Lies My Teacher Told Me Quiz

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Questions and Answers

When did our modern Thanksgiving traditions begin?

During the Civil War as a way to muster patriotism.

What must American History textbooks do to improve their texts about Native Americans?

Acknowledge our past, and at the least, provoke thoughts about our treatment of Natives.

How were the first humans to settle in North America and Native Americans portrayed in textbooks?

They were described as dim and primitive.

What is part of the problem with textbooks contrasting 'primitive' Americans and Europeans?

Textbooks make an apples to oranges comparison of urban Europe to a rural America. Signup and view all the answers

What caused Native American tribes to merge and governments to strengthen?

They felt threatened by white Europeans. Signup and view all the answers

What plan did Europeans have to weaken Native Americans?

They gave some nations guns, which increased warfare and turned some Native Americans against others. Signup and view all the answers

To understand cultural contact, what two terms should students know?

Syncretism and Cultural Imperialism. Signup and view all the answers

Which came first: Civilization or wilderness and why?

Civilization, because only a 'civilized' mind could define the world of Native Americans we call 'wilderness'. Signup and view all the answers

True or false: Native Americans had their ideas influence the construction of our democratic institutions.

True Signup and view all the answers

What do books flatly and disrespectfully describe about Native Americans?

Religion Signup and view all the answers

What do textbooks give readers no clue about from the Native American side?

The zone of contact Signup and view all the answers

What word is gradually being removed from our stereotypical description of Native Americans?

Savage Signup and view all the answers

What was the first and the most violent war involving Native Americans?

Pequot War = First war involving Native Americans King Philip's War = Most violent war involving Native Americans Signup and view all the answers

What was always causing conflicts among Europeans and Native Americans?

Land disputes Signup and view all the answers

Could Europeans and Native Americans coexist?

There is no definitive answer. Signup and view all the answers

What is the most pervasive theme in our textbooks?

The domination of Black America by white people. Signup and view all the answers

What happened with politics in the South and today?

The white South moved from a Democrat bastion to a GOP stronghold. Signup and view all the answers

Despite the evidence, before 1970, most textbooks said this did not lead to secession.

Slavery Signup and view all the answers

"Lies" began its rise to praise in which region?

West Coast Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following spread the word of the "Lies" books?

Independent bookstores Signup and view all the answers

What prompted the author James Loewen to write "Lies My Teacher Told Me"?

Loewen believed that Americans were interested in their past but were bored by their history classes. Signup and view all the answers

One reader said their high school history classes failed to attach relevance to:

Today Signup and view all the answers

One reader believed they disliked history, when in reality, they disliked:

A and B Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words has been used to describe "Lies"?

Uplifting Signup and view all the answers

Some people believed "LMTTM" took a biased, conservative stance.

False Signup and view all the answers

Is American history a record of Native incompetence or survival/perseverance?

Survival/perseverance Signup and view all the answers

India hates history for which of the following reasons?

Their history is filled with defeat. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following ethnicities enjoyed "Lies" the most?

African Americans Signup and view all the answers

Some people believed that LMTTM V1 described:

Past problems in school textbooks Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following topics did Loewen believe to have been improved in American textbooks?

Columbus and the Columbian exchange Signup and view all the answers

Which did "Lies" reach and move more: teachers or publishers?

Teachers Signup and view all the answers

When the kids on page XVI questioned the credibility of their history textbooks, why did the teacher call the situation a win-win?

They either enhance textbooks for the future or learn of the vacuum of textbook establishment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true?

We underestimate children. Signup and view all the answers

Which was not included in the list of things good citizens need to do?

Educate themselves about the dangers of their country Signup and view all the answers

Fill in the blank of this cycle: Teacher notices kids don't care about history--->Teacher settles for less and don't teach with energy--->_________

Teacher 'goes through the motions' of class and only looks at what is on the next test. Signup and view all the answers

College professors assume that high school history is:

Mistaught Signup and view all the answers

History reveals what?

How we came to our present society Signup and view all the answers

Not history but _____ turn students off.

American history courses Signup and view all the answers

Which describes history textbooks?

They are too large and too full with information. Signup and view all the answers

What invention surprised Loewen that textbooks are still growing?

The internet Signup and view all the answers

What feature of major textbooks raises red flags for students?

