SKU: 28369887236
philodendron dark leaf

philodendron dark leaf Shop 'Philodendron Mcdowell' Care & Growing Guide

$18.41 $20.45
Save 10%
No.2 Bestseller on mivipcard.com >

Pay in installments of $5.11 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 4 - Aug 9

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

philodendron dark leaf Shop 'Philodendron Mcdowell' Care & Growing GuideThe Philodendron Mcdowell is a crawling, drought tolerant plant that has lush, heart shaped leaves and a velvet like texture. This tropical plant is well known among collectors and indoor plant enthusiasts, and it is the ideal combination of easy care and captivating beauty. This crawling hybrid is a cross between Philodendron gloriosum and Philodendron pastazanum. This unique origin gives McDowell its natural adaptability to warm and humid

The Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ is a crawling, drought-tolerant plant that has lush, heart-shaped leaves and a velvet-like texture. This tropical plant is well-known among collectors and indoor plant enthusiasts, and it is the ideal combination of easy care and captivating beauty.  

This crawling hybrid is a cross between Philodendron gloriosum and Philodendron pastazanum. This unique origin gives ‘McDowell’ its natural adaptability to warm and humid environments, as well as being tolerant to low light; which mimics the shaded conditions of tropical forest floors.

The standout feature of the Mcdowell Philodendron plant is undoubtedly its massive, heart-shaped leaves, which can reach up to 2 feet in length when grown in ideal conditions.

These leaves have a deep green hue with prominent, white-veined patterns, and their texture resembles a velvety fabric, giving the plant an exceptionally tactile allure.

It is a terrestrial grower, which means it typically crawls along the soil rather than climbing, making it ideal for low, wide pots. 

Though it rarely blooms indoors, the Philodendron 'Mcdowell' plant can produce tiny, spathe-like flowers. These blooms are not as showy as the plant's foliage and often go unnoticed, but they do emit a subtle fragrance. Flowering may occur if the plant is grown outdoors in a tropical climate or in a greenhouse that replicates its native conditions. 

As an indoor plant, Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ not only enhances the aesthetic of a space with its dramatic foliage, but it also helps purify the air by absorbing pollutants. Like other philodendrons, it plays a role in removing toxins, making it an excellent choice for improving indoor air quality. Its lush, tropical appearance adds a sense of tranquility and vibrant greenery to any interior setting.

When and How to Water Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’

Like other drought-tolerant plants, the Philodendron McDowell can handle some neglect when it comes to watering. It is important to allow the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. Overwatering can be more harmful than underwatering for this plant.  

In the spring and summer, during the growing season, you want to keep the soil slightly moist but not waterlogged. A good rule of thumb is to water it when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. You can water it thoroughly typically for 1-2 weeks, allowing excess water to drain out of the pot to prevent root rot. 

In the fall and winter, during the dormant season, the McDowell Philodendron plant doesn't need as much water. You should reduce the frequency of watering to once a week. It's essential to adjust your watering schedule based on the plant's needs and the environmental conditions. Overwatering can be more harmful than underwatering for this plant, so it's better to err on the side of slightly underwatering than overdoing it. Just keep an eye on the moisture and adjust accordingly to keep your Philodendron happy and healthy!

Light Requirements – Where to Place Your Philodendron Plant 

When grown indoors, it does well in bright, indirect light for at least 4-6 hours a day. You can place it near a window where it can get filtered sunlight or even a few feet away from a window with bright, indirect light.

Just avoid placing it in direct sunlight as that can scorch its leaves. If you notice the leaves turning yellow or brown, it might be getting too much light. 

For outdoor cultivation, Philodendron McDowell can still do well in bright, indirect light. It's best to place it in a spot where it gets filtered sunlight or dappled shade.

If you're in a region with intense sunlight, make sure to protect it from direct sun exposure, especially during the hottest parts of the day.

Remember, the key is to provide it with the right balance of light – not too dim and not too bright. 

