Gordon Wood and Woody Holton Clash Over Past and Present | National News

New York (AP) — Gordon Wood has engaged in many debates during his long and well-known career, but rarely faced as hard as fellow scholar Woody Holton at the Massachusetts Historical Society last weekend. There was no.

Two American Revolutionary War historians were asked to discuss their latest books and their different views on the origin of the country. However, in the middle of the 60-minute event, the subject turned to the New York Times 1619 project. This is the 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning series that puts slavery at the heart of the American story. I felt sick quickly, but it was more like an academic gathering than a courtroom, with Wood standing on the stand.

Holton’s allegation: Wood’s criticism of the 1619 project, which he and four other historians accused of maintaining slavery as the “main reason” for independence, was made by Republicans such as Florida Governor Ron. Helped to make the current backlash from the politicians credible. Senator Tom Cotton of DeSantis and Arkansas, and the National Board of Education.

“You have written an open letter that goes beyond the pale colors and puts the project off the network, making it vulnerable to these demagogue attacks,” Holton told Wood. Jones was changed to “a part of the settlers” who wanted independence for fear of the slaves being united with the British, even if they admitted the opposition.

“You are Professor Wood, the founder of a large censorship campaign. You are not the most responsible, but five are responsible. That’s why Senator Cotton, Governor Desantis, and now. I would like you to use your letter to write another open letter to all other Demagogues banning the 1619 project. Gordon Wood, and damn, I’m in favor of censorship. not.”

In a telephone interview a few days later, Wood called the debate a “disaster” and was “blind” to Holton’s attack, with Holton acting as a “major defender” among historians of the 1619 project. He said he was playing. He found the positive qualities of the series, including essays on subjects such as politics, culture, criminal justice, and religion, and encouraged a sense of “victim” and called it “self-destructive”, “dissatisfied.” I criticized that I felt. “In the long run.

The letter Holton asked for will not be written.

“I didn’t know what Desantis was doing,” he said of the Governor of Florida. He named the 1619 project “Critical Race Theory” and upheld a decision last summer by the state school board to ban the book from the classroom. “It’s out of my control. I can’t do historical research … (worried) that it could be abused by politicians.”

Hannah Jones declined to comment by a oneworld spokesperson, the publisher of Penguin Random House. The publisher will publish a book-length edition of the project next month.

Wood and Holton have already published a book this fall. Wood’s “Power and Freedom: Constitutionalism in the American Revolutionary War” is a brief summary of his views on a revolution centered on the country’s political, economic, and legal foundations. Holton’s “Freedom is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution” is an account with over 700 pages, and as its subtitle shows, it goes beyond Washington, Jefferson, and other leaders to the traditional founding of the country. Spread the story, women, blacks, indigenous peoples and more.

Hannah Jones (“His book correctly deviates the almost exclusively white revolutionary story we have all taught”) and the Pulitzer Prize to the authors who provide the “Liberty is Sweet” tagline. Includes the award-winning Annette Gordon Reed (“Deeply studied and brave retelling”). Wood called it “a spiritual explanation of the revolution that brings everyone and everything into the story” in his slogan.

Wood, 87, could be the most prestigious living scholar in the American Revolutionary War. “He’s Muhammad Ali,” says 62-year-old Holton about him. Traditional top-down view of national origin. During the debate in historical society, Wood and Holton repeatedly disagreed on the role of slavery in the revolution, especially the importance of the 1775 Declaration by the Royal Governor of Virginia, Count Dunsmore, and joined Britain. Provided freedom to the people of the system. Cause.

“The act of complete despair,” Wood called it.

“It was a desperate move,” Holton agreed, but it resonated. He argued by giving Wood a printout of dozens of tweets he sent in recent weeks, showing evidence of a black-British relationship and how it scared white settlers. (He plans 76 in total).

“I know you’re not on Twitter,” Holton said.

Wood does not consider himself a “victor” or “great white” champion and says he does not follow the agenda beyond where scholarships lead him. He calls the revolution both “ironic” and “tragic.” He made it most famous for the Pulitzer Prize-winning “American Revolutionary War Extremism”, far beyond what Washington and other leaders wanted, and brought a serious democratic effect to the new country. I described it as.

He said he was against the 1619 project and some of Holton’s books. Because they believe that they have applied modern standards in the past. During the debate, Wood praised Holton as a “great” narrator for military combat, but said he had otherwise gone wrong. He quoted Holton’s emphasis, and the majority of early Americans, especially women and enslaved people, could not vote when the same was virtually true around the world.

“He sees the past through modern eyes. Woody is a great activist and historian who wants a useful past to solve the problems of the present.”

Wood and Holton are divided not only about the 18th century, but also about last weekend. Holton said there was no reason to feel “blind” because Wood discussed the basic rules, raised the subject of the 1619 project, and agreed that it should not be the main focus of the conversation. Holton’s memory was supported by Catherine Allgo, president of the Massachusetts Historical Society, who hosted the event, and Gavin Creepies, director of the association’s public program.

Both presented the AP notes (showing a reference to the 1619 project) taken when Holton and Wood met before the discussion.

“It’s blind to say he’s blind,” Allgo said.

Holton and Wood, who welcomed Holton as “my old buddy” at the beginning of the debate, have met before. In 2013, they discussed the impact of capitalism on the constitutional framework at the University of North Carolina. They were in a friendly relationship. Holton contacted Wood in a recent interview hoping to receive a slogan for “Liberty Is Sweet,” calling him a “really decent person” when he didn’t assert his own historical views. He said.

Mr Wood said Holton felt “very attractive” and at the same time “a little out of control”.

“I get along with the guy and I like him, but I’m not so happy now,” he added.

Copyright 2021 AP communication. all rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

Gordon Wood and Woody Holton Clash Over Past and Present | National News

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