Perspectives on History and New Historicism

Understanding History: Traditional vs. Critical Perspectives

History as Progressive

• Definition: The belief that history is a journey of forward movement, where people generally strive to improve, learn from past mistakes, and avoid repetition.

• Manifestations:

  • Tracing developments, new inventions, and new forms of government or influential concepts.

  • An inherent sense that things are continually getting better, leading to progress in wealth, power, evolution, and intelligence.

• Application in the United States: This concept strongly influences the narrative of the U.S. as a nation constantly advancing and striving for improvement.

• Bias and Implications:

  • Creates a bias against people from the past, assuming they were morally and intellectually inferior, simpler, or lived in worse conditions.

  • Suggests a moral and intellectual evolution over time.

• Nuances and Counterpoints:

  • History often shows complications and periods where things get worse.

  • The