Howard Zinn: The People’s Historian—Part 2: A Nation Redefined (1750–1864)

Independent Production Fund

Historian and author of A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn presents a critical view of American expansionism. In this interview, he discusses Andrew Jackson’s wars against the Seminole Indians leading to the Florida Purchase, the Mexican-American War, how Native American resistance to white settlers was brutally oppressed, the role of religion in Manifest Destiny, the Spanish-American War, and U.S. imperialism in Latin America. Zinn calls for recognizing our national limitations and shifting America’s role as a military superpower to a more humanitarian model—a process that he believes would reduce terrorism threats and focus spending on domestic needs.

Howard Zinn: The People’s Historian—Part 1: A Nation in Development (1492–1787)

Independent Production Fund

Historian and author of A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn presents a moral perspective on early America, citing events and movements rarely covered in U.S. history textbooks. In this interview, he discusses Columbus’ atrocities against indigenous tribes in the Caribbean, slavery and Abolitionist Movement, colonial massacres against Native Americans that marked the beginning of Westward Expansion, Civil War Indian Removal policies, and the class conflict that shaped the Revolutionary War through army mutinies and veteran's uprisings. A common thread throughout our history is the gap between American ideals of freedom and democracy, and the reality of social divisions, economic inequality, and grassroots organization for constitutional reform.

Howard Zinn: The People’s Historian—Part 5: In The Great Protector’s Shadow (1913–1948)

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Howard Zinn discusses the World Wars and the Great Depression, rejects the view of World War II as the “Good War” and articulating his opposition to war. He discusses anti-black race riots after WWI. He criticizes post-WWII military interventions, and discusses the way in which the “Good War” narrative of WWII emboldens these efforts. He talks about the how near-revolutionary atmosphere pressured FDR to implement the New Deal.

Howard Zinn: The People’s Historian—Part 3: A Fractured Nation (1800–1865)

Independent Production Fund

Ray Suarez interviews Howard Zinn about the rebelling working girls of Lowell mills and women becoming involved in anti-slavery and feminist movements. Zinn discusses suppression of slave revolts by plantation owners, entry of blacks into the Civil War and how the North eventually gave power, over blacks, back to the South.

Howard Zinn: The People’s Historian—Part 4: Looking Outward (1863–1915)

Independent Production Fund

In this interview, historian and author of A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn outlines the history of American resistance efforts from the post-Civil War period to World War I. Included are discussions of the Populist Movement; the Labor Movement; anarchism; Progressive Era organizations such as the Socialist Party, IWW and NAACP; and U.S. imperialism including the Philippine War and military interventions in Central America. Finally, he argues that our class system prevents true social reform and that the idea of American national interest is a myth.