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs 

When it comes to soil for your Philodendron McDowell, it thrives in a well-draining potting mix. This type of soil allows excess water to drain away, preventing waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. You can also consider adding some orchid bark or charcoal to the mix to enhance aeration and drainage, promoting healthy root growth. Planet Desert specialized potting soil, opens in a new tabGo to soil cactus mix blend 1 gal 4 qt cacti succulent dirt compost growing media that includes an organic substrate with mycorrhizae to help with the growth of a healthy root system to help your succulents thrive. 

Your Philodendron McDowell doesn't require a lot of feeding. During the growing season in spring, you can fertilize it with a balanced NPK fertilizer diluted to half strength. Feed the plant once a year to provide it with the necessary nutrients for healthy growth. During the dormant season in fall and winter, you can reduce or stop fertilizing altogether since the plant's growth slows down during this time. Always remember to follow the instructions on the fertilizer package to avoid overfeeding, which can harm the plant. With the right soil mix and proper fertilization, your Philodendron plant will continue to thrive and grace your space with its lush green foliage.

Hardiness Zones & More 

When grown indoors, with bright, indirect light keep the temperature between 65-80°F during the day and no lower than 60°F at night. Avoid placing it near drafty windows or doors as sudden temperature drops can stress the plant. Maintaining a stable temperature will help your Philodendron thrive and remain healthy indoors. 

For outdoor planting, the Philodendron McDowell is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 10-11. These zones typically have milder winters with temperatures above 30°F.

If you live in a colder climate, you can still grow it outdoors during the warmer months and bring it inside before the temperatures drop. This plant thrives in temperatures above 50°F and doesn't tolerate frost well. 

The Philodendron plants enjoy moderate to high humidity levels. Indoors, you can increase humidity by misting the plant regularly, using a humidifier, or placing a tray of water near the plant. Outdoors in humid regions, the plant will naturally benefit from the ambient moisture in the air. 

Wildlife – Philodendron Mcdowell Attracts the Following Friendly Pollinators 

The Philodendron McDowell is known to attract pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies with its unique flowers. These pollinators are drawn to the plant's nectar and can help facilitate the pollination process, leading to the production of seeds. By attracting these pollinators, the Philodendron McDowell contributes to the ecosystem's biodiversity and promotes plant reproduction. 

Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds
Lady Bugs
Multi Pollinators
Other Birds

Philodendron McDowell is mildly toxic to pets and humans, causing symptoms such as irritation and swelling if ingested. It is safe to touch and handle without any adverse effects. However, it is recommended to keep this plant out of reach of pets and children to prevent accidental ingestion.

How to Propagate Your Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ 

The Philodendron McDowell can be propagate through stem cuttings. To propagate your plant, you can take a cutting with at least one node (where leaves are attached) and place it in water or directly into a well-draining potting mix. Keep the cutting in a warm and humid environment, and roots should start to develop within a few weeks. Once the roots are established, you can transplant the cutting into a larger pot with soil and continue to care for it as you would a mature plant. This method of propagation is relatively straightforward and can help you expand your Philodendron collection. 

Key Takeaways

  1. This Philodendron is a hybrid created by John Banta, a cross between Philodendron gloriosum and Philodendron pastazanum. It inherits the striking heart-shaped leaves and velvety texture from its parent plants.
  2. The Philodendron 'Mcdowell' is a crawler rather than a climber, unlike vining Philodendrons, which grow upward with support.
  3. The extremely large, heart-shaped leaves are velvety with prominent white veins, making it a popular choice among collectors. Young leaves often emerge with a pinkish hue before maturing into a deep green.
  4. As a crawler rather than a climber, Mcdowell grows horizontally across the soil, requiring a wide pot or ground space to thrive.
  5. This Philodendron plant is known for its air-purifying qualities, making it a popular choice for indoor spaces.

The Bottom Line 

Overall, the Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ is a stunning hybrid known for its large, heart-shaped, velvety leaves with distinct white veins that give it a bold, tropical appearance. As a crawling variety, it grows horizontally, spreading across the soil, which makes it ideal for wide containers or as a ground cover in tropical gardens. This plant thrives in bright, indirect light and requires consistently moist but well-drained soil. It’s essential to let the top inch dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. High humidity (around 60-80%) and warm temperatures between 65-80°F are ideal for its growth, making it a great indoor plant, especially when a humidifier is available in drier environments. With proper care and attention, Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ brings lush, green beauty to any space and rewards growers with its impressive, luxurious foliage. Order your very own Philodendron ‘Mcdowell’ for sale today! 

