The Dangers of Historical Revisionism in American Textbooks
1. Introduction
In his book Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, James W. Loewen brings to light the many lies and distortions that are contained in American history textbooks. He argues that these lies and distortions have a profound impact on the way Americans view their own history, and that they serve to perpetrate a myths about America that are not only untrue, but harmful.
Loewen begins by discussing the concept of historical revisionism, and how it has been used throughout history to reshape people’s understandings of the past. He then goes on to discuss the various ways in which American history textbooks contain revisionist history, including omissions, distortions, and outright lies. Finally, he discusses the impact that these revisionist histories have on the American public, and how they serve to perpetuate harmful myths about America.
2. Historical revisionism in American textbooks
As Loewen points out, historical revisionism is nothing new. It has been used throughout history to promote political agendas and to shape people’s understandings of the past. In recent years, historical revisionism has become increasingly prevalent in American history textbooks. This is due in part to the fact that textbook publishers are catering to the demands of conservative groups who want to see their version of history promoted in schools.
One of the most common forms of historical revisionism in American textbooks is omission. This occurs when certain events or aspects of history are simply left out of the text altogether. For example, many American history textbooks do not mention the genocide of Native Americans or the enslavement of African Americans. Other important events that are often omitted from textbooks include the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the Iran-Contra scandal, and 9/11. Omissions like these allow textbook publishers to cherry-pick which parts of history they want students to learn about, and which parts they would prefer them to forget.
In addition to omissions, American history textbooks also contain numerous distortions and outright lies. These occur when facts are misrepresented or outright fabricated in order to support a particular point of view. For instance, many textbooks claim that the United States was founded on principles of freedom and democracy, when in reality it was founded on principles of white supremacy and racism. Other examples of distortions and lies include the claim that Christopher Columbus was a heroic explorer who brought civilization to the Americas, when in reality he was a genocidal maniac who slaughtered millions of indigenous people; and the claim that the United States won the Vietnam War, when in reality it was a resounding defeat for America.
The prevalence of historical revisionism in American textbooks has had a profound impact on the way Americans view their own history. Many Americans are simply not aware of the truth because they have only been exposed to distorted and inaccurate versions of events. As a result, they tend to believe harmful myths about America that are not based in reality. These myths include the idea that America is a force for good in the world, that it is a democracy where everyone is treated equally, and that its history is one of unmitigated progress. Not only are these myths untrue, but they serve to perpetuate dangerous ideologies like nationalism and racism.
3. The omissions and distortions in American history textbooks
As previously mentioned, one of the most common forms of historical revisionism in American textbooks is omission. This occurs when certain events or aspects of history are simply left out of the text altogether. For example, many American history textbooks do not mention the genocide of Native Americans or the enslavement of African Americans. Other important events that are often omitted from textbooks include the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the Iran-Contra scandal, and 9/11. Omissions like these allow textbook publishers to cherry-pick which parts of history they want students to learn about, and which parts they would prefer them to forget.
In addition to omissions, American history textbooks also contain numerous distortions and outright lies. These occur when facts are misrepresented or outright fabricated in order to support a particular point of view. For instance, many textbooks claim that the United States was founded on principles of freedom and democracy, when in reality it was founded on principles of white supremacy and racism. Other examples of distortions and lies include the claim that Christopher Columbus was a heroic explorer who brought civilization to the Americas, when in reality he was a genocidal maniac who slaughtered millions of indigenous people; and the claim that the United States won the Vietnam War, when in reality it was a resounding defeat for America.
The prevalence of historical revisionism in American textbooks has had a profound impact on the way Americans view their own history. Many Americans are simply not aware of the truth because they have only been exposed to distorted and inaccurate versions of events. As a result, they tend to believe harmful myths about America that are not based in reality. These myths include the idea that America is a force for good in the world, that it is a democracy where everyone is treated equally, and that its history is one of unmitigated progress. Not only are these myths untrue, but they serve to perpetuate dangerous ideologies like nationalism and racism.
4. The impact of historical revisionism on the American public
The prevalence of historical revisionism in American textbooks has had a profound impact on the way Americans view their own history. Many Americans are simply not aware of the truth because they have only been exposed to distorted and inaccurate versions of events. As a result, they tend to believe harmful myths about America that are not based in reality. These myths include the idea that America is a force for good in the world, that it is a democracy where everyone is treated equally, and that its history is one of unmitigated progress. Not only are these myths untrue, but they serve to perpetuate dangerous ideologies like nationalism and racism.
One of the most dangerous effects of historical revisionism is that it leads Americans to believe that their country is innately good and virtuous. This belief leads to a sense of entitlement and superiority that justifies all sorts of atrocities, both at home and abroad. For example, many Americans believe that their country has a right to intervene militarily in other countries because it is “spreading democracy.” This belief has led to countless unnecessary wars and countless innocent deaths. In reality, democracy is often used as a pretext for interventionism, and military intervention rarely leads to lasting democracy.
Another harmful effect of historical revisionism is that it leads Americans to believe that their country is a force for good in the world. This belief leads many people to support interventionist foreign policies without really understanding what they’re supporting. It also leads people to turn a blind eye to America’s own dark history.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that historical revisionism in American textbooks is a serious problem. It leads to widespread ignorance about America’s past, and it perpetuates harmful myths about America that are not only untrue, but dangerous. It is important for people to be aware of the lies and distortions that are contained in their history textbooks, and to understand the true nature of America’s history. Only then can they make informed decisions about the country’s future.