All US History
Teaching Activity PDFs
Promoting Social Imagination Through Interior Monologues
Teaching Activity PDF. By Bill Bigelow and Linda Christensen. 3 pages.
Empathy, or “social imagination,” allows students to connect to “the other” with whom, on the surface, they may appear to have little in common.
Language Arts, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, Women's History
Reconstructing Race: A Teacher Introduces His Students to the Slippery Concept of Race
Teaching Activity PDF. By Nathanial W. Smith. 6 pages.
A teacher describes a series of lessons he teaches to help his students understand race as a social construct.
Stenciling Dissent: A Student Project Draws on the Language of the Streets
Teaching Activity PDF. By Andrew Reed. 5 pages.
Teaching activity connects students to history of art as a means of protest and gives them opportunity and skills to create their own stencil with a powerful message.
Art & Music, Civil Rights Movements, Laws & Citizen Rights, Organizing
Unleashing Sorrow and Joy: Writing Poetry from History and Literature
Teaching Activity PDF. By Linda Christensen. 10 pages.
Teacher reflection on different ways to effectively incorporate poetry into history or literature classes.
Unsung Heroes: Encouraging Students to Appreciate Those Who Fought for Social Justice
Teaching Activity PDF. Essay by Howard Zinn and lesson by Bill Bigelow. 11 pages.
Students research and share stories about unsung heroes in U.S. history.
Civil Rights Movements, Organizing, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, Women's History
What War Looks Like
Background Reading for Teachers and High School Students PDF. By Howard Zinn. 4 pages.
An essay by Howard Zinn on the impact of war.
Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
Why Students Should Study History: An Interview with Howard Zinn
Background Reading for Teachers PDF. By Howard Zinn. 1994.
Interview conducted by Barbara Miner on a number of questions about the study of history.
Teaching Guides
History in the Present Tense: Engaging Students Through Inquiry and Action
Teaching guide. By Douglas Selwyn and Jan Maher. 2003. 192 pages.
A guide to a different way of teaching history — start from today and keep asking questions.
A People’s History For the Classroom
Teaching Guide. By Bill Bigelow. 2008.120 pages.
Lessons to introduce students to a more accurate, complex, and engaging understanding of U.S. history than is found in traditional textbooks and curricula.
Teaching What Really Happened: How To Avoid the Tyranny of Textbooks and Get Students Excited About Doing History
Teaching Guide. By James W. Loewen. 2010. 264 pages.
A wealth of ideas on how to rethink the teaching of U.S. history.
Teaching with Voices of a People’s History of the United States
Book – Teaching Guide. By Gayle Olson-Raymer. 2011. 304 pages. Second edition.
Suggested questions and teaching ideas for each chapter of Voices of a People’s History.
Articles
Empire or Humanity?: What the classroom didn’t teach me about the American empire
Article for Teachers and High School Students – PDF. By Howard Zinn. 4 pages.
An essay which raises questions about the justifications for empire building and imperialism.
Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
Howard Zinn: Interview by Bill Moyers
Article. Interview of Howard Zinn by Bill Moyers. 2009. 11 pages. From book published by The New Press.
Howard Zinn on The People Speak and a range of topics in U.S. history and contemporary issues.
Whitewashing Our Past: A Proposal for a National Campaign to Rethink Textbooks
Article. By Bob Peterson. 4 pages.
A critique of social studies textbooks and the rationale for a campaign to rethink them.
Audio
Readings from Voices of a People’s History of the United States
Audio CD. Edited by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove. 2007.
Sixteen readings by an all-star cast from Voices of a People’s History.
Books: Non-Fiction
50 American Revolutions You’re Not Supposed to Know
Book – Non-fiction. By Mickey Z. 2005. 128 pages.
A pocket-sized collection of stories about dissent throughout U.S. history.
500 Años del Pueblo Chicano – 500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures
Book – Non-fiction. By Elizabeth Martinez. 1991 (2nd Edition). 238 pages.
Chicano history as told through hundreds of pictures.
500 Years of Chicana Women’s History
Book – Non-fiction. By Elizabeth Martinez. 2007. 320 pages, 899 illustrations.
Stories and photos of Chicana/Mexican-American women in politics, labor, art, health, and more.
Civil Rights Movements, Immigration, Latino, Women's History
Addicted to War: Why the U.S. Can’t Kick Militarism, An Illustrated Guide
Book – Non-Fiction. By Joel Andreas. 2004. 77 pages.
A comic book expose on militarism in graphic format, making it accessible for high school and above.
Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America
Book – Non-fiction. By Lerone Bennett Jr. 1988. 736 pages.
A detailed history and analysis of African American history in the United States.
The Black Americans: A History in Their Own Words, 1619-1983
Book – Non-fiction. Edited by Milton Meltzer. 1987. 320 pages.
Engaging first person stories and primary documents.
The Black History of the White House
Book – Non-fiction. By Clarence Lusane. 2010. 544 pages.
The untold story of African Americans in the White House from the 18th century to the present, including the presidents who held people in bondage.
