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

Zinn's a People's History of the U.S.

Should the U.S. apologize for slavery and its legacy? Who benefits if the U.S. doesn't apologize?

It is difficult to determine the answer to such a polarizing question. Some argue that slavery has been a form of life since the beginning of mankind and that if the African-American community is apologized to, then the Jewish people who were slaves should get apologies too. They argue that the sins of our ancestors are not our own and that we are not responsible for their actions. Yet, the American form of slavery was especially heinous. According to the text, the American form of slavery was the cruelest. Zinn points to two reason that American slavery was the most horrible: "the frenzy for limitless profit that comes from capitalistic agriculture" and "the reduction of the slave to less than human status by the use of racial hatred, with that relentless clarity based on color, where white was master, black was slave" (28). In light of this perspective it would seem important that the United States apologize for slavery. From a political standpoint, there is the potential that an apology for historic wrongs could make the nation seem weak. However, this does not seem like reason enough to refuse an apology.

2. What was the greatest threat to the elite's control over the colonists -- a fear that was realized in Bacon's Rebellion? What tactics did the elite rulers adopt to prevent rebellion? Should African nations be compensated for the slave trade? How and by whom? Should African-Americans be compensated and racism in the U.S. who benefits and who is hurt by your decision?

The greatest threat to the elite's control over the colonists was the potential uprising of the African-Americans who were enslaved. In order to prevent further rebellions like that led by Bacon, those in control banned African-Americans from carrying weapons and made far clearer distinctions between the white servants and black slaves. Although the African-American community has experience great hardship and slavery itself was an atrocity, I do not think that the United States should be forced to pay compensation to the descendants. Those alive today did not experience slavery. If the entire world were forced to pay for all the horrors that have occurred in the past, then nearly every group could make a demand for compensation if they were at all oppressed in the past.

3. Why would a European man or woman sign a contract of indenture? Was it a 'choice' or were other factors involved? How does this chapter shatter the myth that America was the land of freedom and opportunity? How are we similar today?