Lies My Teacher Told Me

The author, James W. Loewen, begins the second chapter of his book Lies My Teacher Told Me by discussing one of America’s most well-known “heroes,” Christopher Columbus. Loewen continues the chapter describing that most textbooks are not knowledgeable on Christopher Columbus’ exploration of North America. He claims that textbook authors fill the book with information that “is either wrong or unverifiable” (Loewen 32). He describes that one mistake authors have made is explorers or explorations that occurred prior to Christopher Columbus’ voyage.

Then we come to the next five percent fractile; they controlled just 0.7% of the yearly average wealth from the years 1967-1970. Finally, we get to the lowly bottom ninety percent fractile; they had a meger 0.07% of the yearly average wealth from the years 1967-1970. Which made the wealth inequality ratio between the top one-hundredth percent fractile and bottom ninety percent fractile from the years 1967-1970 69,716:71. In other words, the top one-hundredth percent fractile controlled $69,716 of the yearly average wealth for every $71 of the yearly average wealth the bottom ninety percent fractile controlled for the years 1967-1970. That ratio, still very lopsided, was infinitely more equal than the wealth inequality ratio between the top one-hundredth percent fractile and the bottom ninety percent fractile before the great depression ( 356,900:100), or even worse, the wealth inequality ratio between the same two groups before the great recession (301,932:113) (Duménil, Gérard).

History is a story of events that occurred. There are always different versions, different ways to see to same event. Each story can include different facts, lessons, and motives. Christopher Columbus’ voyage was a major point in history that leads to rapid development of the new world. His voyage opened up North America for colonization and leads to the successive globalization of the continents.

In the book, Lies My Teacher Told Me, author James Loewen talks about historical misconceptions in American school textbooks. Are these actually misconceptions though? What is the author saying about American history when details or whole events are untold? Lowen delves into these deep topics head on and gives examples as he goes. This book is not only intended for those who have read an American history book, but for those who have never heard the truth.

The rich use tactics to gain the support of the middle class, but without losing any of their own riches, like wealth or power, for their own gain. It was at the cost of the “slaves, Indians, and poor whites” (Zinn 1). It spared the rich any expenses, but brought them much gain, from the support. Finally, the growth of the colonies positively impacted the rich as well, as they received the profits and benefits from the expansions. With one percent of property owners owning forty four percent of the wealth, it shows how the majority of the wealth was given to the rich, and not distributed among the other classes at all, deepening the division.

Nowadays the goal of the republican party is to keep conservative values in the american people and the government; this was one of the main reasons why Ronald Reagan won his presidency in 1981. One of Reagan’s policies while in the presidency was the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, this act was implemented to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to encourage economic growth through reductions in individual income tax rates, the expensing of depreciable property, incentives for small businesses, and incentives for savings, and for other purposes. However, even with this the rich still had ways to keep their taxes low. According to the documentary, “Inequality For All,” Robert Reich says, “The rich will find ways to avoid paying more taxes, courtesy of clever accountants and tax attorneys. But this has always been the case, regardless of where the tax rate is set.”

Matthew Leav PPE 400 Lowe February 6th, 2023 Explaining Edward Conard’s Argument for Lower Taxes on the Rich In his book The Upside of Inequality: How Good Intentions Undermine the Middle Class, Edward Conard argues that lowering taxes on the rich would lead to higher growth and further innovation which would justify any resulting economic inequality (Lowe 2023). He argues that the notion that America’s richest members are to blame for growing inequality is mistaken (Conard 12). Rather, inequality is a result of growth and innovation and is an unavoidable consequence in a developing economy (Conard 13). In this paper I will seek to explain this argument.

Out of all the many classes I’ve taken so far, history is one my least favorite class. History incredibly uninteresting me, but in addition to that, American history textbooks, neglect to include what I believe to be very important details about history. Since history textbooks wish depict the United States as one of the greatest country in world, the authors try to leave out any information that might hurt Americas image. “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James W. Loewen, tries to inform students of today, the important information that was hidden from them in their American history textbooks. Loewen does great with explain certain topics and unnecessary errors in the student’s American history education, throughout his book

In James W. Loewen’s “The Land of Opportunity,” he states that social class affects the way children are raised. He discusses the inequality in today’s society and how the textbooks in high school do not give any social class information. The students in today’s time are not taught everything they should be taught. He states that your family’s wealth is what makes up your future. Loewen discusses that people with more money can study for the SATs more productively and get a better score than someone who has less money.

Wealth, poverty, technology, decadence, the Gilded Age was a time of change and uprooting of past systems, schools of thought, and standards. It was a time of both hope and doubt for the majority of the population and brought many to be empty handed or exceedingly wealthy. The dynamic between rich and poor was shifting to a gap of wealth never before seen in the young country. The gilded age’s built up wealth disparity faded away over time. Yet today it seems that a resurgence of these features is rearing its ugly head again.

Lies My Teacher Told Me American history is taught in schools all over the country. History is important since it educates students about the nation’s past. However, this past is portrayed as that of a “perfect” nation. Most school book authors know this history as lies. Conversely, James W. Loewen, the author of the Lies

Wealth and Inequality in America Inequality The inequality in America has increased over time; the gap between the rich and the poor has become a problem that many Americans don’t see. Inequality is the extent of income which is distributed unequally among the citizenry. The inequality of the United has a large gap between the poor and the rich making it unfair to the population, the rich are becoming wealthier and the poor remain poor. The article “Of the 1%, By the 1%, For the 1%”, authored by Joseph E. Stiglitz describes that there is a 1 percent amount of American’s who are consuming about a quarter of the United States income in a year.

The problem with the widened wealth gap is that the inequality may harm the quality. Meaning that those in the higher classes see it as you can use the money with no restrictions. However, economist believe that the “relationship between inequality and economic freedom, with the possibility that policies that are meant to reduce inequality will reduce economic freedom, which will then only make inequality worse.”

The middle class want to become rich and the low class only wants equality.” Orwell’s predictions of the party, the government in modern society, rises to power and the poor stay poor. In LA Times “Income Inequality makes the rich more scrooge-like, study finds”, “Since the 1980’s -- the end of a 30-year period… wealth has grown increasingly concentrated at the top of the economic ladder, while low-income Americans have commanded a smaller and smaller share of the nation’s wealth.” *add where quote is from* ”... top 5 percent of American families saw their real income increase 74.9 percent… the lowest-income fifth saw a decrease in real income of 12.1 percent… Sharply contrasting with the 1947-79 period… with the lowest income group actually seeing the largest gains.”

Inequality and wealth distribution continues to astound people, the early 1940’s -1970’s taught americans what egalitarian society was and how we equally prospered. The great expansion, inflation and recession are some of the key factors that played a major role in driving egalitarianism to extinction. However, how has the unequal wealth distribution affected us over all and how are we handling it today. During the late 1940’s early 1970’s, after World War Two, America entered into an egalitarian society where the wealth of the people increased at the same rate no matter the class.