

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of What Did Zinn Say About Columbus
    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Summary Of What Did Zinn Say About Columbus

    Not all scientists introduce the exact same conclusions in a specific research. Although Zinn talks about Christopher Columbus committing a genocide, Schweikart and Allen think otherwise. Some people, including Schweikart and Allen, believe that “native health was on a ‘downward trajectory long before Columbus arrived’” (Schweikart/Allen P.1 Paragraph 3 Line 2-3). Considering this statement, Schweikart and Allen’s response to Zinn is very opposed and unrelated. Schweikart and Allen both believe that Columbus did not commit mass murder. They both believe that we should honor Columbus. They talk about what Columbus did was recognizable and in the title Schweikart and Allen refer to Columbus as a patriot which is a very positive…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The 'Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus'
    • 588 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The 'Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus'

    When in reality it was the Spaniards who were the true savages for treating Native Americans as an evil creature due to their religious views. It was sad to read about how Indians families were torn apart and many choose not to have kids because of this. I was disgusted by how the Spaniards would cut off native women’s breasts and throw their infants to a pack of dogs. The teachings of Popes prepared the ground for the mass Genocide of Native Americans because they taught genocide because anyone who would go against their God would be killed. There are many major statements in this book. One of which is the statement that history books have incorrect information on the conquest of the Americas by the Spaniards. This is important to understand because it shows how young students are being taught wrong information as well as being taught to think that Native Americans are horrible people when the reality was that they were the victims in the situation. Another important statement addressed in the book was how it explained the mistreatment of Native American by the…

    • 588 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Howard Zinn Chapter Summary
    • 626 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Howard Zinn Chapter Summary

    At times, history appears to be just like a deliberately curated set of truths, figures, and events that when taken together advance a particular philosophy or perspective. Along these lines, Americans concentrate only on individuals, places, and events that maintain the thought of American exceptionalism. Wars and the success of men dominate the lives of ladies, and Europeans are given priority. The quote by W.E.B. DuBois underscores the intrinsic falseness in imminent history, given that in some capacity there will dependably be editorializing. Howard Zinn likewise reassembles American history in a way that subverts the worldview that had been taught identified with the matchless quality of private enterprise and the white-washing of key defining moments. A People's History of the United…

    • 626 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Howard Zinn vs Paul Johnson
    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Howard Zinn vs Paul Johnson

    Howard Zinn covers early Native American civilization in North America and the Bahamas, the genocide and slavery committed by the crew of Christopher Columbus, and the violent colonization by early settlers. While Paul Johnson stated that “the creation of the United States of America is the greatest of all human adventures”. Their points of views are completely 2 different stories.…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Howard Zinn vs. George Wood
    • 918 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Howard Zinn vs. George Wood

    What is Gordon S. Wood’s argument and what is Howard Zinn’s argument on the nature of the American War for Independence and what evidence do the two historians present to support their interpretations? Who do you think presents the better case?…

    • 918 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    APUSH Summer Reading Assignment
    • 843 Words
    • 2 Pages

    APUSH Summer Reading Assignment

    1. Howard Zinn, author of A Peoples History of the United States believes that American history is influenced the most by the following concepts: class, racism, and a bias against the government elitists. Zinn is able to showcase these ideas by featuring the viewpoint of those who are commonly swept under the rug; the conquered, enslaved, worked and dominated. Zinn brings to light that America has been run by rich white males for most of this nations existence, and the assumption that the upper, middle and lower class all want the same things is utterly nonsensical. Racism, one of the largest parts of American history, is a constant theme throughout the book. Whether it be the black people of Africa, being enslaved and traded like inanimate objects or the Indians being massacred and killed off by disease. Zinn focused his book on the opinions and viewpoints of those not spoken for and made it clear of his opinions of the rich white men that have controlled the United States for most of it's existence. In the chapter The Coming Revolt of the Guards he showcases the idea that most American people have a distrust for the government considering most of them are of the upper class. Zinns ideas, throughout the book, stress a basis of equality over freedom, an active national government over state government, greater women's rights, and gave no religious opinions making him more secular by omission. These ideas by definition are of a liberal standpoint, making Zinn's book with more liberal contributions.…

    • 843 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Zinn's Purpose Analysis
    • 431 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Zinn's Purpose Analysis

    Another point of Zinn’s argument is Columbus and the Arawak Indians are not the only historic case that a group of people mistreated others because of their own needs. Zinn uses other examples to shows history is repeated and Columbus’s case isn’t the only case that happened. In order to prevent that from happening again we have to learn the history from the winner's point of view other people’s point of view as well.…

    • 431 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Howard Zinn's Experience Of Slavery
    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Howard Zinn's Experience Of Slavery

    The readings in Zinn’s book added to my previous knowledge of the practice and experience of slavery in this country. I had no idea that there were so many slave uprisings. One secret keeper wrote to another, “[I]t will not be long before it will take place, and I am fully satisfied we shall be in full possession of the [w]hole country in a few weeks” (Zinn and Arnove 53). This illustrates how confident the slaves were regarding their plan for freedom and insurrection. Additionally, I already knew about how badly the slaves were treated, but their personal accounts were heartbreaking. An unknown slave wrote, “ We have no Property. We have no Wives. We have no Children. We have no City. No Country. But we have a Father in Heaven, and we are…

    • 457 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's Humane Colonialism
    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's Humane Colonialism

    Throughout Castaways, by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, and A Land So Strange, the Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca, by Andre Resendez, a transformation is seen through the thoughts and actions of the four Spanish survivors. Clearly motivated by curiosity, greed, and religion, at first, a dramatic transformation from explorers and conquistadors into assimilated Spanish Indians and revolutionary idealists occurs. Cabeza de Vaca believed that his peaceful ascendancy over the Indians of North America was achievable through a partnership, creating a more humane kind of colonial occupation (Resendez 207-208).…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Lies My Teacher Told Me
    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Lies My Teacher Told Me

    I could never dream of learning all the topics Loewen discusses in his book, and on every topic Loewen not only states what is wrong with the text, Native Americans were wiped out rather than befriended at Thanksgiving, but also argues why having the facts right is important, the truth gives Native Americans some exigency and everyone learns accurate knowledge. Lies My Teacher Told Me is an example of what a high school textbook should be; interesting, informative, well documented, and detailed. Loewen clearly has a passion for history that comes through in his work, and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in America’s true…

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hollitz Chapter 1
    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hollitz Chapter 1

    Although often viewed as inferior, savage and helpless, many historians are starting to discover the intelligence and wisdom the Indians had and shared with the colonists that came to America so long ago. As the settlers slowly began to create a new world on the already inhabited North America, they were plagued with starvation due to a severe drought in the area. Due to the dry lands and the settlers expectations to “rely on Indians for food and tribute,” (Norton 17) they were disappointed to find that the Indians were not so keen to handing out food and help to the strangers that have just come onto their land and begun to settle in such a time of severe weather and starvation. As time goes on, both the Indians and the Englishmen realize they both have what the other needs; tools from the white men and crops, land and knowledge from the Indians. As a result, the chief of Tsenacomoco, Powhatan, and colonist, Captain John Smith on an ideally peaceful, mutualistic relationship to ensure the survival of both civilizations. This agreement will leave the groups in cahoots for 100 of years leading to some disastrous scenarios and betrayals.…

    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics