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Contributed commentary by Dr. Cate LiaBraaten, an assistant professor in the History and Philosophy Department at Austin Peay State University:
Every presidential administration seeks to mold the present and future into their vision; the Trump administration is trying to mold the past. From the history-related executive orders to the Smithsonian Institution to the National Parks Service to the proposed Garden of National Heroes, the current administration has a deep interest in how American history is presented. Much of this has to do with the leadup to the semiquincentennial: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
As a professional historian, one of my areas of research is how people have interpreted the past in different eras, and how, for instance, a Depression-era image of Abraham Lincoln might tell us more about the 1930s than the Civil War. President Trump’s interpretations of the past are revealing of our current era: Many current political leaders lack the necessary intellectual courage to honestly examine the past.
The Trump administration’s “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” executive order has triggered a rash of reevaluations of historical interpretation at sites across the country. In an era of budget and staffing cuts, historians working for the federal government are being forced to spend precious resources to reevaluate public-facing materials to make sure they are in compliance with Trump’s uncritical celebratory version of American history instead of the professional analysis historians have worked on for years.
Debate about how the past is presented is nothing new: the so-called “culture wars” have included debate over history textbooks since the 1980s. What is different here is that the Trump administration is not simply debating which historical stories are told and how the stories are conveyed, they are outright erasing history. For Trump, this is personal as well; the National Museum of American History has been editing an exhibit reference to Trump’s first-term impeachments this summer.
America’s 250th anniversary should be a time for reflection, and yes, celebration, but Trump’s inaccurate, dangerous, and frankly, unimaginative vision of the past does not rise to the occasion. Front-line history workers at museums, parks and other historic sites are being forced to cover up parts of the past that make Trump and his administration uncomfortable, and these are almost all stories of violence and oppression. Trump’s executive order related to history refers to concerns over “disparaging” Americans, but it is impossible to tell the stories of American heroes without mentioning the people and forces they had to fight against. How can you tell the story of the long Black freedom struggle without mentioning that white people enforced racial discrimination? How can you discuss women’s suffrage and liberation movements without examining the fact that men worked to prevent political and social equality?
Many historians, including myself, welcome the growing interest in American history sparked by the 250th commemorations. However, some people feel like we cannot be critical of the United States as part of the semiquincennial because it is a “birthday.” The United States is not an elderly relative we spare from criticism out of tact and compassion while the birthday cake and candles are out. The United States is a country – it is us. An anniversary like the 250th is the perfect time for reflection on rights and wrongs, on mistakes and victories.
In my introductory US history classes, I always start the semester by asking students why the university requires them to take history. Invariably, they answer that it is: so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Trump wants to present a version of the past that is scrubbed of mistakes. This excessive coddling of the American ego is no way to make this country great. Professional historians have committed ourselves to honest history; President Trump would do well to follow our lead.
Dr. Cate LiaBraaten
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