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 28369887236

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell philodendron dark leaf

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.9 ★★★★★
Based on 21 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
R
Verified Purchase
R. Russell Bittner
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
“This country is not in good condition.” Calvin Coolidge, 1931. (p. 387).
Apart from his unique view of American history and of his treatment of many of the landmark events of that history, Howard Zinn gives us any number of interesting and noteworthy observations in the course of this 700-page text. I beg your indulgence while we look at just a few…. On p. 73, “(t)o say that the Declaration of Independence, even by its own language, was limited to life, liberty and happiness for white males is not to denounce the makers and signers of the Declaration for holding the ideas expected of privileged males of the eighteenth century. Reformers and radicals, looking discontentedly at history, are often accused of expecting too much from a past political epoch – and sometimes they do. But the point of noting those outside the arc of human rights in the Declaration is not, centuries late and pointlessly, to lay impossible moral burdens on that time. It is to try to understand the way in which the Declaration functioned to mobilize certain groups of Americans, ignoring others. Surely, inspirational language to create a secure consensus is still used, in our time, to cover up serious conflicts of interest in that consensus, and to cover up, also, the omission of large parts of the human race.” And then, on p. 96: “(t)he problem of democracy in the post-Revolutionary society was not, however, the Constitutional limitations on voting. It lay deeper, beyond the Constitution, in the division of society into rich and poor. For if some people had great wealth and great influence; if they had the land, the money, the newspapers, the church, the educational system – how could voting, however broad, cut into such power? There was still another problem: wasn’t it the nature of representative government, even when most broadly based, to be conservative, to prevent tumultuous change?” For the answer to that last question, we can, of course, always turn to the pleasantly incendiary words of no less than Thomas Jefferson, which Mr. Zinn naturally and deftly does: “‘I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing…. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government…. God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion…. The Tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.’” One can only imagine how Jefferson would’ve reacted to the following open letter penned by Ralph Waldo Emerson to President Van Buren in 1838 as the still young nation hung its head in shame for the Trail of Tears it had just blazed: “(t)he soul of man, the justice, the mercy that is the heart’s heart in all men, from Maine to Georgia, does abhor this business…a crime is projected that confounds our understanding by its magnitude, a crime that really deprives us as well as the Cherokees of a country for how could we call the conspiracy that should crush these poor Indians our government, or the land that was cursed by their parting and dying imprecations our country any more? You, sir, will bring down that renowned chair in which you sit into infamy if your seal is set to this instrument of perfidy; and the name of this nation, hitherto the sweet omen of religion and liberty, will stink to the world” (p. 147). Was the very noble Van Buren at all distressed by the death of thousands of Cherokee Indians along this Trail of Tears when, at the end of the same year, he spoke to Congress? “It affords sincere pleasure to apprise the Congress of the entire removal of the Cherokee Nation of Indians to their new homes west of the Mississippi. The measures authorized by Congress at its last session have had the happiest effects” (p. 148). (Emphasis is mine.) And if you think that all of the wars the U. S. participated in right up to Vietnam were “good” wars (as I did until now), consider what we have in the way of a diary entry from a certain Colonel Hitchcock: “I have said from the first that the United States are the aggressors…. We have not one particle of right to be here…. It looks as if the government sent a small force on purpose to bring on a war, so as to have a pretext for taking California and as much of this country as it chooses, for, whatever becomes of this army, there is no doubt of a war between the United States and Mexico…. My heart is not in this business … but, as a military man, I am bound to execute orders” (p. 151). As I’ve already said, Zinn has a singular way of characterizing some of history’s more significant events. As yet another example, I give you the following from p. 171 (on the first page of Chapter 9, titled “Slavery without Submission, Emancipation without Freedom”: “…it was Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves, not John Brown. In 1859, John Brown was hanged, with federal complicity, for attempting to do by small-scale violence what Lincoln would do by large-scale violence several years later – end slavery.” And lest there still be any doubt about Abraham Lincoln’s position on American blacks and the issue of slavery, Zinn gives us these two very telltale quotes: “I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people…. