What are events in U.S. history that are taught incorrectly? For example, the War of 1812 is rarely brought up as a coun (Mexico, 1800s)

[Venesa1]

There are a number of events in U.S. history that are taught incorrectly. For example, the War of 1812 is rarely brought up as a counter-example to the statement "the U.S. has never been invaded" even though we were unable to stop the British invasion. Another example is the American Revolution, which is often portrayed as a straightforward fight for independence when in reality it was a much more complex conflict with a number of different factions vying for control.

[SunGrins]

Being taught at what level?

[Always Needmore]

I've always been of the impression that manifest destiny, complete with all the eurocentric righteousness was an injustice to the truth.

And, I'm certain the following will be unpopular, but I believe the insistence upon regarding the civil war as being exclusively a human rights issue is somewhat of a "build to suit" alibi.

[wizrap]

I live in Florida and watched a documentary on the state’s history, especially the establishment of St. Augustine. St. Augustine was founded by the Spanish military in 1565 while Jamestown in Virginia was founded by the British in 1607. So ironically, the US actually got it’s start as a Spanish colony (and now Hispanics are among the fastest growing group of residents here in the US—maybe we are returning to our roots?)

To me, it’s a case of emphasizing the history of the US from a northern, English perspective, rather than a southern, Spanish one.

[SunGrins]

Originally Posted by wizrap

I live in Florida and watched a documentary on the state’s history, especially the establishment of St. Augustine. St. Augustine was founded by the Spanish military in 1565 while Jamestown in Virginia was founded by the British in 1607. So ironically, the US actually got it’s start as a Spanish colony (and now Hispanics are among the fastest growing group of residents here in the US—maybe we are returning to our roots?)

To me, it’s a case of emphasizing the history of the US from a northern, English perspective, rather than a southern, Spanish one.

History is too often taught without context -- maybe universally in high school classes. I whole-heartedly agree that the Spanish origin story is well hidden under the rug. Much of what happened before 1607 and 1620 in North America, not just by the Spanish, had a bearing on the settlement and progress of colonization. St. John's in Canada, dating to 1497, appears on maps by 1519 and was an operating multinational harbor in its early years serving fishing boats from Europe. The English didn't claim the place until 1583 and it took almost 30 years to establish their control. So, the "fishing frontier" is what actually brought first Europeans to North America. Cortez did not embark on the conquest of Mexico until 1519. Columbus was still in the West Indies exploring and established La Isabela in 1493, only 4 years earlier than St. John's. Technically, St. John's is on an island (Newfoundland) and not the mainland. St. Augustine is claimed to be the first permanent settlement on the continent (1587) but there were already Spanish settlements or outposts in Mexico beginning with the conquest by Cortes. Vera Cruz dates to 1519. San Juan de los Caballeros was established as the first capital of New Mexico in 1598 and Santa Fe was founded in 1607 as the seat of government and serves as the oldest state capital in the US.

The Indian population was decimated by European diseases in the early years. Where and when did that begin? Was it the herd of pigs brought by De Soto in 1541 that introduced new diseases across the American south? Coronado also had herds of livestock and maybe 2000 Mejican/Zacatecas Indians on his expedition the same year. Was it started in St. John's by fishermen? Did Columbus unwittingly introduce diseases? By 1600 the population numbers along the coasts were maybe only half (or less) of what it had been 100 years earlier making European settlements easier to establish.

The American political, social, linguistic, and legal culture has roots in English common law and social culture. That is why there is a focus on English roots. But the Dutch had a huge role in what became New York and New Jersey. The French were big players in the Mississippi and Ohio valleys and in Canada. Later the French lands in the mid-continent became Spanish.

The big thing that is missing in History classes is context. History is taught as a series of stand-alone events, which it never is. While De Soto and Coronado were exploring the future US, Cabrillo was exploring along the coast of California. Martin Luther and John Calvin were actively challenging the Catholic Church in Europe. The Reformation created the events that led the Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock in 1620 and the Huguenot diaspora from France into parts of colonial America. That, in turn, produced the 1st and 3rd amendments to the constitution relating to religious freedom and housing troops in private homes (a common French practice against the Huguenots). The Spanish Inquisition was brought to the Americas along with Spanish settlement. There were Morisco, Converso and crypto-Jews included in the early Spanish settlers in New Mexico and New Spain especially after 1580, who fell under the occasional scrutiny of the Inquisition. In 1542, Dominican friar Bartolomé de las Casas had already written A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies documenting the horrific treatment and wholesale slaughter of the Indian populations of the Caribbean islands. The destruction of the native workforce provided the motivation for the early Portuguese monopoly on the slave trade with African slaves brought directly to the island of Hispaniola beginning around 1525. The Slave Trade was a major factor in the economy and development of the Americas until the mid 1800s. Everything is connected but we miss that.

[arr430]

The Americanization of Hawaii was so patently awful, it doesn't get taught at all, simply assumed "It's in our ocean, so why not?", and to this day. Japanese-Hawaiians out-census European-Hawaiians living in the islands. The US didn't even want Hawaii, but Dole begged Washington to save his for-profit dictatorship by eliminating duties...

And then the Philippines. where the population was reduced by 10% in two years while Americans were "saving" them from Spanish rule.

[treemoni]

LOLzar.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

They teach about the war of 1812 in school? I'd bet you could walk down the street or go to the mall and ask and no young person fresh out of school would know what you are talking about.

[jmking]

The Brits sailed up the Potomac, flipped the Royal bird at Mount Vernon in Virginia to its left, then soon after on its right puny Fort Washington in Maryland and proceeded to torch the White House.

[moguldreamer]

Originally Posted by SunGrins

The big thing that is missing in History classes is context. History is taught as a series of stand-alone events, which it never is. While De Soto and Coronado were exploring the future US, Cabrillo was exploring along the coast of California.

Is your point that Cabrillo's explorations are not taught?

Fun fact: In 1542, Cabrillo rounded the tip of Long Beach to see what is now Los Angeles -- and yes, in 1542, Cabrillo was the first Westerner to DISCOVER SMOG. The indigenous people of LA called it "Valley of the Smokes." On October 8, Cabrillo came to San Pedro Bay (the site of the modern Port of LA), which he named "Baya de los Fumos" (English: Smoke Bay).