Howard Zinn’s unique perspective on American history and the beloved American hero makes for an interesting novel. His book, A People's History of the United States, paints history in a whole new light. While most teachers tell the story of the iconic Andrew Jackson and his role models, like Burren, being right in their actions, the other side is rarely looked at, as most believe their good outweighs the bad. Zinn believes that Jackson and Burren were American villains that tainted our history. He speaks of this in the seventh chapter of his book, which is also a Jackson quote, “As Long as a Grass Grows or Water Runs.” He uses other like-minded historians and historical events to support his claims. These claims are that the Indian was an obstacle …show more content…
His positions are very controversial, but with the many direct quotes by renowned historians it makes his point more accountable. Right off the bat, Zinn hits the reader with statistics. He uses a quote from historian Michael Rogin's book, Fathers and Children, which says, "In 1790, there were 3,900,000 Americans…By 1844, fewer than 30,000 were left.” This shows the sheer devastation that the American people caused in just 50 years. Numbers are an effective way to convey a point and Rogin demonstrates the unjust actions against the Indians with them. Later in the chapter, Rogin speaks about Jackson. He points out that through Jackson's selfish motives to acquire as much Indian Territory as possible, he was solely responsible for a vast majority of the inhumanity towards the natives. And he states that Jackson’s “friends and relatives received many of the patronage appointments-as Indian agents …[as he] practiced extensive bribery.” The negativity Rogin spread about the president helps supports Zinn's villainous opinion on Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy. Another pivotal Historian towards Zinn's argument was Van Every. In his book, The Disinherited, he summarizes Indian removal and quotes, “In the long record of man’s inhumanity exile has wrung moans of anguish from many...Upon no people could it ever have fallen with a more shattering impact than upon the eastern Indians.” The quote supports