Instructions on how to read the textbooks Signup and view all the answers

The gimmicks in textbooks that are intended to visually appeal to students actually persuade who?

The school districts who purchase textbooks Signup and view all the answers

An abundance of factoids and main ideas lead to what?

Students and teachers cram all of these facts into their memory for a test and then forget them. Signup and view all the answers

Textbook authors should use what to illuminate the past, but never do?

The present Signup and view all the answers

What is one culprit of our bad and overly optimistic history textbooks?

Nationalism Signup and view all the answers

Explain the analogy of history as a pyramid.

At the base: primary materials. Historians then write secondary works based on the primary materials. IN THEORY, a few historians synthesize the secondary works into broader works—textbooks covering all phases of US history. Signup and view all the answers

What actually happens in the production of American history textbooks?

Textbooks mirror each other. In fact, some editors ask authors to base their work off of other textbooks. The secondary sources in the references are rarely reflected in the text. Signup and view all the answers

Students are ____ from raw materials.

Insulated Signup and view all the answers

Textbooks keep students in the dark about the nature of history. What is the nature of history and how do textbooks juxtapose it?

History is debate informed by evidence and reason. Textbooks teach that history facts are to be learned. Signup and view all the answers

What is heroification and why is it bad?

Real people are turned into pious and perfect creatures void of "conflicts, pain, credibility, or human interest." The issue is not who is selected to be in these textbooks, but how the heroes in them are portrayed. Heroification distorts the lives of these people, blocking us from thinking straight about them. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how this problem translates to Helen Keller.

All know that she was blind and deaf, befriended her teacher Anne Sullivan, and learned to read, write and talk. With the exception of a few details of her childhood, little is said of Helen Keller; most notably her entire adult life goes omitted from history courses. Signup and view all the answers

True or false: Keller viewed the world from a conservative lens.

False Signup and view all the answers

How did Keller become a socialist?

She felt bad for those who were disabled, and via research, learned that blindness was concentrated in the lower class. Signup and view all the answers

How did the public react to Keller's switch to socialism?

They were outraged, in part due to her praise of the USSR after the Russian Revolution. Signup and view all the answers

Loewen's college students did not know about what two antidemocratic policies President Wilson carried out?

His racial segregation of the federal government and his military intervention in foreign countries. Signup and view all the answers

Wilson intervened in what area?

Latin America. We landed troops in Mexico 11 times, Haiti, DR, Cuba, and Panama. He also kept forces in Nicaragua, using them to determine their president. This would help force a treaty the US wanted passed. Signup and view all the answers

What part did Wilson take in the Russian Revolution?

Wilson secretly aided the "White" side of the Russian Civil War. In attempt to overthrow the Russian Revolution, the US helped Czech and White Russians hold the front line. The line broke and US troops left. American textbooks, unlike Russian ones, rarely (if at all) mention this war. Signup and view all the answers

How do American textbooks cover the American interventions in Latin America?

They cover them more than the Russian Revolution, but authors try to cover up the episodes by offering justification for them. In an attempt at nationalism, textbooks falsely try to shine positive light on the incidents, which led to dictators in Latin America. Textbooks do mention the "Good Neighbor Policy", which was removed in Latin America by followers. Textbooks blame the invasions of the countries being invaded. Some books completely omit the entire Haitian invasion. Signup and view all the answers

What are Wilson's three core "ism's"?

Colonialism, racism, anticommunism Signup and view all the answers

How do textbooks address Wilson's racism?

Most ignore it; those who do skim by with only a sentence or two. This is part of heroification: disregarding a flaw in someone's character. No black person can consider him a hero; the textbooks view him from a white perspective. Signup and view all the answers

The racism from the Wilson administration encouraged what infamous group?

The Ku Klux Klan Signup and view all the answers

What should leaders learn from Wilson's racism and its effects?

A racist leadership will lead to a like-minded public. Most textbooks blame the people, not Wilson, however, for the racism. Signup and view all the answers

How is the Espionage Act and Sedition Act portrayed in textbooks?

A "dysfunctional congress" is blamed for the Espionage and Sedition Act, despite the fact that Wilson vetoed bills to remove those Acts. Signup and view all the answers

What name do students remember although he/she did nothing significant to our country?