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race” (p. 188). Moreover, and in direct response to the Editor of the New York Tribune, Horace Greeley, we find this (on p. 191): “Dear Sir: … I have not meant to leave any one in doubt…. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy Slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that. What I do about Slavery and the colored race, I do because it helps to save this Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union…. I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty, and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men, everywhere, could be free. Yours, A. Lincoln.” But history (and human “progress”) moves on – and so, we have this: “(i)n 1877, (the year, according to David Burbank, in his book REIGN OF THE RABBLE, ‘no American city has come so close to being ruled by a workers’ soviet, as we would now call it, as St. Louis, Missouri’ – p. 250), the same year blacks learned they did not have enough strength to make real the promise of equality in the Civil War, working people learned they were not united enough, not powerful enough, to defeat the combination of private capital and government power” (p. 251). And Zinn then opens Chapter 11 (“Robber Barons and Rebels”) with this: “(i)n the year 1877, the signals were given for the rest of the century: the black would be put back; the strikes of white workers would not be tolerated; the industrial and political elites of North and South would take hold of the country and organize the greatest march of economic growth in human history. They would do it with the aid of, and at the expense of, black labor, white labor, Chinese labor, European immigrant labor, female labor, rewarding them differently by race, sex, national origin, and social class, in such a way as to create separate levels of oppression – a skillful terracing to stabilize the pyramid of wealth” (p. 253). For those who think the “Occupy Wall Street” movement of the new millennium was a singular invention of the millennial generation, you might want to consider what Mary Ellen Lease, of the newly formed People’s Party, had to tell those assembled at that party’s first convention in 1890 in Topeka, KS: “Wall Street owns the country. It is no longer a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, but a government of Wall Street, by Wall Street and for Wall Street…. Our laws are the output of a system which clothes rascals in robes and honesty in rags…. The politicians said we suffered from overproduction. Overproduction, when 10,000 little children … starve to death every year in the U. S. and over 100,000 shop girls in New York are forced to sell their virtue for bread…. “There are thirty men in the United States whose aggregate wealth is over one and one-half billion dollars. There are half a million looking for work…. We want money, land and transportation. We want the abolition of the National Banks, and we want the power to make loans direct from the government. We want the accursed foreclosure system wiped out…. We will stand by our homes and stay by our firesides by force if necessary, and we will not pay our debts to the loan-shark companies until the Government pays its debts to us. “The people are at bay, let the bloodhounds of money who have dogged us thus far beware” (p. 288). For those (like me until now) who’ve always thought only the best of Teddy Roosevelt, the following two direct quotes – not to mention William James’s rejoinder – might be a bit of a news-breaker: “(i)n strict confidence…I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs one” (p. 297). And in his address to the Naval War College, he has this to say: “(a)ll the great masterful races have been fighting races…. No triumph of peace is quite so great as the supreme triumph of war” (p. 300). Thankfully – and from James – comes the sobering suggestion that he (Roosevelt) “gushes over war as the ideal condition of human society, for the manly strenuousness which it involves, and treats peace as a condition of blubberlike and swollen ignobility, fit only for huckstering weaklings, dwelling in gray twilight and heedless of the higher life…” (p. 300). For those who think Obama’s recent initiative at a rapprochement with Cuba bodes well for that impoverished Caribbean island, you might want to consider what another historian, Philip Foner, writes about the last time (towards the end of the nineteenth century) this country took a keen interest in Old Havana: “(e)ven before the Spanish flag was down in Cuba, U. S. business interests set out to make their influence felt. Merchants, real estate agents, stock speculators, reckless adventurers, and promoters of all kinds of get-rich schemes flocked to Cuba by the thousands. Seven syndicates battled each other for control of the franchises for the Havana Street Railway, which were finally won by Percival Farquhar, representing the Wall Street interests of New York. Thus, simultaneously with the military occupation began … commercial occupation” (p. 310). But it gets even better on the other side of the planet, and the same William James who pronounced upon the clearly bellicose character of Teddy Roosevelt has the last word on American behavior in the Pacific: “God dam* the U. S. for