Book
Licensed
Unlicensed
Requires Authentication
Challenging the Myths of US History
Seven Short Essays on the Past and Present
-
Marc Egnal
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2025
About this book
A provocative, critical take on the traditional narrative of US history—and a call to reimagine America's past.
According to textbooks, the media, and politicians of all stripes, the story of the United States is one of steady progress toward a "more perfect union." In this narrative, ideals of liberty and freedom explain the Revolution and the Civil War and drove racial progress. Similarly, foreign policy, if marked by stumbles, has been largely well-intentioned.
In seven pithy and provocative essays, historian Marc Egnal challenges this account. He argues that wealthy individuals who were set on economic and territorial expansion shaped the American narrative. The seven essays look at progress in the writing of history, the Revolution, the Civil War, violence, Vietnam, the women's movement, and the rise of Donald Trump. Egnal does not ignore protests and lofty ideals. Instead, he shows they were subordinate to the plans of the expansionists and to the racism that so often accompanied their designs. Accessible and engaging, Challenging the Myths of US History urges readers to question long-held assumptions and to look at the American past from a very different perspective.
According to textbooks, the media, and politicians of all stripes, the story of the United States is one of steady progress toward a "more perfect union." In this narrative, ideals of liberty and freedom explain the Revolution and the Civil War and drove racial progress. Similarly, foreign policy, if marked by stumbles, has been largely well-intentioned.
In seven pithy and provocative essays, historian Marc Egnal challenges this account. He argues that wealthy individuals who were set on economic and territorial expansion shaped the American narrative. The seven essays look at progress in the writing of history, the Revolution, the Civil War, violence, Vietnam, the women's movement, and the rise of Donald Trump. Egnal does not ignore protests and lofty ideals. Instead, he shows they were subordinate to the plans of the expansionists and to the racism that so often accompanied their designs. Accessible and engaging, Challenging the Myths of US History urges readers to question long-held assumptions and to look at the American past from a very different perspective.
Author / Editor information
Contributor: Marc Egnal
Marc Egnal is Professor of History Emeritus at York University, Toronto, and author of Clash of Extremes: The Economic Origins of the Civil War.
Topics
|
Publicly Available Download PDF |
i |
|
Publicly Available Download PDF |
vii |
|
Publicly Available Download PDF |
ix |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
1 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
19 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
39 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
61 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
82 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
106 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
129 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
158 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
163 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
215 |
|
Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed |
219 |
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
September 12, 2025
eBook ISBN:
9780520402478
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
240
eBook ISBN:
9780520402478
