Was America populated by migration via the baring straights and Alaska, not by Europeans after Columbus? I am aware that we early European settlers practiced murder, robbery, and mass genocide of the native population, in order to take the gaff over.
Was America populated by migration via the baring straights and Alaska, not by Europeans after Columbus? I am aware that we early European settlers practiced murder, robbery, and mass genocide of the native population, in order to take the gaff over.
i'm really interested in native american history, however i cant seem to find any decent reads on it if at all.
I would like to expand this thread with reasons why the yanks are absolute tw@ts, but I don't want to threaten the number of posts on my favourite " Rumours, rumours" topic.
Big Rob, scalping was originally by the Europeans on the Native Americans, and the Native Americans matched like with like. Took this from Wiki:
Scalping is often associated with frontier warfare in North America, and was practiced by Native Americans, colonists, and frontiersmen across centuries of violent conflict. Some Mexican (e.g., Sonora and Chihuahua) and American territories (e.g., Arizona) paid bounties for enemy Native American scalps.[1] Contrary to popular belief, scalping was far from universal amongst Native Americans.[2]
I think the best thing ive seen on the states is - America - The History of the U.S. Starts with the first settlements and rebellion against Britain all through the gateway to the west, american civil war, henry ford, great depression, becoming a super power, the war on terror. It doesnt include Columbus and discovering a new world but then again it wasn't America at that point in time anyways.
USA is one of the most beautiful countries I've ever seen. Has everything, beaches, fields, snowy mountains, deserts and great cities. I can definitely see why so many Americans don't own passports.
For an alternate take on America's history, that uncovers a lot of the stuff that most Americans don't know, or only know the "official" version, I'd recommend Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States". Ironically, it's published by Harper Collins (i.e. Rupert Murdoch). Would dearly love to find an English version, as Chris Wood says (the Kent folk singer not the WBA striker) - most ENglish people have heard more about the Highland Clearances than the enclosures. While I'd be very critical of American foreign policy, their racial divisions, healthcare etc, as well as their ridiculous habit of calling US championships "World Series", I've nearly always found Americans as individuals to be alright. All societies have their good and bad, and their divisions, which is why there are so many different versions of history I suppose.
I would like to expand this thread with reasons why the yanks are absolute tw@ts, but I don't want to threaten the number of posts on my favourite " Rumours, rumours" topic.
I can understand why, in your daily encounters with Americans, you would have difficulty.
Did you know that the red stripes on the American flag was originally taken off the St Georges Cross.
Did you know that Hawaii is the only US state where the Union Flag is incorporated into their own flag? This was because Hawaii was once under British influence.
Coincidentally, Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. No, I won't go there...
Do these histories explain when most of the population became absolute tw@ts?
I do enjoy a nice casual bit of xenophobia on CL now and again, thanks!
Careful. Pointiing our such uncomfotable truths often leads to personal abuse. : - (
Back on topic Studs Terkel's American Century (or anything by him) give a broader insight into the US.
Hugh Brogan is also good.
Dee Browns' Bury my head at Wounded Knee is a must read.
Ken Burns has done some award winning TV series. The Civil war is my favorite. PBS shows them ocer here if you have that channel.
An American friend recently lent me the Ken Burns History of the Civil War. It is absolutely riveting - I can't recommend it enough. The Civil War defined the US as much as the War of Independence did and many of the scars of the Civil War are still present to this day. We see the US as a homogenous country (the same way they see the UK, I suppose), but the History of the Civil War shows just how divided they were and, to some extent, still are.
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now you're talking
There's over 900 episodes of Letter from America that can be heard on iPlayer. I believe they aim to put all of them on there:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00f6hbp/episodes/player
A new biography of Geronimo has just come out and is being reviewed very well.
Took this from Wiki:
Scalping is often associated with frontier warfare in North America, and was practiced by Native Americans, colonists, and frontiersmen across centuries of violent conflict. Some Mexican (e.g., Sonora and Chihuahua) and American territories (e.g., Arizona) paid bounties for enemy Native American scalps.[1] Contrary to popular belief, scalping was far from universal amongst Native Americans.[2]
Check it out if your interested.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America:_The_Story_of_Us
While I'd be very critical of American foreign policy, their racial divisions, healthcare etc, as well as their ridiculous habit of calling US championships "World Series", I've nearly always found Americans as individuals to be alright. All societies have their good and bad, and their divisions, which is why there are so many different versions of history I suppose.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449190.A_People_s_History_of_England
Coincidentally, Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. No, I won't go there...