Chapter 1: Columbus, the
Indians and Human
Progress
Howard Zinn’s, A
People’s History of the
United States, starts off
with a story with the
journey of Christopher
Columbus with the
indigenous people of
the Carribbean.
Chapter 1: Columbus, the
Indians and Human Progress
Howard Zinn relays that this
perspective outlines the
behavior of the Europeans as
well as the Europeans
descendants for centuries to
come. The primary factor in the
take over or conquest for the
new world was idea of
exploitation of people, cultural
difference, and of resources.
The conquerors and the settlers
of Europe were very assertive
and would use many harsh
tactics on people whose
perspective did not supports
the ideals of mass punishment,
labor, or even conquest. (Zinn,
p.5)
Chapter Two:
Drawing the Color
Line
In Chapter Two,
African slave trade
was expanded by the
Europeans because
of their powers.
Chapter Two:
Drawing the Color
Line
The slaves didn’t just allow
supremacy over them
without a fight. By the
early 1700’s, there were
about 250 reports of
African slaves organizing
attacks against slave
authorities and slave
owners. (Zinn p.37) The
slave owning organization
reiterated the racial
differences among Africans
and Europeans in order to
engrave the idea of white
dominance and superiority.
Chapter 3: Persons of
Mean and Vile Condition
The English colonies had
been victim to the
economically
disadvantages people
from the British Isles and
other parts such as
England and Ireland by
the 1730’s.
Chapter 3: Persons of
Mean and Vile Condition
The rush of poor whites
aided to the increasing
tensions during the years
before the Revolution.
This influx of poor whites
led to growing tensions in
the years before the
Revolution. Poor whites
in the South could be
excluded from advancing
up in the social ladder
(Zinn, p.47).
Chapter Four:
Tyranny is Tyranny
The years before the
American Revolution
were raging for various
amounts of reasons.
The Colonies began to
grow rapidly, and
England was in
desperate need of
Americas’ tax revenue,
natural resources, as well
as land elites (Zinn, p.
60-62)
Chapter Four: Tyranny
is Tyranny
Conflict involved among
the lower class in the
colonies and the elites in
the colonies. This conflict
began to emerge the idea
for movement for
independence from Britain.
The Declaration of
Independence was written
in 1776. The Declaration of
Independence includes the
promotion of slavery.
Chapter 9: Slavery
without Submission,
Emancipation without
Freedom
In the 1850’s, slavery
became an issue and
really reached a boiling
point.
Chapter 9: Slavery
without Submission,
Emancipation without
Freedom
Harriet Tubman and
her Underground
Railroad discovery
system helped
southern slaves escape
to Canada and the
North (Zinn, p.171)
Grijalva is a Latin American and possess great concerns on
immigration reforms. He believes that while this country has
done a great deal to increase defense and security, the
government is not trying to help the undocumented people
who are in America. Congressman Grijalva speaks about
children, who with no fault of their own are now living in the
United States, have no possibility for economic prosperity
after high school because they are illegal. He mentions the
Dream Act which is the solution to helping implement these
children into the society, but also mentions how the
government is limiting the power of the Dream Act.
Felipe made jokes about growing up in poverty and how
it affected him, and although it was funny he was still
faced with discrimination. Instead of being called just
a comedian Felipe was called a Latino or
Mexican Comedian. Without all of this Felipe still
embrace his race and states, "I grew up in the Housing
projects of Pico Gardens, Aliso Village and Pico Aliso.
The only reason I don’t shy of being Mexican is
because look at me! I’m not a guero; I’m not light
skinned like you! It will be hard for me to say that I’m
not Mexican. I don’t have hold a tamal on my hand,
people know when they see me."
“Republicans hate Latinos,” was a statement that the Presidential
Medal of Freedom Winner, Dolores Huerta, said that not only
caused a lot of controversy, but the statement actually led to a
law being passed. Huerta made this comment when she was a
guest speaker at a classroom to discuss the walkouts that were
happening. The comment that Dolores Huerta made seemed like
it caused issues in Arizona. The reason was because they tried to
fire the teacher of the school and the principal. Following that
the state of Arizona legislature passed a law stating that speakers
have to be cleared before the can go to school. In response to
this action, Republicans quickly took action and immediately
tried to protect themselves by attacking Huerta's
statement. Many students covered their mouth with duck tape,
turned their backs to the Republican speaker, and refused to
answer any question in support to Dolores Huerta.
Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States: 14922001. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.