LMTTM Chapter 1 - The Problem with Making Heroes

​ (a)   was a ​ (b)   , someone who wanted far-reaching changes in society. Her particular form was ​ (c)   , a type of economy in which the government owns and controls most of a country’s sources of goods and wealth.

• Helen Keller
• radical
• socialism
• Eleanor Roosevelt
• Marie Curie
• communism
• authoritarianism
• pacifist
• bureaucrat

Loewen argues that the _____________ context of Helen Keller's early life is focused on because it is less controversial than the political context of her later life.

Organize these options into the right categories.

Groups:

(a) President Wilson Opposed

,

(b) President Wilson Supported

• Ending Colonialism

• U.S. Troop Interventions in Latin America

• Newspaper Censorship

• Socialist Labor Leaders

• Women's Suffrage

• The League of Nations

• White Supremacy

• Racial Integration of the Armed Forces

Loewen argues that textbooks typically avoid the later stages of Helen Keller's life because it raises the "thorny" subject of:

• Social Class

• Racial Inequity

• Wartime Propaganda

• Labor Union Activism

Given Loewen's clear bias in Lies My Teacher Told Me, he would be most likely to state that textbook's heroification of individuals in U.S. history is meant to promote:

Please identify the statement below that would come from a critic of Loewen's decision to include the quote from Helen Keller.

• Loewen weakens national unity by emphasizing class differences.

• Loewen is misusing Helen Keller's political and social opinions from earlier in her life.

• Loewen fails to reveal that the U.S. government was indeed pro-socialist during the Wilson administration.

• Loewen reinforces the "bootstrap" argument that people need only try and they will succeed in society.

According to Loewen, "Authors and publishers might fear that their ​ (a)   will not be chosen for use in ​ (b)   if they are too ​ (c)   . They might want to avoid ​ (d)   or conflict in the classroom. They might feel a need to ​ (e)   children from troublesome facts."

• textbooks
• schools
• honest
• uncertainty
• protect

Ultimately, Loewen concludes that heroes are unnecessary when discussing national identity.

• True

• False

Match each sentence starter to its appropriate conclusion, per the opinion of Loewen.

• -risks being labeled as unpatriotic.

• Textbooks will sometimes explain behavior:

• -without direct or indirect evidence.

• To discuss the flaws of our leaders:

• -appeal to as many people as possible.

• President Wilson's true accomplishments:

• -mix societal positives with negatives.

• Authors leave things out of history to:

• -harms understanding of cause-effect.

• Teaching history as heroic:

Please identify the statement below that Loewen would DISAGREE with.

• The Birth of a Nation was a landmark technical film production.

• President Wilson endorsed the film as historically accurate.

• Racism from political leadership can elicit racism from the public.

• No evidence shows a link between The Birth of a Nation and a new Ku Klux Klan.