its vile conduct in the Philippine Isles” (p. 315). And on that same subject, consider what none other than Mark Twain has to say: “(w)e have pacified some thousands of the islanders and buried them; destroyed their fields; burned their villages, and turned their widows and orphans out-of-doors; furnished heartbreak by exile to some dozens of disagreeable patriots; subjugated the remaining ten millions by Benevolent Assimilation, which is the pious new name of the musket; we have acquired property in the three hundred concubines and other slaves of our business partner, the Sultan of Sulu, and hoisted our protecting flag over that sway. “And so, by these Providences of God – and the phrase is the government’s, not mine – we are a World Power” (p. 316). Where, by the way, was all of this war-mongering and industrial development at breakneck speed headed? Zinn’s choice of a quote from Sinclair Lewis’s BABBITT couldn’t be more appropriate: “(i)t was the best of nationally advertised and quantitatively produced alarm-clocks, with all modern attachments, including cathedral chime, intermittent alarm, and a phosphorescent dial. Babbitt was proud of being awakened by such a rich device. Socially it was almost as creditable as buying expensive cord tires. “He sulkily admitted now that there was no more escape, but he lay and detested the grind of the real-estate business, and disliked his family, and disliked himself for disliking them” (pp. 383-384). Two more brief quotes from Howard Zinn himself, and then I’ll conclude. On p. 636, “(w)e may, in the coming years, be in a race for the mobilization of middle-class discontent.” And almost immediately following, on p. 637, “(c)apitalism has always been a failure for the lower classes. It is now beginning to fail for the middle classes.” I suggested, at the beginning of this review, that Howard Zinn had a “unique view of American history.” That suggestion was in no sense ironic or tongue-in-cheek. After a couple of weeks and 700+ pages, I can only say that this is some of the most valuable reading time I’ve ever spent. I’m humbled – and yes, also somewhat ashamed – that I’ve discovered this historian and his work at the very ripe old age of 64. I obviously wish it could’ve been sooner. But as it was not, the next best thing I could do was give my copy of A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, still slightly warm to the touch, to my daughter on the occasion of her 21st birthday. God willing, she’ll grow up better informed than I – at the very least, about the country whose passport she carries. RRB 06/08/15 Brooklyn, NY
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2015
J
Verified Purchase
John Klinger
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
A must read
Format: Paperback
Great book! Show what you should eat to help yourself. Everyone should read this book.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2026
D
Verified Purchase
Dark Angel
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 4
Worthwhile Read
Format: Hardcover
Extremely insightful.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2026
W
Verified Purchase
William Echols
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Beyond the Usual Left/Right bifurcation
When thinking about Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States, I am reminded of E.H. Carr's seminal work "What is History?" whereby he stated: "The belief in a hard core of historical facts existing objectively and independently of the interpretation of the historian is a preposterous fallacy, but one which it is very hard to eradicate". As Carr famously stated, millions of people had crossed the Rubicon, but only Julius Caesar's crossing in 49 BC has been given normative value by historians. For those familiar with the philosophical treatment of historical understanding in Tolstoy's War and Peace, this sentiment will ring true. A People's History is designed to give voice to those millions who passed the rubicon but never found their way into the annuals of history. A couple of points. This book was intended to be a supplement as opposed to a strictly chronological account of history that will give you the bullet points for the most important people, dates and events. [sic] It is not meant to be a replacement for a more standardized textbook. Secondly, Zinn did not hate America, and he in fact stated: "I want young people to understand that ours is a beautiful country, but it has been taken over by men who have no respect for human rights or constitutional liberties. Our people are basically decent and caring, and our highest ideals are expressed in the Declaration of Independence, which was that all of us have an equal right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The history of our country, I point out in my book, is a striving, against corporate robber barons and war makers, to make those ideals a reality-and all of us, of whatever age, can find immense satisfaction in becoming part of that." Regardless of your political position, between the Great Recession and the Iraq war, there is a relevance to this sentiment that cuts across political lines. Now, what one will notice in the bulk of the one star reviews is the sense that either the reviewer has not read the book, they copied and pasted their criticism from another source or they have strictly given the book one star because