Betsy Ross. It is not true that she created the US flag. Signup and view all the answers

What three subjects do textbooks avoid at all costs?

Sex, religion, and social class Signup and view all the answers

What rules do we have for our inspirations?

They must be uncontroversial and one-dimensional. Signup and view all the answers

Who is portrayed as America's first great hero?

Columbus Signup and view all the answers

What is the first mistake textbooks make about Columbus?

They underplay every explorer before him. Signup and view all the answers

What mistakes do authors make regarding European history?

They don't know that the Renaissance was syncretic. Signup and view all the answers

What was taught 50 years ago regarding European exploration?

It was said that Europeans wanted spices to disguise the bad taste of their meat, but Turks cut off trade. Signup and view all the answers

Why was blaming Turks an easy way out?

The excuse could be made that Islamic beliefs made people think irrationally or nastily. Signup and view all the answers

No textbooks mention what as a reason for European domination?

Arms and military technology Signup and view all the answers

What factor do textbooks neglect as a reason for Columbus traveling to America?

Greed and wealth, especially in the form of gold. Signup and view all the answers

What allowed the Spaniards to do whatever they wanted with the Native Americans they found?

Their consciences were satisfied when they offered Native Americans to convert to Christianity. Signup and view all the answers

Who is "us" and who are the textbooks written for and by?

Descendants of Europeans Signup and view all the answers

Cultures don't develop in a ___.

Vacuum Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason textbooks neglect previous journeys?

They prefer to avoid anything controversial. Signup and view all the answers

Those textbooks that mention the Vikings ___ their expeditions.

Minimize Signup and view all the answers

What group do all textbooks ignore?

West Africans Signup and view all the answers

The textbooks get the dates and ship names right regarding Columbus, but what about the rest?

The rest of Columbus' life is uncertain. Signup and view all the answers

True or false: Almost everyone in 1492 believed that the world was round.

True Signup and view all the answers

Columbus' expedition in 1492 was:

Immediately appreciated Signup and view all the answers

Exaggerations such as the weather, length, and crew threats were implemented in Columbus myths to...

Make the myths better and more enjoyable. Signup and view all the answers

Columbus introduced what phenomena that affected race relations and transformed the modern world and what were the effects?

He took land, wealth, and labor from indigenous people in the Western Hampshire. This led to these people's near extermination, and the transatlantic slave trade, which created a racial underclass. Signup and view all the answers

What book was used as an allegory for Columbus' expedition?

War of the Worlds. Signup and view all the answers

Aside from the brutal cruelty the Spanish took out on Native Americans, what else did the Spanish ruin?

The ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

What was a prominent type of slavery aside from labor?

The Spanish had many sex slaves. Signup and view all the answers

Transatlantic trade led to an increase in what?

Racism Signup and view all the answers

Most major crops came from where?

The Americas Signup and view all the answers

What should textbooks do to describe Columbus?

Explain his great achievements, but also teach his flaws. Signup and view all the answers

We can understand all European explorers better if we treat 1492 as what?

A meeting of three cultures (Africans would get involved soon to join the Americas and Europe). Signup and view all the answers

What must we keep in mind when evaluating historical figures?

We must view their beliefs from their time, not ours. Signup and view all the answers

What word misleads people about the first settlement of America?

Settle; the pilgrims in 1620 were not the first settlers. Signup and view all the answers

Why do textbooks offer little to no information about these earlier settlers?

The authors neglect these settlers possibly because most textbook authors are "WASPs" (White Anglo-Saxons Protestants). Signup and view all the answers

While the story is that the Pilgrims wanted religious freedom, what was a factor in the Pilgrims coming to America?

Diseases and plague—bad hygiene and high social density led to many diseases. Signup and view all the answers

What killed almost everyone in New England?

Disease. Signup and view all the answers

What was the important geopolitical event of the disease?

The English for their first 50 years in New England faced no challenge from Indians. Signup and view all the answers

What document do textbooks pay too much attention to?

The Mayflower Compact Signup and view all the answers

With the pious treatment of the Pilgrims, what archetype do textbooks introduce?

American exceptionalism— the notion that America is different from and better than any other country in the world. Signup and view all the answers

What do most books exclude about Squanto?

