My review of "A Patriot's History of the United States"

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | 11 June 2005 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Jeff Head's Review of "A Patriot's History of the United States"

Larry Schweikart (Freeper LS) and Michael Allen have written a history of the United States that is tremendously broad in scope, and monumental in its approach in our modern times. It begins with Christopher Columbus and proceeds through to current events, including 9-11 and its aftermath, the War on Terror and the fights in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as the re-election of George W. Bush.. The work covers over 510 years of history in 825 pages. There are over 70 pages of footnotes at the end of the book, detailing critical historical conditions and facts from each of the twenty-two chapters.

The best introduction to a review of this work that I could give regarding its approach the authors took, is from the mouths of the authors themselves in their own introduction:

"Is America's past a tale of racism, sexism, and bigotry? Is it the story of the conquest and rape of a continent? Is U.S. history the story of white slave owners who perverted the electoral process for their own interests? Did America start with Columbus's killing all the Indians, leap to Jim Crow laws and Rockefeller crushing the workers , then finally save itself with Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal? The answers, of course, are no, no, no, and NO.

"One might never know this, however, by looking at almost any mainstream U.S. history textbook. Having taught American history in one form or another for close to sixty years between us, we are aware that, unfortunately, many students are berated with tales of the Founders as self-interested politicians and slave-holders, of the icons of American industry as robber-barons, oppressors, and of every American foreign policy initiative as imperialistic and insensitive. At least Howard Zinn's, A People's History of the United States, honestly represents its Marxist biases in the title!

"What is most amazing and refreshing is that the past usually speaks for itself. The evidence is their for telling the great story of the American past honestly-with flaws, absolutely; with shortcomings, most definitely. But we think that an honest evaluation of the history of the United States must begin and end with the recognition that, compared to any other nation, America's past is a bright and shining light. America was, and is, the city on a hill, the fountain of hope, the beacon of liberty. We utterly reject "My country right or wrong"- what scholar wouldn't? But in the last thirty years, academics have taken an equally destructive approach, "My country always wrong!" We reject that too.

"Instead, we remain convinced that if the story of America's past is told fairly, the results cannot be anything but a deepened patriotism, a sense of awe at the obstacles overcome, the passion invested, the blood and tears spilled, and the nation that was built."

The authors then proceed to do just that, to show that despite the errors, mistakes, and shortcomings along the way, the telling of American history ends up being a story of unequaled faith, character, virtue, and moral clarity. They demonstrate how through the faith and goodness of most of the principle characters involved, as well as the majority of the settlers, colonists, and then citizens, a liberty was allowed to develop that was based on moral constraint and founded in Christian heritage. That liberty then allowed America to become the envy of the world. Not due to arrogance, selfishness or shortsightedness, though there was some of that at times, but due to the intrinsic foundational moral principles that those people based their lives upon which produced and then maintained that freedom and that prosperity.

It is a marvelous work that I cannot recommend highly enough. Every student of American history, every parent wanting their child to understand what truly has made this nation great, every home schooling parent should place this book in their library and make it readily available to their children. Better yet, they should sit down and read it together with them.

Now, you may find that because of the scope of the work that there are some particular details which you are personally aware of in history that do not get the attention you would prefer. I found this so with the phenomenal story of George Rogers Clark, older brother to the great explorer, William Clark of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition. George Rogers Clark, with a small band of less than 200 soldiers, during the Revolutionary War defeated and brought under American control, the entirety of the Northwest Territory at the time. A land mass that doubled the size of the United States. He did it through stratagem and through miraculous means that are a marvel to this day...and he did it without losing a man in combat. Because of his exploits, entire Indian nations at the time, who otherwise could have posed significant issue to the western expansion of America, and to the defeat of the British in the west, sued for peace with this great man, his very small band of soldiers, and the fledgling nation they represented. That his story was not covered was a disappointment to me because I had anticipated it. But, on the other hand, it gave me the opportunity to teach my youngest son about that particular aspect of the revolutionary war as we read the magnificent coverage of other more notable aspects of the revolution, and, which I might add, were in fact more germane to the ultimate victory over the British.

In a work of this scope, to pay that much attention to every detail would result in a work of ten or twelve volumes, which was not the author's aim. Through not becoming distracted, they accomplish their aim, as stated in the introduction, marvelously throughout the book, paying great heed to the pivotal points in history and the underlying political, cultural, and moral issues all along the way that contributed to them.

For remaining true to this, and remaining true to the actual conditions and intent of those of whom they write, the authors deserve our most sincere congratulations and their own scholarly notoriety. For having the courage and clarity to show how those events and those people used their faith, their determination, and their integrity and commitment to set the foundation for, craft, build, and then maintain and defend American liberty (including a true rendition of things like the Vietnam War and why it turned out the way it did) and its accompanying life style and prosperity, the authors deserve our undying respect and gratitude.

