Progressive historians like Charles Beard… went to great lengths to discredit the work of America’s first published historian, George Bancroft. The Nationalist school of American history revered our Founders and proclaimed American exceptionalism. Beard argued that America’s founding ideals were nothing more than a clever disguise for our true inspiration, greed. The New Left revisionism that pervades historiography today is a mere continuation of Beard’s fundamentally flawed concept- America really isn’t that great….
Neo-Nationalism is a historical school of thought… that strives to reconcile two wildly opposed views of America’s past. Common ground is sought within the discipline- social, political, military historical study working in concert to preserve the common threads that bind all Americans together…
The overriding message should be that historical figures are human and not infallible. We can honor their great deeds and learn from their most human mistakes.
We must stop this current craze of tearing down and erasing our history because the historical figures did not possess our modern sensibilities.
- America’s founding ideals are exceptional- and are standards that are difficult to attain- our history is comprised of the struggle to uphold these ideals.
- The Founders were extraordinary men- but not infallible… we have to learn from their example- good and bad.
- The history of America is not the story of class struggle- the silent masses played a vital role in our history and their stories should be told- but not through Marxist constructs.
- History should be popular. Our past must be understood by the citizenry- historical studies targeted only at academics cannot be how we measure the discipline. There is a way to make history insightful and enjoyable.
An inspired post, Sheaffer, and inspiring; your blog post inspired this one: https://theportlypolitico.wordpress.com/2019/06/21/mcclay-sheaffer-on-american-history/
Check out the Wilfred McClay interview I also reference in that post. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts. I’m eager to check out his book.
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