Black Indians: A Hidden Heritage
Book – Non-fiction. By William Loren Katz. 2012. 272 pages.
History book for ages 10 to adult that traces relations between Blacks and American Indians since the time of the conquest.
African American, Native American, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
Celebrate People’s History: The Poster Book of Resistance and Revolution
Book – Non-fiction. Edited by Josh MacPhee. 2010. 256 pages.
A visual representation of people’s history through political posters.
Dangerous Memories: Invasion and Resistance Since 1492
Book – Nonfiction. By Golden, McConnell, Poppen, and Mue. 1991. 272 pages.
Essential text on U.S. history; includes many primary sources on people’s movements.
A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America
Book – Non-fiction. By Ronald Takaki. 2008. 560 pages.
A multicultural history of America, in the voices of Native Americans, African Americans, Jews, Irish Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos and others.
African American, Asian American, Immigration, Labor, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, Social Class
Firebrands: Portraits from the Americas
Book – Non-fiction. By Shaun Slifer and Bec Young. 2010. 192 pages.
Images and short bios of 78 activists from throughout U.S. history and the Americas for middle school to adult.
From the Folks Who Brought You the Weekend: A Short, Illustrated History of Labor in the United States
Book – Non-fiction. By Priscilla Murolo and A. B. Chitty. Illustrations by Joe Sacco. 2002. 384 pages.
Labor history of the United States.
Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America
Book – Non-fiction. By Juan Gonzalez. 2011. 416 pages.
An updated and thorough account of the role the United States in the mass migration of Latinos to the U.S.
Immigration, Latino, Laws & Citizen Rights, World History/Global Studies
History in the Making: An Absorbing Look at How American History Has Changed in the Telling over the Last 200 Years
Book – Non-fiction. By Kyle Ward. 2007. 374 pages.
From the widely acclaimed co-author of History Lessons comes an examination of ways in which Americans tell the history their country has changed over time.
History Lessons: How Textbooks from Around the World Portray U.S. History
Book – Non-fiction. By Dana Lindaman and Kyle Ward. 2004. 404 pages.
Howard Zinn on History
Book – Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. Introduction by Staughton Lynd. 2011. 192 pages.
Zinn explores the powerful question, “Have we reached a point in history where we are ready to embrace a new way of living in the world, expanding not our military power, but our humanity?”
Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, Education, Racism & Racial Identity, Social Class
The Indispensable Zinn: The Essential Writings of the “People’s Historian”
Book – Non-fiction. Edited by Timothy Patrick McCarthy. 2012. 496 pages.
A concise and accessible volume of the seminal writings of Howard Zinn.
Landmark Cases Left Out of Your Textbooks
Book – Non-fiction. Edited by Ann Fagan Ginger. 2006. 84 pages.
Short, sharp descriptions of how 43 human rights cases were won, from Haymarket Martyrs of May Day 1886 to Katrina victims in 2005.
Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong
Book – Non-fiction. By James Loewen. 2007. 464 pages.
The mis-education provided by monuments and historic markers across the United States.
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
Book – Non-fiction. By James W. Loewen. 2007. 464 pages.
Provides a detailed survey of twelve leading high school history textbooks.
Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery, US Foreign Policy
Not Written in Stone: Learning and Unlearning American History Through 200 Years of Textbooks
Book – Non-fiction. By Kyle Ward. 2010. 368 pages.
A critique of the representation of history in textbooks.
Occupied America: A History of Chicanos
Book – Non-fiction. By Rodolfo Acuña. 2010 (7th Edition). 432 pages.
A leading textbook on Chicano history.
Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent
Book – Non-fiction. By Eduardo Galeano. 1997. 360 pages.
Gripping history of the land and people of Latin America.
The People Speak: American Voices, Some Famous, Some Little Known
Book – Nonfiction. Edited by Howard Zinn. 2004. 96 pages.
A People’s History of American Empire: A Graphic Adaptation
Book – Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn and Mike Konopacki. 2008. 288 pages.
Graphic format with photos and narrative introduce parts of U.S. history.
Imperialism, Labor, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
A People’s History of the United States: 1492 – Present
Book – Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. 2005. 702 pages.
Howard Zinn’s groundbreaking work on U.S. history. This book details the lives and facts that are rarely included in textbooks — an indispensable teacher and student resource.
African American, Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, Economics, Education, Immigration, Imperialism, Labor, Laws & Citizen Rights, Native American, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery, Social Class, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, Women's History
A People’s History of Sports in the United States
Book – Non-fiction. By Dave Zirin. 2009. 302 pages. High school and up.
U.S. history through the lens of sports.
A Place at the Table: Struggles for Equality in America
Book – Non-fiction. By Maria Fleming. 2002. 152 pages.
A booklet with stories for middle school readers on repression and resistance throughout U.S. history.
A Power Governments Cannot Suppress
Book – Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. 2006. 293 pages.
A collection of essays on American history, class, immigration, justice, and ordinary citizens who have made a difference.
Rise Up Singing
Book – Non-fiction. By Peter Blood and Annie Patterson. 288 pages.
