Quotessence
Home / Books / A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present

A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present

Book by Howard Zinn · 3 quotes · History, Slavery, America

Filter quotes by topic

AllHistorySlaveryAmericaUnited States Of AmericaUsaAmerican HistoryAmerican ImperialismBlue CollarCapitalismFood For ThoughtFreedomPoliticsPovertySlavery HistorySlavery In The United StatesUs HistoryWarWealthAmerican RevolutionArmy

A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present Quotes

“Speaking of California, the Illinois State Register asked: "Shall this garden of beauty be suffered to lie dormant in its wild and useless luxuriance? . . . myriads of enterprising Americans would flock to its rich and inviting prairies; the hum of Anglo-American industry would be heard in its valleys; cities would rise upon its plains and sea-coast, and the resources and wealth of the nation increased in an incalculable degree.”

WealthCaliforniaUnited States Of America
Book:A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present
Create image

“In 1868, the Georgia legislature voted to expel all its Negro members-two senators, twenty-five representatives-and Turner spoke to the Georgia House of Representatives (a black woman graduate student at Atlanta University later brought his speech to light): Mr. Speaker. . . I wish the members of this House to understand the position that I take. I hold that I am a member of this body. Therefore, sir, I shall neither fawn or cringe before any party, nor stoop to beg them for my rights. . . I am here to demand my rights, and to hurl thunderbolts at the men who would dare to cross the threshold of my manhood.”

PoliticsUnited States Of AmericaGeorgia
Book:A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present
Create image

“I was a Shoemaker, & got my living by my Labor. When this Rebellion come on, I saw some of my Neighbors got into Commission, who were no better than myself. I was very ambitious, & did not like to see those Men above me. I was asked to enlist as a private Soldier. . . I offered to enlist upon having a Lieutenants Commission; which was granted. I imagined my self now in a way of Promotion: if I was killed in Battle, there would be an end of me, but if my Captain was killed, I should rise in Rank, & should still have a Chance to rise higher. These Sir! were the only Motives of my entering into the Service; for as the Dispute between Great Britain & the colonies, I know nothing of it. . .”

RevolutionArmyUnited States Of AmericaGreat Britain
Book:A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present
Create image