it does not conform with their view of reality. "Blame America first", "socialism", "communism", "Marx, "liberal propaganda", you can easily get the gist of the talking points because many American conservatives apparently got the same memo in dismissing anything they don't agree with. The disservice they do to themselves and the sphere of ideas in the outright dismissal of any perspective which does not conform to their own is truly sad. When someone gives a book one star merely for not conforming to their view of reality,they have obviously lost the plot. In university I knew many conservative history professors who liked and used Zinn's work. They believed it was important to incorporate and deal with the claims that Zinn made. You cannot whitewash history and blindly stick by the most comforting narrative. That does not mean that one should agree with Zinn's conclusions or think that he has a monopoly on the truth. Zinn himself would not have wanted that. For those who claim Zinn is a socialist or any other kind of -ist, that he is not completely objective, they have obviously never done any research. Pure positivism was dismissed long ago. Even Max Webber started that our subjective bias comes in the moment we choose to study something, for by seeing the subject matter as valuable, we have placed a normative value on it. There is no pure value objectivity, stating one's position and bias from the outset is what responsible social scientists do these days. A dryly academic text with an obvious bias concealed by a detached form of writing gives a falsely omniscient perspective whose reality is psychological but not objective. However they write, they are just a person, and without expressing their biases it will inevitably turn up in their work without necessarily being obvious. This is far more dangerous than what Zinn does in stating his bias from the outset. So it is a red herring to dismiss Zinn for having a perspective. We all have one and it will come into whatever we do. There is no knowable, objective reality (for humans) living in the Platonic world of perfect forms. History was a puzzle of immeasurable size that was blown apart and the pieces scattered over the cosmos. The vast majority of the pieces are gone, never to return. We are stabbing at an imperfect speculation, not ultimate truth when we engage in historical study. Any physicist will tell you that the particle wave duality of light has pretty much closed the book on the notion that we can objectively, perfectly know anything. This book is important because the poison of partisan politics has come to dominate even the dialogue of academic research. If the sole criterion for giving a book one star is the notion that you don't agree with its thesis, then you obviously live in a fragile world and are incapable of being challenged intellectually. This book is of the upmost importance for the conservative to read and digest. In developing a coherent narrative of the United States, you need to wrestle with its sins and determine, despite our historical shortcomings and transgressions, what is it that makes this imperfect union the pinnacle of nation states if one agrees with that prospect. For the liberal, you should not view Zinn's work as the last word on anything, but rather use it as a stepping stone to further develop your own historical understanding and consider how well has American done on a relative scale in light of the political, societal and human failings that have marred all human civilizations. This book is well worth the challenges it presents, and should be a 5 star treat for the conservative who loves his country and wants to develop the most cogent and nuanced argument as to why that is the case despite those unsettling realities to be found in this book as well as the liberal who wants to give voice to his disaffection with certain aspects of American society and the reasons why we need to change it. This is not another tool in the mindless and poisonous Manichean bifurcation of American politics. It is a vehicle to help you strengthen and deepen your understanding of US history, regardless from which direction you are coming. Recommended to all who are interested in the journey of learning as opposed to a presupposed outcome that serves a vested interest.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2010
D
Verified Purchase
Dr. Lee D. Carlson
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
A 50 carat learning gem
The teaching of American history in elementary and middle schools reminds one of the cleaning of a commode: any rings or crud are removed and the bowl is disinfected. It then looks shiny and pretty, as if no foul stuffs were ever deposited in it. The tall tales and antiseptic methodologies employed in the teaching of American history in these citadels of bias are finally being countered by some historians, who are also clearly biased but self-consciously so. They do not hesitate to study the foul stuffs that have been part of the history of the United States, and are willing to put up with the strong odors thereof. What results in their writings is a compilation of the facts that are left unreported by the sycophants of established educational hierarchies. The picture they paint is not a pretty one, but for those who desire the bare, naked truth, and not the stale platitudes of whitewashed historical