This book tells the history of the United States, starting with European
explorers rather than the Native Americans who had been inhabiting the
region we now name North America for generations. The book describes the
achievements of the brave, clever, and powerful men (and a few women)
who founded the colonies that later developed into the states that
eventually gave rise to the current nation.In general, it paints the
Native Americans as barbaric, uncivilized, and vicious. As you read,
consider why it could be crucial for a white lady of European ancestry
to write for children in England or the US to view Native Americans in
this manner. What does it reveal about the people, the country, and the
terrain at the time? H.E. Marshall, the author, wrote from a Protestant
point of view. Nothing in her writing implies that she intentionally set
to be anti-Catholic, but it is clear that her Protestant background and
her sense of the truth had an impact on her writing. The advantages of
adopting this book exceed any drawbacks, which can be quickly resolved
by debate and careful editing.