People\'s History of the U.S. by Zinn

Zinn

Why does Zinn disagree with the interpretation that history books say the U.S. constitution creates a neutral level playing fields where one can prove their worth & any inequality in wealth is not due to unfair rules but to unequal abilities. Be specific & give examples.

Zinn's portrayal of pre-revolutionary America differs substantially from the more widely accepted accounts of history. Zinn showed how many of the founding fathers of this country actually stood to benefit personally from the economic conditions the war would set into place. Zinn used the Boston Massacre as an example of the wealthy business class creating false arguments and staged fights to control the aggressions of the numerous poorer class (67). The revolution and its events were actually a transfer of power from one group of wealthy to another . According to Zinn, the document designed to protect this elite class of revolutionaries, the U.S. Constitution, speaks of justice and equality for all, but in reality disguised many of the inequalities of the former oppressors in a new inspiring language.

2.Why did American troops rebel or mutiny. What was the ruling elites response to resistance?

Zinn accounts of mutiny within the ranks of Washington's revolutionary army to highlight the difficulty the new elite class had in enforcing their plans of governing. Zinn uses a soldiers' journal to highlight the oppressive nature of serving in a conscripted army as it describes soldiers murdering their commanding officer in some instances. The soldiers were recorded as screaming "Tyranny is Tyranny"(75). The elite class used the offers of furloughs and relief from duty to help temper these situations when they became inflamed.

3.Define the "lower orders" & the "ruling elite" in terms of their:percent of community, wealth controlled, ocupations, political & economic interests, and social labels & epithets.

Zinn described the many distinctions of class within his arguments. The lower classes of society were described as numerous, uneducated and of a violent nature. Property ownership was the key to political clout and power during these times and the elite classes held the majority of land and property. Women, Indians, blacks and other minorities were not even considered under the Declaration of Independence by its authors and were treated as secondary citizens not worthy to participate in civic duties and responsibilities including politics, business and even war.

4. How do these groups define class in America? Do the same for class in the U.S. today.