Zinn Reading

Howard Zinn: A People’s History of the United States

Reading: Columbus, the Indian, and Human Progress

Reading Guide
This reading guide is optional and is designed to help you with the Zinn reading and our class discussion.
1. How do the Indians treat Columbus when the Europeans arrive? Be specific.

2. What does Columbus think of the Indians? Be specific. How did Columbus exploit the Native Americans? Why did Columbus do this?

3. In what ways did the Native Americans try to resist Columbus? Give specific examples.

4. How was the Native American population affected by the arrival of Columbus?

5. Who is Las Casas? What was his opinion of the situation? What examples does he provide?

6. 
   What does Samuel Eliot Morison say about Columbus? Why does Zinn criticize Morrison? Be specific.
   

7. 
   Why does Zinn say that historians often have an ideologically bias? What does this mean?
   

7. 
   How do some historians try to gain easy acceptance of atrocities? Be specific and give examples.
   

7. 
   Why is it dangerous to learn history only from the point of view of governments, conquerors, diplomats, and leaders?
   

7. 
   Why does Zinn criticize Henry Kissinger and his history of 19^th century Europe?
   

7. 
   What is Zinn’s viewpoint and approach in telling history? Why?
   

7. 
   Why did so many Indians die so quickly? (p.16)
   

7. 
   Does Zinn believe that all this death and deceit was necessary? Why? What does he say we have to remember? (p.17)
   

7. 
   Did the Spanish people benefit from the death and brutality? Explain.
   

7. 
   How does he describe the Indian civilizations? Be specific. How many Indians were living in the Americas when Columbus arrived?
   

7. 
   Did Columbus bring civilization and progress to the Americas? Why or why not?
   

7. 
   What are some ways that Zinn describes the different Indian cultures?
   

7. 
   Who were the Moundbuilders? What did they accomplish? Be specific.
   

7. 
   How did most Indian cultures feel about private ownership?
   

7. 
   How were women treated in Indian societies?
   

7. 
   What was the Indian family structure like?
   

7. 
   What were some differences between the Indian and European cultures?
   

7. 
   What is Zinn’s main argument in this article? How does Howard Zinn, the author of this book, view Columbus? Is this fair?
   

7. 
   Is Christopher Columbus a hero? Why or why not? Should we have a Columbus Day? Is it dangerous to leave out these facts when teaching our children about Columbus?
   

26. Does this article matter? Should we care that the Native Americans were mistreated more than 500 years ago? Does it really hurt anyone to remember Christopher Columbus as a hero?