Social justice songs on many themes.
A Shining Thread of Hope: The History of Black Women in America
Book – Nonfiction. By Darlene Clark Hine and Kathleen Thompson. 1999.
An inspiring narrative of the role of Black women in shaping US History.
Teach Freedom: Education for Liberation in the African-American Tradition
Book – Non-fiction. Edited by Charles M. Payne and Carol Sills Strickland. Foreword by Charles E. Cobb Jr. 2008. 304 pages.
Documents the history of the use of education as a tool of collective liberation by African Americans.
This Day in Civil Rights History
Book – Non-fiction. By Horace Randall Williams and Ben Beard. 2009. 368 pages.
A full page description of a key event in the history of the Civil Rights Movement for each day of the year.
To Make Our World Anew: A History of African Americans
Book – Non-fiction. Edited by Robin D. G. Kelley and Earl Lewis. 2005.
Comprehensive history of African Americans.
Uncommon Sense from the Writings of Howard Zinn
Book – Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. 2009. 160 pages.
A compilation of Howard Zinn’s most inspiring writings from over a decade of speaking and writing.
Voices of a People’s History of the United States
Book – Non-fiction. Edited by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove. 2009. 704 pages.
Speeches, letters, poems, and songs for each chapter of A People’s History of the United States.
Labor, Organizing, Slavery, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, Women's History
Whitewashing War: Historical Myth, Corporate Textbooks, and Possibilities for Democratic Education
Book – Non-fiction. By Christopher R. Leahey. 2010. 145 pages.
A critical analysis of how textbooks represent U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
A Young People’s History of the United States
Book – Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn with Rebecca Stefoff. 2009. 464 pages.
A young adult version of the best-selling A People’s History of the United States.
The Zinn Reader: Writings on Disobedience and Democracy
Book – Nonfiction. By Howard Zinn. 2009. 746 pages.
This work represents the first time that Zinn has attempted to present the depth and breadth of his concerns in one volume, emphasizing six areas that have been important to Zinn’s work since the late 1950s–race, class, war, law, history, and means and ends.
Films
Earth and the American Dream
Film. By Bill Couturie. 1993. 90 minutes.
U.S. history from the standpoint of the earth.
Golden Lands, Working Hands
Film. By Fred Glass for the California Federation of Teachers. 170 minutes.
Ten-part film series brings the hidden history of working people in California to light, from the Gold Rush through the present.
The People Speak – Extended Edition – DVD
Film. 2009. Directed by Howard Zinn, Chris Moore and Anthony Arnove. 110 minutes.
Dramatic readings and performances based on Voices of a People’s History and A People’s History of the United States.
Labor, Organizing, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, Women's History
Unlearning “Indian” Sterotypes
Film. 1977 (Updated in 2008). Rethinking Schools and the Council on Interracial Books for Children.
Native American history through the eyes of Native American children.
We Shall Remain
Film and website. 2009. 450 minutes.
Three hundred years of Native American history.
Civil Rights Movements, Laws & Citizen Rights, Native American, Racism & Racial Identity
Posters
Celebrate People’s History: The Poster Book of Resistance and Revolution
Book – Non-fiction. Edited by Josh MacPhee. 2010. 256 pages.
A visual representation of people’s history through political posters.
People’s History Wall Charts
Posters. By Howard Zinn and George Kirschner. 2007. 13.75″ x 9.5″.
Visual time-lines of US history presented by era and thematically.
Spanish/Bilingual
500 Años del Pueblo Chicano – 500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures
Book – Non-fiction. By Elizabeth Martinez. 1991 (2nd Edition). 238 pages.
Chicano history as told through hundreds of pictures.
Adicto a la Guerra: Por que el E.E.U.U. no Puede Librarse del Militarismo
Book – Non-fiction. By Joel Andreas. 2005. 80 pages.
Spanish-language edition of the expose on militarism in graphic novel format. Accessible for high school and above.
Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
La Otra Historia de los Estados Unidos
Book – Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. Translated by Toni Strubel. 2011 (translation). 512 pages.
A People’s History of the United States in Spanish.
Websites
Africans in America: America’s Journey Through Slavery
Website.
A companion site to the PBS documentary on the origins and legacy of American slavery, including episodes on the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Americans Who Tell the Truth
Website.
Portraits and bio of individuals who have taken a stand for justice.
Disability Rights Movement
Website.
Descriptions and images of eras and movements within the U.S. Disability Rights Movement.
History Matters
Website. A clearinghouse of history resources for high school and college teachers and students.
Pacific Northwest Labor and Civil Rights Projects
Website.
Oral histories, primary documents, and more on labor and civil rights movements in the Pacific Northwest.
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Website.
Center for the study and promotion of the histories and cultures of peoples of African descent.
African American, Art & Music, Education, World History/Global Studies
This Week in History from PeaceButtons
Website.
Descriptions of historical events from the grassroots, organized by dates.
Voices of a People’s History
Website. Voices helps to stage public readings of primary-source materials on a people’s history.
The website also offers dozens of film clips of readings by well-known people for classroom use.
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