analysis, it can be a grand viewing. The author of this book is one of these new historians, and he does not hesitate to dig deep into the real stories that have remained hidden for decades. Historical analysis of course is more then muckracking, and requires an accounting of what has occurred in the past without blinders. It also must put to rest the notion that historical events are controlled by a ruling elite, and the latter are not the distinguishing features of history. History is not a history of kings, queens, and princesses. They play a role but it is an ancillary one. The title of this book refreshingly reminds us of this. History is governed and directed by the actions of many individuals, known and unknown. The author calls them "the people", and their story is told unabashedly in this book. The author is clearly a socialist, but his attitude is one of a healthy skepticism towards government, and justified distrust of the military establishment. He reminds us that the draft was in place as early as the Revolutionary War, as were the exceptions granted for avoidance of it. For example in Connecticut Yale students and faculty were exempted from the draft, as were ministers and various government officials. There was also the familiar schism between officers and "ordinary" soldiers, and any in the latter class who chose not to respect this distinction were whipped severely. Wealthy individuals dominated the Continental Congress, but most "ordinary" soldiers were not getting paid. Some groups of "ordinary" soldiers rebelled and some executed by firing squad when the rebellion was suppressed (in one case by soldiers of George Washington himself who led the suppression). The author's commentary and documentation on the Revolutionary War certainly act as a counterexample against the belief that this war had universal support and thought of as a noble cause by the general populace of the time. The Revolutionary War, like all other wars, was an ugly, messy affair, and had its share of false patriotism, brutality, and cowardice, and it affected many other peoples that had no interest or stake in it: native American tribes such as the Iroquois and the Mohawk. These tribes did not come under the umbrella of the Declaration of Independence. Some of these tribes therefore launched, with complete justification, a guerilla war against the new American citizenry, especially when the latter decided to push westward and indulge itself in the forced acquisition of land. The author tells us of the smallpox biological warfare launched against the Appalachian tribes by the British, causing a major epidemic. He tell us of the thousands of black slaves who fought with the British in the Revolutionary War, as did the majority of the Indian tribes. He tell us of the keeping of slaves by Thomas Jefferson throughout his life, of the fact that most of the authors of the Constitution were men of wealth, and none were slaves, indentured servants, women, or men without property. He tell us of Shay's rebellion and its counter, the Riot Act, which allowed authorities to keep people in jail without trial, and of the defiance of Anne Hutchinson against the church fathers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He tells us of New Jersey's rescinding of women's right to vote in 1807, of a "feminist" movement as early as the 1840's, and of the founding in 1821 of the Troy Female Seminary by Emma Willard. The author reminds us that the war of 1812 was a conflict waged for expansion into Florida, Canada, and Indian territories, that Congress deliberately and without hesitation appropriated money for war against the Seminoles, and that President Van Buren openly bragged to Congress about the forced removal of Cherokees from lands east of the Mississippi. He reminds us of the doctrine of "manifest destiny" and its justification of the brutal war against Mexico waged by President James Polk in the 1840's with the jingoistic assistance of the newspapers (no other course would be rational some of them reported), with Mexico losing half its territory in the 1848 treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. He reminds us of the Anti-Renter movement in the Hudson valley of New York, and that the Renssalaer family at one time ruled over eighty thousand tenants. He reminds us of Dorr's Rebellion in Rhode Island that attacked the idea, and its perpetrators, that only landowners could vote. So yes, there is much in this book that is fascinating and that is food for a hungry and inquisitive mind. It certainly goes against the mainstream view, and any teacher of history will probably come under fire from those who employ them if they decide to discuss the facts and analysis in this book. The history of the United States has been one of brutality mixed with brilliance, the former of which is emphasized in the pages of this book. A future treatise might emphasize the latter, and together they can give a more accurate picture of what the United States is, what it has been, and its future potential.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2006

recommand products

UPPAbaby Vista V3 Wheel Replacement – PramFox
20.91
UPPAbaby All-Terrain Wheels for VISTA V2/V3
21.77
UPPAbaby Minu Replacement Wheels Full Set
22.28
UPPAbaby Vista / Vista V2 / Vista V3 Piggyback – Baby & Kids 1st
23.07
Kolcraft Cloud Umbrella Stroller
29.43