Howard Zinn's thesis in Chapter one of "A People's history of the United States"?

Question

I just read chapter one, but can someone explain his thesis more clearly? I have to write an in-class essay tomorrow...does anyone have an idea what it might be? (its over chapter 1)

Answer 1

I believe it's contained in the following quote:

“Objectivity is impossible,” historian Howard Zinn once remarked, “and it is also undesirable. That is, if it were possible it would be undesirable, because if you have any kind of a social aim, if you think history should serve society in some way; should serve the progress of the human race; should serve justice in some way, then it requires that you make your selection on the basis of what you think will advance causes of humanity.”

Zinn wanted to show how much of the history of the USA was really made by the nameless poor who did most of the hard work of building the country.