Questions About These Truths: A History of the United States

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Answered Questions (3)

Is this just updated bourgeois liberalism, hand-holding/wringing fretting about "liberties" and "human rights," or does it actually identify the villains of american history and take sides in a principled way? Phrased otherwise, does Lepore offer up any solutions?

E2c She's a historian, and as such, under no obligation to provide solutions for contemporary problems. I'm not certain what you're looking for here, but …moreShe's a historian, and as such, under no obligation to provide solutions for contemporary problems. I'm not certain what you're looking for here, but whatever it is, I'm not at all certain you'll find it in a book about the American past, even the relatively recent past.(less)

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Does anyone else question this statement, "In Norfolk, Virginia, four thousand slaves—who, living in a border state that was not part of the Confederacy, were not actually freed by the Emancipation Proclamation—paraded through the streets with fifes and drums, imitating the Sons of Liberty.". Virginia not part of the Confederacy? Not sure what page this is from because I'm reading the Kindle version.

Dan Graser Yes that is incorrectly stated and seems to just be an editing error, because if you change the word "state" to "city" you have a completely correct s…moreYes that is incorrectly stated and seems to just be an editing error, because if you change the word "state" to "city" you have a completely correct statement. Norfolk was excluded from the EP as it had been held by the Union starting in 1862 and the EP was issued at the start of 1863. The celebrations, (ironic though they were since the city was exempted from the action) in Norfolk at the time are well-documented including this (one among many) eyewitness account from the diaries of Isaac Handy:
http://clements.umich.edu/exhibits/on...(less)

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If I want to start learing about USA history, is it better to start with this book, or Howard Zinn's "People's history..." ?

Charles Bellavia It is better to start with this book. Zinn's book is controversial, Jill Lepore is a history professor at Harvard.…moreIt is better to start with this book. Zinn's book is controversial, Jill Lepore is a history professor at Harvard.(less)

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