Howard Zinn’s brief introduction starts by commending the publishers and chief adapter, Rebecca Stefoff, for creating this version of his acclaimed A People’s History of the United States. He then takes up some questions about presenting a “radically different” and “critical” history to young readers (ix). Zinn concludes, “It seems […] wrong to treat young readers as if they are not mature enough to look at their nation’s policies honestly. Yes, it’s a matter of being honest” (x). He wants young readers to learn how to be critical and informed by even unpleasant truths. He explains that the Declaration of Independence itself—a document fundamental to American political and social philosophy—“makes it clear that governments are not holy, not beyond criticism” (xi).

Zinn mentions just a few of the popular American “heroes” that he analyzes in the text: Columbus (who Zinn notes was extremely violent), Andrew Jackson (who Zinn notes forcibly removed Native people from their homelands), and Theodore Roosevelt (who paved the way for American imperialism). In addition, the author promises to illuminate people he sees as underappreciated historical figures because of how they challenged the status quo and resisted oppression.

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