How he learned English. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Overview of "Lies My Teacher Told Me"

"Lies" gained popularity primarily in the Southwest region.
Independent bookstores played a pivotal role in spreading the "Lies" books.

Author's Motivation

James Loewen wrote "Lies My Teacher Told Me" because he believed Americans showed interest in their past but found history classes unengaging.

Reader Perspectives

High school history classes were deemed irrelevant to students' lives, particularly in connecting lessons to the present.
Many students realized they disliked history not due to the subject itself but because of illogic and inconsistency in teaching methods.

Textbook Critiques

"Lies" received a mix of reactions; some perceived a leftward bias, while others felt it failed to engage critically with historical truths.
American history is better characterized by survival and perseverance among Native Americans, contrary to notions of incompetence.

Historical Context in Education

Textbooks often misrepresent history by oversimplifying complex narratives and excluding significant figures and events.
College professors generally criticize high school history for being mis-taught, leading to a lack of critical engagement.

Role of Textbooks

Textbooks are criticized for being excessively large and densely packed with information, detracting from their relevance.
The internet's rise surprises authors that textbooks continue to expand instead of embracing digital resources.

The Nature of History

History is viewed as a debate shaped by evidence, whereas textbooks often present facts to be memorized rather than debated.
Heroification occurs when historical figures are depicted as flawless, omitting their complexities and faults.

Case Studies and Figures

Helen Keller, often portrayed simplistically, was actually a radical socialist whose complete life story is overlooked in textbooks.
President Woodrow Wilson's racist policies and interventions in Latin America have been largely ignored or misrepresented in educational materials.

Cultural Bias in Textbook Narratives

Textbooks fail to address important topics, such as sex, religion, and social class, while glorifying figures like Columbus, who is misrepresented as America's first hero.
European explorations prior to Columbus, including those of the Vikings, are minimized or overlooked entirely.

Misconceptions in American History

Textbooks emphasize certain documents like the Mayflower Compact excessively while ignoring the significant impact of diseases on Native American populations.
The narrative of American exceptionalism is promoted, often omitting the harsh realities of colonial expansion and disease.

Native American Representation

Early Native Americans are portrayed as primitive, but in reality, their societies were complex and influenced the development of democratic institutions.
Cultural contact led to syncretism and the cultural imperialism experienced during European invasions.

Historical Legacy

Recognition of the nuanced histories of Native Americans and the realities of early encounters with Europeans are crucial for a well-rounded understanding of American history.
The shaping of history through biased textbooks highlights the need for improved educational resources that acknowledge and provoke thought on these complex issues.### European Influence on Founding Fathers
Jefferson, Franklin, and Madison were influenced by various European thinkers and ideologies.

Misrepresentation of Native Americans

Texts often depict Native Americans (NAs) in a flat and disrespectful manner, particularly regarding their religion.
Textbooks lack insight into the "zone of contact," the interactions and exchanges between NAs and Europeans.

Change in Terminology

The term "savage" is progressively being excluded from descriptions of Native Americans, reflecting a shift in perspective.

Native American Wars

The Pequot War is recognized as the first significant conflict involving Native Americans.
King Philip's War is noted as the most violent conflict in Native American history.

Causes of Conflict

Land disputes consistently sparked tensions and conflicts between Europeans and Native Americans.

Coexistence Debate

The question of whether Europeans and Native Americans could coexist lacks a clear resolution.
Historical examples exist where coexistence was necessary, yet opposition from Europeans remained strong, hindering any possibility of successful integration.

Theme in Textbooks

A dominant theme in many educational materials is the narrative of white supremacy and the subjugation of Black Americans.

Political Shifts in the South

Historically, the Southern political landscape shifted from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican (GOP) bastion.
Recent political trends show the complexities of race relations; for instance, George W. Bush received a significantly higher percentage of white voters compared to Black voters in the 2004 election.

Slavery and Secession Narrative

Prior to 1970, many textbooks denied a connection between slavery and the Southern states' secession, despite considerable evidence to the contrary.

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Description

Test your knowledge with this quiz based on James Loewen's 'Lies My Teacher Told Me'. Explore important concepts and critical insights that challenge conventional historical narratives. Answer questions about the book's regional impact and its spread through various channels.