US HistoryUS HistoryGeneral HistoriographyGeneral Historiography

Historiography – the study of the study of HistoryHistoriography – the study of the study of History

Interpret this quote: Interpret this quote: “Every true history is contemporary history.” “Every true history is contemporary history.” Benedetto CroceBenedetto Croce

PuritansPuritans 1717thth century century Focus on God, God’s actions/concerns, Focus on God, God’s actions/concerns,

religious justification of New England religious justification of New England settlementssettlements

PatriciansPatricians

1818thth-19-19thth c c George Bancroft - George Bancroft - History of the United StatesHistory of the United States Enlightenment, secular over religious…but God Enlightenment, secular over religious…but God

favors American systems/institutionsfavors American systems/institutions History is about progression of mankind’s growing History is about progression of mankind’s growing

libertiesliberties US has mission to spread liberty/democracyUS has mission to spread liberty/democracy

ProfessionalProfessional

Gen 1 – Mid to late 19Gen 1 – Mid to late 19thth c c Frederick Jackson Turner – “The Significance of Frederick Jackson Turner – “The Significance of

the Frontier in American History”the Frontier in American History” Frontier defines America(ns)Frontier defines America(ns) Ours is a history of successive crossing of Ours is a history of successive crossing of

frontiers and breaking of barriersfrontiers and breaking of barriers Adaptation to frontier defines our values – Adaptation to frontier defines our values –

rugged individualism, materialism, pragmatism, rugged individualism, materialism, pragmatism, egalitarianismegalitarianism

ProgressivesProgressives

Late 19Late 19thth c – WWII c – WWII Charles Beard – Charles Beard – An Economic An Economic

Interpretation of the ConstitutionInterpretation of the Constitution Reform minded liberal interp of pastReform minded liberal interp of past History is a series of conflicts – rich v. History is a series of conflicts – rich v.

poor, East v. West, aristocracy v. poor, East v. West, aristocracy v. democracydemocracy

History is a struggle of people/groups to History is a struggle of people/groups to maintain democracymaintain democracy

NeoconservativeNeoconservative

Post WWII – VietnamPost WWII – Vietnam Daniel Boorstin - Daniel Boorstin - The Genius of American The Genius of American

PoliticsPolitics Am hist is about consensusAm hist is about consensus Our institutions, principles, character, middle Our institutions, principles, character, middle

class values bond usclass values bond us Private property, limited gov’t, natural rights of Private property, limited gov’t, natural rights of

man, natural lawman, natural law Any Conservative v. Liberal fight in America is Any Conservative v. Liberal fight in America is

silly – Americans were “born free”silly – Americans were “born free”

New LeftNew Left

1960s-70s1960s-70s Howard Zinn – Howard Zinn – A People’s History A People’s History

of the United Statesof the United States Attempts “bottom up” historyAttempts “bottom up” history Focus on social and economic conflict rather Focus on social and economic conflict rather

than political aspects (no more “dead white than political aspects (no more “dead white guys”)guys”)

Critical of conservative approach for being too Critical of conservative approach for being too narrow – should look at the marginalized, narrow – should look at the marginalized, disenfranchised, etc.disenfranchised, etc.

The makers of the Constitution represented the solid, The makers of the Constitution represented the solid, conservative, commercial, and financial interests of the conservative, commercial, and financial interests of the country – not the interests which denounced and country – not the interests which denounced and proscribed judges in Rhode Island, New Jersey and proscribed judges in Rhode Island, New Jersey and North Carolina, and stoned their houses in New York. North Carolina, and stoned their houses in New York. The conservative interests, made desperate by the The conservative interests, made desperate by the imbecilities of the Confederation and harried by the state imbecilities of the Confederation and harried by the state legislatures, roused themselves from the lethargy, drew legislatures, roused themselves from the lethargy, drew together in a mighty effort to establish a gov’t that would together in a mighty effort to establish a gov’t that would be strong enough to pay the national debt, regulate be strong enough to pay the national debt, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, provide for the national interstate and foreign commerce, provide for the national defense , prevent fluctuations in the currency created by defense , prevent fluctuations in the currency created by paper emissions, and control the propensities of paper emissions, and control the propensities of legislative majorities to attack private rights….The legislative majorities to attack private rights….The radicals, however, like Patrick Henry, Jefferson, and radicals, however, like Patrick Henry, Jefferson, and Samuel Adams, were conspicuous by their absence from Samuel Adams, were conspicuous by their absence from the Convention.the Convention.

Beard, Beard, Econ Interp of ConstEcon Interp of Const

The Founding Fathers found that by The Founding Fathers found that by creating a nation, symbol, a legal entity creating a nation, symbol, a legal entity called the United States, they could take called the United States, they could take over land, profits, and political power from over land, profits, and political power from favorites of the British Empire.favorites of the British Empire.

Zinn, Zinn, A People’s History A People’s History

We have not conceived American history We have not conceived American history to be primarily political or economic, or as to be primarily political or economic, or as a series of problems, but as the story of a series of problems, but as the story of the evolution of a free society.the evolution of a free society.

Nevins and Commager, Nevins and Commager, The History of the The History of the United StatesUnited States

Now the peculiarity of American institutions is Now the peculiarity of American institutions is the fact that they have been compelled to adapt the fact that they have been compelled to adapt themselves to the changes of an expanding themselves to the changes of an expanding people – to the changes involved in crossing a people – to the changes involved in crossing a continent, in winning a wilderness, and in continent, in winning a wilderness, and in developing at each area of this progress out of developing at each area of this progress out of primitive economic and political conditions of the primitive economic and political conditions of the frontier into the complexity of city life.frontier into the complexity of city life.

Frederick Jackson Turner, “The Significance of Frederick Jackson Turner, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”the Frontier in American History”

The history of the American Revolution is in part The history of the American Revolution is in part a history of the years of action following a history of the years of action following Lexington, but much more of it is the history of Lexington, but much more of it is the history of the Americans’ search for principles. That the Americans’ search for principles. That search brought them to Lexington and to war in search brought them to Lexington and to war in 1775, but it did not end there. Throughout the 1775, but it did not end there. Throughout the years of fighting, it continued and finally years of fighting, it continued and finally culminated in the adoption of the federal culminated in the adoption of the federal Constitution. It was a noble search, a daring Constitution. It was a noble search, a daring search, and by almost any standards, a search, and by almost any standards, a successful search.successful search.

Edmund Morgan, Edmund Morgan, The Birth of the RepublicThe Birth of the Republic