why do american history textbooks gloss overthe recent past?
486294
Every nations textbooks gloss over bad events in their past...it's, well, patriotic!!!  lol
372019
Yes, All countrys have a history.  Use an encyclopedia.
1076865
The purpose for us to study history is to learn from past mistakes and understand how our world came to be what it is. However, its funny to see that the thing we learn from history is that we don't learn at all. History will always repeat itself. However, the repitition won't be exact and sometimes not as severe. Looking at our situation,  its more than likely that we'll relive some aspects of history, and depending on the situation, the outcome may or may not be positive.
887166
Cuz the teachers are boring! But I agree with Holly T that history is fascinating to learn cuz it will show you the fact of life. Why things happened this way and that way. Further more history does make and shape recent the world.
437700
I too would be appalled if an American history professor knew nothing about the SDS, the Weather Underground, and so forth.  This stuff is extremely basic American history.\n\nI'd love to know where you go to college, too, so that I can look up the areas of specialization of your professors to find out what they've published.  Right now, I'm wondering why they even have jobs.
1034261
Bias? I was told in college courses NOT to use Wikipedia as a source because the info is not always creditable or accurate. Never been there, now I see it's at the bottom of this page! Could it be a part of Yahoo? I'll be back!!!!  \nYes, I checked out half a dozen terms of fact, and somebody is definatly out of their mind.\nSome pretty twisted "facts" of history there!\n\nI think we should complain to yahoo directly!!\nMaybe the higher ups have better educations!!!!\nThese jokers are contradicting themselves, and writing their own versions of history! BIAS!!!
1001977
Mostly old news from the past...from newspapers, facts, etc.
253862
CHECK YOUR "HISTORY".  NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
445688
We the people...\n\nI think that's right... 8th grade history was a long time ago...
1067954
Good point.\n\nWhat is taught or in text books needs to be corrected and all the fallacies removed.\n\nUnfortunately the text books have a 15 year lag behind contemporary science.
206296
You have it backwards, or at least the author of the book does.\n\nGod created man, then some men decided to close their eyes and try to rewrite history.
842987
Is this a history question?
1041632
The perspective of what the recurring themes in US history might be differ, depending on where you are.   For example, Canadians would consider the War of 1812 one of an attempted invasion that was unsuccessful.\n\nThemes related to humanitarian intentions are present in US history as the US is usually generous in that regard.  There also seems to be a need to have the rest of the world move toward an American ideal, rather than continue in their own way.  The theme of the cultural assimilation is present in US history.\n\nSo the themes are quite diverse, and as with any nation, some are admirable and some are not.
443091
well you could try opening that history book that is apparently gathering dust upon your desk.  Or, that fails, instead of wanting the cyberworld to do your homework for you, you could simply google the question, and see what pops up.
1003424
yep....considering that way back in the day, things were documented like they are now...I'd say people are making things up as they go when it comes to certain things in history.
550289
Some people says it's important to study history because it repeats itself.  Some people say it doesn't exactly repeat, but it rhymes.  In any case, it's important to understand what has gone on so you can understand what is happening.  \n\nFor example:\n\n1)  Our founding fathers studied history and knew what caused great empires and dynasties to fail.  They came up with the three branches of government that made our constitution really stable with our checks and balances.  \n\n2)  The world was horrified by the ethnic killing of the holocaust during Nazi Germany.  It took some time and effort, but the UN finally stepped in to stop the ethnic killing in Bosnia, Kosovo, and is working on Sudan.\n\nHere are some issues to think about as you ponder about the future...\n\nRemember the Crusades?  Those were the deadly campaigns between the Christians and Muslims.  Is that history repeating itself?\n\nWhat caused the Athenian Empire to crumble?  Was it the exceedingly expensive and protracted war against Sparta?  Did that have anything to do with Al Quaeda wanting to bankrupt the US by guerilla warfare?
98469
What period of time are we talking about here?\nWith over 200 years of American history, can you narrow it down?