The Irish Famine in American School Curricula

摘要: EXAMINING how people remember the past has become for historians as important analyzing events on which those collective memories are based. (1) On one level, trend extends established method of intradisciplinary self-critique known "historiography" to a parallel study changing opinions over time among consumers, rather than producers, historical knowledge. another, it exemplifies epistemological doubts late-twentieth century that scholars can create histories accurate in any positivistic sense. What lasting role history memory may have discipline cannot yet be discerned. It at least underlined important, given era, popular is current political discourse. also shown relationship between and discourse two-way one-way, shaping partly process. Fifty-year anniversaries their multiples tend moments reshaping memories, sesquicentennial Great Irish Famine 1845-52 generated an interesting opportunity observe contemporary example phenomenon. (2) The reflected historians' updated judgments about famine. In 1980s 1990s, series undercut interpretation famine had been natural calamity severely aggravated by unwise social economic practices people. (3) With much greater nuance, they again made central catastrophe stories inadequacies even hard-heartedness Britain's response crisis. Of course, stance "revisionist" whom criticized reaction older, nationalist arguments primarily product conscious English policy. (4) took special importance account contexts occurred. How society observed implications various groups involved Northern Ireland debate. Hard-line nationalists could use evidence mean-spirited behavior era indication perfidy modern denials responsibility reason distrusting today's British government. From point view, advantages viewing themselves helpless bystanders inevitably blamed misfortunes brought were equally obvious. United States, commemoration occurred characterized revived expressions ethnicity perceptions cultural must consciously protect presentation heritages nation. For Americans from backgrounds might included under umbrella terms "Catholic" or "nationalist," was present alternative depiction portrayed them racist adjuncts dominant culture. (5) Although would reject politicized charges claiming "victimhood," remembering allowed remind nation initial pariah status prolonged period assimilation. Given broader context States century, efforts niche American not surprisingly techniques developed preceding generation African eager establish share nation's Jews anxious lest lessons World War II forgotten. Whether enjoyed irony tactics associated with ethnic competitors clear. Some other groups, especially Jews, definitely did enjoy it. One key element Irish-American initiative campaign include instruction curricula several school systems, states large Irish-ancestral populations. …