Review of America: The Story of Us

I watched the first part of History Channel’s new six-part series “America: The Story of Us” on Sunday night, and I have to admit that I was really impressed! This new series follows the story of America from it’s founding, detailing the events and people that have defined the country. It uses reenactments, CGI, film footage, and commentary from some notable Americans to tell the story.

This first part covered America’s founding from it’s first colonies at Jamestown to the American Revolution. I especially enjoyed the part about the American Revolution. It showed how America’s independence was not guaranteed and what it took for the country to win freedom from Great Britain. It really hit me that the Americans who fought believed strongly in their cause, and this might have been the deciding factor in the war.

I have only a couple of criticisms of this show. First of all, some of the people shown on the series giving their opinions did not seem appropriate. Does Donald Trump really need to be on a history show? I would like to see more notable historians relating American history. Also, many important events and details were glossed over. It isn’t surprising though because there is only so much that can be told on a two hour show.

However, I really like the show so far! This particular episode did a really good job of telling the story of America’s beginning, and I especially liked some of the nice CGI effects to transport viewers back in time. It is difficult many times to imagine what America looked like in the 18th century. This show is a great example of what I enjoy about the History Channel! It’s what they do best, and I am looking forward to the rest of the series!

Have you seen “America: This Story of Us” yet? What did you think?

Read more »

Watch These Upcoming American Experience Shows

I recently had the opportunity to preview two new shows coming up soon on American Experience. American Experience is a television series from PBS that brings to life the characters and stories that have shaped America's past and present. It is television's most-watched history series and has won numerous awards, including 24 Emmy Awards. I have viewed a few episodes of this show and have been really impressed! Here are the upcoming shows I recommend:

• My Lai - The story of the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War in 1968 is related in this episode, including what led up to it, what happened, and the subsequent cover up. The episode also covers how the story eventually came to light and how the U.S. public reacted. The story is vividly told through the soldiers who took part in the massacre, the American journalists documenting what happened, and the Vietnamese survivors. What I liked most about the episode is that it is very thought-provoking, showing what soldiers in Vietnam went through, but also how misinformation can lead to disastrous results. It also asks difficult questions, such as if the soldiers were just following orders. I wish the episode talked more about the subsequent affect of it on the war, but the episode focused more on the event itself and was very informative nonetheless. This episode is set to air on April 26.
  
  
• Roads to Memphis - This upcoming episode focuses on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. It chronicles the events leading up to this fateful day, specifically detailing what led both King and James Earl Ray, his assassin, to be in Memphis that day. MLK was involved in a protest by sanitation workers, while Ray had followed him there with the intent to kill. I liked how the episode focused on Ray, detailing who he was, his past, and what motivated him to assassinate one of the most pivotal figures in American history. It also detailed the immense manhunt that followed and showed how Ray was eventually caught and charged for the murder. The episode showed how America reacted to King's death, and how tumultuous this period of history was for the country. "Roads to Memphis" is scheduled to air on May 3.
  

As always, please check your local listings for specific times and dates for these shows. American Experience is an outstanding series, and I strongly recommend watching some of their episodes!

Links to Learn More:

• American Experience - My Lai
• Roads to Memphis Preview on YouTube
  

Read more »

American and Polish History in One Book

I find it fascinating when every once in a while I experience a sort of "history déjà vu." This happens when what I'm learning brings back memories of something I saw months or years ago. I recently had this happen when I read the book The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Koscuiszko and the Age of Revolution. Kosciuszko was a Polish leader that played a significant role in the American Revolution and Polish rebellion. This book reminded me of several experiences when I lived in Poland.

The Peasant Prince, by Adam Storozynski, is all about the life of Thaddeus Koscuiszko, an important figure in both American and Polish history. Koscuiszko was the engineer who designed the critical defenses at West Point. Benedict Arnold sold these plans to the British in the most infamous act of treason in U.S. history. Koscuiszko also played important roles in the Battle of Saratoga and the southern campaign of the war with Nathaniel Greene.

Marker on Kosciuszko Mound

After the war, Kosciuszko wanted to free his homeland from foreign intervention and dominance. He led an army in several important battles against the Russian empire, but he was ultimately unsuccessful in freeing Poland. Poland ceased to exist as a sovereign nation in the 19th Century when Russia, Austria, and Prussia conquered and divided its territory among themselves. Kosciuszko spent his remaining years trying to free and educate the serfs of Poland.

Wawel Cathedral

After Koscuiszko's death, Poles built a memorial to honor him called the "Koscuiszko Mound." When I lived in Krakow, a friend and I climbed to the top of this man-made hill to see some beautiful views of this city. At the time though, I didn't know who he was. Also, Koscuiszko is emtombed in the cathedral at Wawel Castle. I visited this while in Krakow and saw the vaults where many Polish kings and leaders are buried. I don't remember Koscuiszko's tomb specifically, but this place is hard to forget.

I'd strongly recommend this book. It brought back a lot of memories of Poland and deepened my understanding of Polish history, even though I haven't been there in a long time.

Links to Learn More:

• The Peasant Prince
• The Kosciuszko Mound Monument
  

Read more »

Anti-American Biases in College

This semester I'm taking a class on U.S. history from 1865 to the present. We've talked about many difficult subjects in American history, including the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti and the treatment of Native Americans. Recently, we had a discussion in this class about World War II and the internment of Japanese Americans. One student expressed very anti-American sentiment during this discussion, claiming that Americans were "stupid."

That discussion has made me wonder if there is an anti-American bias at universities and if they are intentionally that way. In many classes I've taken, not just history courses, I've noticed that either the professor or the reading materials have a very negative perspective of America. I've heard many students make anti-American remarks in discussions and sometimes are even encouraged to do so. It seems to me that many young people are being taught to hate their country and what it stands for.

Now, I'm not advocating that professors just gloss over the difficult aspects of American history. There are certainly many ugly, even shameful parts of it. Those include the institutionalized discrimination of African Americans, the massacre of Native Americans, and the internment of Japanese Americans in WWII. Sadly, these events are a influential part of American history, and they deserve to be covered and discussed in classes.

What I desire to see is giving American history fair treatment. Something I've learned while studying history is that there are multiples sides to it, and not everything is as simple as it might seem. It is often too easy to judge the past from the lens of the future. In my opinion, students need to be able to think critically about American history, being able to discuss and analyze it like mature adults when they leave college, instead of automatically judging this country as "stupid."

Do you think there is an anti-American bias in college courses? Please share your thoughts and post a comment!

Read more »