America Past and Present, Volume I (Chapters 1-16) (7th Edition)

The intent was good. The result is terrible. It was the authors' intent to write a broader history of America that encompasses the many cultures and historical events that led to the founding of our country, rather than merely presenting the white/European history that we're accustomed to. A good deal of historical background is given regarding African and native American tribes and cultures. That alone would have been wonderful, not to mention needed. But, the authors spend so much energy injecting their opinions into the text (rather than the opinions of the people at the time), that it is very difficult to sift through and learn the basic events that one must learn for a history class. Any civilized person knows that inexcuseable events took place in our nation's history (i.e. slavery, forcibly taking land fron Native Americans, etc, etc.). I don't know anyone today that would defend these actions, yet throughout the text, we basically beaten over the head with how evil the white Europeans/colonists were.

A real history book, in a free society, should present all the facts possible and allow the readers to come to the rational conclusion themselves. As an example, this book even picks sides on a war between Spain and England. Spain "unfortunately" failed at its attempt to invade and Catholicize England. I don't even know how they came up with this stuff, or how they have the courage to present it as unbiased. I'm embarrassed that we have allowed this sort of material to filter into our schools and be taught as truth.

If you have any way around it, do not buy this book.


Lies, Lies and more lies....   September 8, 2005
La Pana (USA)
1 out of 7 found this review helpful

I bought this book because I need it for my His. class. From chap. # 1, I wanted to drop the class JUST BECAUSE THIS TBOOK.

Chapter 1: Referring to slaves and Native Americans "Within their own families and COMMUNITIES they made choices..."
My questions are
How many Slaves had choices??? What community of slaves?? Welcome to the Black Slave Community. The book is a joke

Slaves were not human for their owners. They were an expensive item. If the owner wanted to sell a Black baby, they were able to do it because the baby was the owner's property. The parents of this baby didn't have the "CHOICE" to say THIS IS MY CHILD. HE/SHE DOESN'T BELONGS TO YOU, SO YOU CAN NOT SELL HER/HIM. I think that this book and the authors do not respect Native Americans, African Americans and the history.

Also, the trade of Europeans with Native Americans . The book reads, "that the Indian was 'making sport of us Europeans.'" We, the people from America (the whole continent), lost everything we had in our trades. We didn't know the value of our gold, and we traded it for glass beads. So, What sport are we talking here? How this author want us to believe that we, people from America, fooled the Europeans?