How are aspects of American History taught outside America?

[rjh01]

The Crown would not want them getting any ideas.

Yes the GG has a tremendous amount of power. Reference the australian constitution.

 

[Travis]

So you genuflected to mindless aholes that you're much more intelligent than? That's very sad.

One thing I have little patience for is Europeans who arrogantly rip on America/its past just because it's the "cool" thing to do.....but worse, haven't the faintest ◊◊◊◊◊ clue what they're talking about.

America has its share of stupidity/stupid people, but we're FAR from having a lock on it.

My own opinion is that referring to the war itself as the War for Independence isn't bad as it is accurate but that the general time period; the lead up to the war, the war, the resolution of the war, the formation of the confederation and finally the creation of the constitution would be referred to as the American Revolution.

 

[Agamemnon2]

In Finnish history classrooms, I don't think we covered American history much at all. The Boston Tea Party, the Civil War, the Cold War and Vietnam made an appearance, but WW1 and WW2, for example, were handled near-exclusively from a continental European viewpoint.

 

[The Don]

From my recollections of a 70's and 80's comprehensive education:

Late 1700's - War of beastly ungratefulness
Early 1800's - US has another slap at the UK while we're busy fighting Napoleon
Mid 1800's - US has a bit of a domestic over an issue addressed by the civilised world (i.e. the UK) 50 years before
Late 1800's - US grabs a small foreign empire by following the path of least resistance
Early 1900's - Late for a war against a proper opponent
Mid 1900's - Late for another war against a proper opponent
Mid-Late 1900's - Engages in a standoff against a proper opponent

But I wasn't really paying much attention

 

[bigred]

My complaint was not that we didn't cover history in depth, but that recent history wasn't covered at all. Too much time was spent on long dead emperors, kings and generals at the expense of learning about what happened in the last few decades.

A good example of that showed up recently, when White House press secretary Dana Perino (b. 1972) admitted that she had never heard of the Cuban Missile Crisis when a reporter referred to it in a question.

Not good.

 

[Rcintron]

In the Dominican Republic we devoted a whole school year (11th grade) to learn "American History". In this case "american" refers to the continent. We learned about pre-columbus history (incas, mayas, aztecs, tainos, etc.). Later on we learned how american countries freed themselves from different colonizing countries, mainly england, spain and portugal. In our case, interestingly enough, we won our independence fighting the haitians. US civil war was not taught, I guess because we are not USAians, and thus it's not part of OUR history. Their independence fight was taught, along with all other american countries' independence struggles.

 

[Big Les]

From my recollections of a 70's and 80's comprehensive education:

Late 1700's - War of beastly ungratefulness
Early 1800's - US has another slap at the UK while we're busy fighting Napoleon
Mid 1800's - US has a bit of a domestic over an issue addressed by the civilised world (i.e. the UK) 50 years before
Late 1800's - US grabs a small foreign empire by following the path of least resistance
Early 1900's - Late for a war against a proper opponent
Mid 1900's - Late for another war against a proper opponent
Mid-Late 1900's - Engages in a standoff against a proper opponent

But I wasn't really paying much attention

I read an account from an army surgeon in the Peninsular War only yesterday, and he comments on the situation in North America in one of his 1812 letters, saying (paraphrasing):

"I trust that they will soon sue for peace, but I do hope that we shall have the opportunity to give them a sound thrashing at a later date".

Classic.

 

[aries]

Let me say this on the topic: The film "The madness of King George"movie and some of the other films covering that area in the 1700's have done a lot better explaining the early history of the US than my formal school education has (1970'sand early 1980's).
At least in Denmark.

I also seem to remember a certain movie series, featuring a male trapper and his native american wife, being aired on Danish TV in the 1970's. Huge public success. "Roots" were also a success here in Denmark, and it taught us about slavery in the US. In short, I have learned more from movies and books (like novels and such) on US history that I was thought at school in Denmark.

European and Danish history were sort of a requirement, though...

 

[Lensman]

I also seem to remember a certain movie series, featuring a male trapper and his native american wife, being aired on Danish TV in the 1970's. Huge public success.

