It is now, more than ever, absolutely essential to teach U.S. history through the records of the dominating culture of each phase in time. Pre-1492 history, therefore, should be allowed to be told from a Native American perspective. Next in line would be a more concise depiction of the reality of the Spanish invasion. These are usually the two most neglected and misinterpreted phases in U.S. history.
When is the last time you came across historic U.S. written material that actually portrays the Native American experience from their own viewpoint, and not just some expert on them? This is precisely why any new history books, especially for scholastic use, should call upon the surviving Native Americans to illustrate for modern Americans what they know their history to be.
By doing so, Native American history in the U.S. would, for the first time, be told through the people whose history it comes from. Although modern Americans might not necessarily agree with the historical recollections of the Native people, it is vital that what they put forth on the subject is heard. This may manifest into more respect for what the defeated original people of this land dealt with.
Next, it is necessary to properly convey to young learners of U.S. history the Spanish invasion and experience. By covering Spanish history in the New World more fully, Americans can begin to embrace Hispanics and realize that they were the forerunners of our American experience and discoveries.
For instance, history books in the U.S. have usually pushed an anti-Hispanic name onto Cristobal Colon. The American history writers Anglicized his name to Christopher Columbus and therefore blatantly strip the great discovery of the Americas (by Europeans) from the Spanish.
The ships that Colon sailed here on were obviously Spanish: the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. He was born in Italy but sailed for Spain. If Spanish history were properly highlighted in American history books, many prejudices against Hispanics would hopefully disappear.
For instance, not many people realize, due to omission from many history books, that the Spanish explored what is today known as North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida before any Europeans. Many people do not realize that the majority of what is now the Southwest U.S. was once Spain and then Mexico. Also, the first European thanksgiving with Native Americans in the U.S. took place at what is now El Paso, Texas in 1598, 22 years before the thanksgiving at Plymouth Rock.
The next phases of U.S. history could follow the African experience as slaves and then English and French invasions. Without this alteration in American history books, our history will never be true or complete, or fair.