Main Points from Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, Chapter 4 "Tyranny is Tyranny"
1. Tyranny and oppression were tools used by both the colonial and British elite against the ordinary American colonists.
2. By 1776, upper class colonial politicians realized that they could mobilize the lower class energy that had previously been directed against them and redirect such anger at the British Crown.
3. A totally united prewar effort did not materialize among the colonists; significant colonial resistance occurred both before and during the Revolutionary War (not everyone wanted the Revolution or participated in it).
4. Political, economic, and social divisiveness existed in colonial America--divisiveness that spilled over into the efforts to prepare for war with England.
2. By 1776, upper class colonial politicians realized that they could mobilize the lower class energy that had previously been directed against them and redirect such anger at the British Crown.
3. A totally united prewar effort did not materialize among the colonists; significant colonial resistance occurred both before and during the Revolutionary War (not everyone wanted the Revolution or participated in it).
4. Political, economic, and social divisiveness existed in colonial America--divisiveness that spilled over into the efforts to prepare for war with England.
Main points from Howard Zinn Chapter 5, "Half a Revolution"
1. The Revolutionary War was a "war of independence" from colonial domination, a "civil war" between the various forces within American society, and a "world war" fought both in North America and on the European continent.
2. Economic interests motivated the political clauses of the US Constitution.
3. In Order for the Founding Fathers to gain enough support for the war, they had to "woo the armed white population."
4. As early as the Revolutionary War, the American military was an avenue for the poor to achieve upward social and economic mobility.
5. The unequal political, social, economic and ideological structure of American society remained intact after the Revolutionary War.
2. Economic interests motivated the political clauses of the US Constitution.
3. In Order for the Founding Fathers to gain enough support for the war, they had to "woo the armed white population."
4. As early as the Revolutionary War, the American military was an avenue for the poor to achieve upward social and economic mobility.
5. The unequal political, social, economic and ideological structure of American society remained intact after the Revolutionary War.