That was probably "Centennial" - excellent TV.

 

[Kestrel]

That was probably "Centennial" - excellent TV.

Like Michner's other works, it's not an exact history but an impression of history. Names, places, times and details have been changed, but it's close to what did happen. Watching Centennial will give you a good understanding of the people that settled this part of the American West, why they came here and the conflicts that happened.

 

[Tokenconservative]

From everything I've seen and read and heard over the years the simplest answer is: a damn sight better'n they are taught INSIDE America.

By far.

Tokie

 

[Tokenconservative]

Like Michner's other works, it's not an exact history but an impression of history. Names, places, times and details have been changed, but it's close to what did happen. Watching Centennial will give you a good understanding of the people that settled this part of the American West, why they came here and the conflicts that happened.

Did you ever read that one he wrote about a failed British expetition to cross the Yukon (?) in the middle of winter.

Can't recall the title, but boy is it good.

Tokie

 

[Tokenconservative]

USian history is taught in US schools about as well as world history is.

My daughters were in an AP World History class in which the "teacher" decided to forego ANY mention of the Middle Ages in Europe/Asia over learning about Chinese (I kid you not) poetry of about the same period.

Yep...because that had so much more impact on world history than what was going on in EuropeEurasial in that time.

Tokie

 

[aries]

That was probably "Centennial" - excellent TV.

Yes, thank you That was it. The thing 'centennial' is called 'the colorado saga' in Danish since it takes place in - you've guessed it - Colorado...

I don't know accurate the history in it is, but as I said it was a huge success...

 

[LostAngeles]

USian history is taught in US schools about as well as world history is.

My daughters were in an AP World History class in which the "teacher" decided to forego ANY mention of the Middle Ages in Europe/Asia over learning about Chinese (I kid you not) poetry of about the same period.

Yep...because that had so much more impact on world history than what was going on in EuropeEurasial in that time.

Tokie

And in my Honors Western Civ. class we skipped over Babylon, India, and Egypt and went right into a bit of Greece and all Rome.

Because Babylon, India, and Egypt are entirely irrelevant to Western Civ, right?

 

[suicidesamurai]

Then there is the American Civil War. How much of it, it's causes, battles and results is taught?

In the US we are just taught the Civil War was fought to "free the slaves."

Very noble thing to do, so that is how the government wants you to hear it.

 

[JoeEllison]

In the US we are just taught the Civil War was fought to "free the slaves."

Very noble thing to do, so that is how the government wants you to hear it.

Well, it certainly WAS fought over slavery, so I'm not sure what your exact point is.

 

[Tokenconservative]

And in my Honors Western Civ. class we skipped over Babylon, India, and Egypt and went right into a bit of Greece and all Rome.

Because Babylon, India, and Egypt are entirely irrelevant to Western Civ, right?

It would appear so...in the infinite wisdom of that teacher, I guess.

Now, I realize you are trying to shriek "raaaacccciiisstttttttt!!!" here (I am not a complete dunderhead) but you are apparently so stupid, you've missed the point: Chinese poetry, while it might help explain some aspects of Chinese culture at the time, is not something on which an AP WORLD HISTORY class should spend 3-4 weeks, regardless of how much it makes the "teacher" wet himself.

He is going to spend NO time of the music and religious art of Europe...which has had a greater impact on WORLD HISTORY...the music and religioius art of Europe or Chinese poetry?

I'll give you some time to research your answer....

Tokie

 

[Tokenconservative]

In the US we are just taught the Civil War was fought to "free the slaves."

Very noble thing to do, so that is how the government wants you to hear it.

LOL! My kids were taught that the US was just as much to blame for the Imperial Japanese attempt to expand their EMPIRE (key term) into US-held territory in the Pacific...and to eye the US itself, as were the poor, downtrodden, frightened Japanese.

Tokie

 

[Tokenconservative]

Well, it certainly WAS fought over slavery, so I'm not sure what your exact point is.

No, it wasn't. That was the final catalyst for it, but the American Civil War was fought over the Constitutional issue of whether US states could, willy-nilly claim they are no longer a part of the US.

Turns out the answer is...no.

Tokie