history writting

W R I T T E N E X E R C I S E # 2 W E T H I N K W E K N O W T H E R E V O L U T I O N A RY W A R . A F T E R A L L , T H E A M E R I C A N R E V O L U T I O N A N D

T H E W A R T H A T A C C O M PA N I E D I T N O T O N LY D E T E R M I N E D T H E N A T I O N W E W O U L D B E C O M E

B U T A L S O C O N T I N U E T O D E F I N E W H O W E A R E . T H E D E C L A R A T I O N O F I N D E P E N D E N C E , T H E

M I D N I G H T R I D E , V A L L E Y F O R G E — T H E W H O L E G L O R I O U S C H R O N I C L E O F T H E C O L O N I S T S ’

R E B E L L I O N A G A I N S T T Y R A N N Y I S I N T H E A M E R I C A N D N A . O F T E N I T I S T H E R E V O L U T I O N

T H A T I S A C H I L D ’ S F I R S T E N C O U N T E R W I T H H I S T O RY. Y E T M U C H O F W H A T W E K N O W I S N O T

E N T I R E L Y T R U E . P E R H A P S M O R E T H A N A N Y D E F I N I N G M O M E N T I N A M E R I C A N H I S T O RY, T H E

W A R O F I N D E P E N D E N C E I S S W A T H E D I N B E L I E F S N O T B O R N E O U T B Y T H E FA C T S .

~ J O H N F E R L I N G

We do think we know the Revolutionary War. We grow up hearing about it year

after year in class, and celebrate our foundings with fireworks every July 4 th

.

And yet, much of what we believe we know is not true. What is the traditional

story of this era? How does the picture of our “founding fathers” painted by

Zinn, Loewen, Brands and Lepore differ from the stories we often learn in

history courses? Indeed, after completing the assignments over the War for

Independence and the creation of the constitution, what do you believe this era

was truly about? What does Zinn argue the ultimate causes of the war and the

drafting of the constitution to be? Do you agree with him? Why or why not? And

what are the far-reaching consequences for us today of the continuing

mythologies surrounding this time and how they are canonized in the popular

mind?

“ H I S T O RY I S F I C T I O N , E XC E P T F O R T H E PA R T S T H A T I L I K E , W H I C H A R E , O F C O U R S E , T R U E . ”

~ J I M C O R D E R

U N I T E D S T A T E S H I S T O R Y

A M Y B E L L

DIRECTIONS

1) Your response to the question must be typed—twelve point font, double-spaced. In writing your answer, please do not exceed five pages.

2) In your response, try to mainly use only your assigned text(s), the instructor’s handouts, or class notes taken from discussions. You may use additional library or internet scholarly sources.

3) Your generalizations must be supported by direct citations from the text, class notes, or instructor’s handouts.

4) Citations should be made in MLA format. For class notes or presentations, you might use: (Discussion Board 1) or (class notes) or (Zinn 23).

Note: You must cite parenthetically throughout your narrative. Please follow this format. There should be many citations throughout your response taken from the sources noted above because assumptions and interpretations must be bolstered by citations.

The strength of your response is dependent largely upon your citation of the assigned sources.

5) Do not include a bibliography.

6) You may consult with your classmates in formulating an answer to this question. However, you must write your own, unique, independent answer to this question.

7) Date Due: Please see date on eCampus Calendar.

“ O N E I S A S T O N I S H E D I N T H E S T U D Y O F H I S T O RY A T T H E R E C U R R E N C E O F T H E I D E A T H A T

E V I L M U S T B E F O R G O T T E N , D I S T O R T E D , S K I M M E D OV E R . W E M U S T N O T R E M E M B E R T H A T

DA N I E L W E B S T E R G O T D R U N K B U T O N LY R E M E M B E R T H A T H E W A S A S P L E N D I D

C O N S T I T U T I O N A L L A W Y E R . W E M U S T F O R G E T T H A T G E O R G E W A H I N G T O N W A S A S L AV E

O W N E R … A N D S I M P L Y R E M E M B E R T H E T H I N G S W E R E G A R D A S C R E D I TA B L E A N D I N S P I R I N G .

T H E D I F F I C U L T Y, O F C O U R S E , W I T H T H I S P H I L O S O P H Y I S T H A T H I S T O RY L O S E S I T S VA L U E A S

A N I N C E N T I V E A N D E X A M P L E ; I T PA I N T S P E R F E C T M E N A N D N O B L E N A T I O N S , B U T I T D O E S

N O T T E L L T H E T R U T H . ”

~ W. E . B . D U B O I S ( B L A C K R E C O N S T R U C T I O N )