[listenhillary]

Chapter on FDR was my favorite. Lays it out. While he did what he could to alleviate the situation as he best knew how, he did irreparable damage to our freedoms and was a power grubbing socialist.

[traviskicks]

By David McCullough?
---

That's the ticket!

My favorite part is when Adams went to Paris as Ambassador and lived, without complaining, on a pitance budget. He dressed plainly, surrounded by the snobbery and gallantry of European Aristocracy. Perhaps more interesting then he, his wife Abagail, is the epitomy of the American women; strong willed, just as capable and fiery as her husband, she was appalled at the fact they had to have servants in Paris and her servants were unbelieving in the way she treated them. They couldn't believe an abassadors wife would sew and knit every evening.

Adams died at 80 in the same house he bought as a lawyer way back when he represented the british soldiers who fired on Americans. He and jefferson died on july 4th, the last of the founding fathers generation.

Ueriah, if I had mine I'd lend it to you, but i think ive already lent it out. :)

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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The 1st Days of the Fight for Freedom in Vietnam:

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
(Photos)

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[SLB]

That is a tremndous link and I will certainly make good use of it.

Just paging through it was an educational experience. I have already forwarded it to our home school support group mailing list.

[paleolibertarian]

The coverage on the Civil War is incredibly biased, reductionist, replete with factual errors and ideological obfuscation. For example, it states no Southern States had referendums before secession-- this is blatantly untrue. Then it says, the war was all about slavery. Sheesh... Lincoln is said to dislike Sherman because Sherman was a racist... and what was Lincoln?

[Boazo]

Going to get it, thanks

[chickenlips]

Sounds like a good one to read.

Right now I'm reading Paul Johnson's "A History of the American People" and loving it. I also think Johnson's book "Modern Times" is one of the best history books written on the 20th century. I need to get the latest edition which has the 1990's in it.

[LS]

Muchas, muchas gracias senor (getting ready for the next decade :). And if you will send me your address, privately, I'll send you a 4th printing which has all (well, almost all) of the errors out of it.

There were many---some insignificant, some obvious---and we caught, with the help of careful readers, all of them I think. But the fact that we had such tremendous success meant that by the time we sent the "alerts" back to the editor, the next printing . . . and the next . . . and the NEXT were already out!! We went into four printings in five months!

At any rate, thanks to all Freepers who have supported this book so generously, and I look forward to meeting the Arizona Freepers in Chandler (outside of PHX) on July 31 for the booksigning at Barnes and Noble, 2:00.

[LS]

Just so happens!!!! We got a bid this week from an audio publisher, and we WILL be doing audio. I can't tell you more yet, but ping me in two weeks, and I can give you all the details. If I have any say about it, I want Bruce Gannon, who is Phyllis Schlafly's "voice over" and studio announcer, to do it. He read the intro to PHUSA and gave it to us, free, and this WILL BE UP ON THE WEBSITE, www.patriotshistoryusa.com within a week.

[LS]

Thank you!

And for sections of the original manuscript that were cut---although NOT a lot on Jeff's beloved Lewis and Clark---we have a website with maps, teaching aids, and even an audio version of the intro coming: www.patriotshistoryusa.com.

LS

[So Cal Rocket]

That's great Larry... just make sure an unabridged version is available.

Sign me up for the first copy!

[LS]

Yep! Just got a bid this week from an audio publisher. Ping me in two weeks and I can give you all the details. I hope to get Bruce Gannon, who does Phyllis Schlafly's voice overs and annoucements to do the narration.

[Txsleuth]

I hope your comment in the first sentence of your reply to Jeff Head is wrong in it's prognostication!!!

BTW, I am a history fan---love books about real history!!

I will be ordering your book...but, I won't order a book from you written in Spanish!! LOL

[nicollo]

**patriot's history bump**

(before Charles Beard one didn't need the prefix)

[LS]

Ah, come on. We se habla.

[Lancey Howard]

BUMP!!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for pinging me to your review and the book!

[ForGod'sSake]

Wow, I feel like I've been under a rock. First I've heard of what sounds like a masterful rendering of our history.

An aside; have you or anyone else here ever tried to give books to local libraries? Or even the local schools' libraries? Sounds like this would be a terrific addition, especially for school age kids who are exposed to so little of what was/is good about America.

FGS

[Jeff Head]

You are very welcome my friend...it is well deserved.

BTW, this same review is now up on Amazon, HERE on your book's page.

I hope ot comes up on Barnes and Noble soon.

[Jeff Head]

Amen...FDR thought far too highly of Uncle Joe Stalin and it showed. While he led us through the war, before and even during it, his policies were not rooted in American ideals or, IMHO, in the Constitution. He was an abject socialists and really made little secret of it.