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The American history wars refers to ongoing academic and popular debates surrounding the character and culture of the United States. The term has been used by journalists and academics to describe debates over the teaching of Critical race theory and other issues relating to the Historiography of the United States.
Background
editControversy in the area of United States history is nothing new, and first became an issue when historian Charles A. Beard published [1] his An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States in 1913. Howard Zinn has also been a notable figure in the American history wars ever since the publication of his A People's History of the United States in 1980.[2]
The term "history wars" has been used in academia and the media to encompass debates over how American history should be taught and interpreted in classrooms and society. While the etymology of the term is unclear, the term is frequently used by historians and journalists.[3][4][5]
Topics
editRace
editThe topic of America's history relating to race is a prominent element of the American history wars. Central to these debates is the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) and The 1619 Project, which assert that systemic racism is deeply embedded in the fabric of American history. Proponents argue that these frameworks are essential for understanding the pervasive impact of racism, while critics contend that they present a divisive and negative portrayal of the nation's past.[3] Legislative efforts in various states to ban CRT and similar educational content have sparked significant controversy, with opponents claiming these measures aim to sanitize history and promote a narrow, patriotic narrative.[6] Historians and educators have pushed back, arguing that such bans threaten academic freedom and the integrity of historical scholarship, replacing nuanced analysis with state-mandated perspectives.[6][7][8]
Enola Gay exhibition controversy
editThe Enola Gay aircraft's exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum has been a topic of debate in the American history wars. The exhibit was criticized by conservative politicians and veteran groups for being overly sympathetic to Japanese victims, and being overly critical to the American military. It was also criticized by historians who felt that it was dehumanizing to the victims and overly technical.[9] This controversy has been used by educators to teach the American history wars, as it involves highly differing perspectives on how to teach a subject.[10] It was also the subject of historian Edward Linenthal's book on the subject, History Wars: The Enola Gay and Other Battles for the American Past.[11]
Media
edit- Edward Linenthal's History Wars: The Enola Gay and Other Battles for the American Past[11]
- Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States
- Charles A. Beard’s An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States
- The 1619 Project
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Braeman, John (16 January 2009). "Charles A. Beard: The English Experience". Cambridge. 15 (2): 165–189. doi:10.1017/S0021875800008318.
- ^ "Does Zinn's alternative history teach bad lessons?". Stanford. December 19, 2012.
- ^ a b "America's history wars". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ Park, K.-Sue. "The History Wars and Property Law: Conquest and Slavery as Foundational to the Field". www.yalelawjournal.org. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ "Defusing the History Wars: Finding Common Ground in Teaching America's National Story". search.issuelab.org. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ a b Editors, The (2021-07-28). "American History Wars". HCA Graduate Blog. doi:10.58079/pg5i. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Schuessler, Jennifer (2023-01-08). "As Historians Gather, No Truce in the History Wars". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
- ^ "Teaching the History Wars". www.historians.org. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
- ^ "Historians Protest New Enola Gay Exhibit | Perspectives on History | AHA". www.historians.org. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
- ^ "Teaching the History Wars". www.historians.org. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
- ^ a b Linenthal, Edward Tabor; Engelhardt, Tom, eds. (1996). History wars: the Enola Gay and other battles for the American past (1st ed.). New York: Metropolitan Books. ISBN 978-0-8050-4387-7.