Canadian History

Paper Summary:

In this article review, the author demonstrates through the use of three articles how the presentation of history may be slanted. The articles include Ramsay Cook's , "1942 and All That: Making a Garden out of Wilderness ", Alan Gordon's "Heroes, History, and Two Nationalisms: Jacques Cartier" and Ken Coates and William Morrison's, "Winter and the Shaping of Northern History: Reflections from the Canadian North". The review further describes how and why an author may slant history. The paper then evaluates each article independently. The paper concludes by explaining that these writings are particularly important, because they criticize the history we have always taken for granted as a truthful depiction of what really happened, and point out the obvious flaws.

From the Paper:

"What all these writings share is the idea that history is written by people, and is never totally objective or valid. When we read (or write) historical documents, we need to look Also at the surrounding culture, the background of the writer and the social structures and politics of the time. It is true that history of wars is written by the winners, so the losers always become the evil aggressors and the winners the champions of the people."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ramsay Cook, "1942 and All That: Making a Garden out of Wilderness"
• Alan Gordon, "Heroes, History, and Two Nationalisms: Jacques Cartier"
• Ken Coates and William Morrison, "Winter and the Shaping of Northern History: Reflections from the Canadian North".

More papers on Canadian History:

• Analytical Essay # 130143 : "Has Anyone Killed Canadian History?"
• Book Review # 130132 : "Has Anyone Killed Canadian History?"
• Book Review # 99970 : "Teaching Canadian History"
• Book Review # 99945 : "Who Killed Canadian History?"

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