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MOST COMMON ERRORS AND OMISSIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY TEXTBOOKS
WITH REFERENCE TO POLISH HISTORY, SCIENCES AND CULTURE
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In the below quoted remarks, you will be able to get better information on some of the issues.
Remarks in the "Omission" section were made on the basis of reviewing the following textbooks:
- Henry Brown: Global Studies, Civilization of the Past and Present - AMSCO School Publishing, 1993.
- Mounir Farax and Andrea Berens Karls: World History, the Human Experience - GLENCOE Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.
- Jerome R. Reich at. al.: World History - Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1990.
- Amos Elon: The Israelis - Penguin Books, 1981.
- World History, the Human Experience - GLENCOE Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.
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OTTOMAN EMPIRE DRIVE WEST (DECLINE OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE) |
| Omission: |
| In the chapters dealing with the Ottoman Empire, the name of Jan III Sobieski is notoriously overlooked,
though the Polish army under his command defeated the Turks at the door of Vienna in 1683. This victory
was crucial to the future of the whole of Europe. |
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Correct quote: |
 The Grand Vizir (Kara Mustafa) with his enormous army was moving west to spread the Holy War
to Europe.
The Battle for Vienna and Europe was won thanks to the strategy of Jan Sobieski and his
famous HUSARIA (excellently trained and equipped warriors on horses).
From New Encyclopedia
Britannica, vol. 6, page 577. |
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| Facts to remember: |
| Polish King John III Sobieski saved Europe from Turkish invasion. |
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RENAISSANCE SCIENTIFIC METHOD & SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS |
| Omission: |
| The creation of the University of Cracow in 1364 is often omitted. |
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| Correct quote: |
The creation of this first Polish University, following that of Prague, the second to be opened in Central
Europe, bears witness to the high level of culture which Poland had reached, and to Casimir's desire to raise it higher still.
From O. Halecki: A History of Poland, page 57. |
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| Facts to remember: |
| The University of Cracow was created in 1364 as the second university in Central Europe. |
| Omission: |
In this chapter the names of Galileo and Newton are mentioned. It is most surprising that the name of Copernicus
(Kopernik 1473-1543) has been omitted. |
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| Correct quote: |
| Angus Armitage associates Kopernik with mankind's embarkation upon a new, scientific course and the late Bertrand Russel assigned to him the role of the first revolutionizer of science.
From Kasparek-Obst: The Constitutions of Poland and the U.S. - Kinship and Genealogy, page 235. |
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| Facts to remember: |
| Kopernik (Copernicus), Polish astronomer, was the creator of the heliocentric theory (the Sun, not the Earth, is the center of the Planetary System). |
| Omission: |
| One wonders why the nationality of Marie Curie whose maiden name was Sklodowska is not mentioned when Charles Darwin, British naturalist; George Mendel, Austrian monk; Edward Jenner, British doctor; Luis Pasteur, French scientist; Robert Koch, German doctor, all have their national origins revealed. Marie Curie Sklodowska was always proud of her Polish origin.
From New Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 3, pages 798-799. |
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| Facts to remember: |
| Marie Curie Sklodowska, twice the Nobel Prize winner, was Polish. |
| Omission: |
| In chapter on music, where Beethoven, Wagner, Verdi, Tchaikovsky are mentioned, the name of Frederic Chopin is conspicuously missing. His origin as a Pole is unquestionable and his place in the world of music is also beyond any doubt. |
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| Facts to remember: |
| Frederic Chopin, born in Poland (1810-1849) of a Polish mother married to a Polonized Frenchman, always considered himself a Pole. |
| Omission: |
| It seems very proper to mention a progressive and influential movement of that time called "Polish Brethren" (Arians, lately called Socinians) with two cultural centers in Rakow and Zamosc. The Brethren were energetically engaged in the propagation of their creed by way of two academies and a rich output of books and religious pamphlets. In due course, their ideas became known to and debated by the coreligionists in Holland and England and, subsequently, embodied in the teachings of the Unitarian church in Western Europe and the United States. The Polish Brethren also developed the concept of church and state as two distinct bodies. Samuel Przypkowski, their Spiritual leader, wrote: |
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| Correct quote: |
| ... No secular authority should command anything that properly concerns observance of the laws of Christ; in this respect religion not only does not ask help from state, but defends itself against the interference of outsider in another sphere.
The Polish Brethren also preached complete religious tolerance.
Whilst we compose a Catechism, we prescribe nothing to any men; whilst we declare our own opinion, we oppress no one. |
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| Facts to remember: |
The Polish Brethren - Arians developed the concept of Church and State as two distinct bodies and the idea of religious tolerance. Poland was one of the first countries in Europe where such ideas were promoted.
Source: Kasparek-Obst: The Constitutions of Poland and the U.S. - Kinship and Genealogy, page 156.
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| Omission: |
| The authors rightly emphasized the great role of John Locke in the development of modern ideas about government. In our opinion among the great names of those days with a great influence on ideas, the name of Polish bishop/writer/philosopher should be mentioned. His name was Wawrzyniec (Laurence) Goslicki. In his book, De Optimo Senatore, written in Latin 1568, he laid out ideas in which the scholars Coleman, Height, Williams, and Kasperek-Obst found "direct line to the Fathers of American Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution."
From Kasparek-Obst, The Constitutions of Poland and the U.S. - Kinship and Genealogy, page 245.
Goslicki in his work had laid out the groundwork for the democratically controlled government and also a set of ethical rules.
His De Optimo Senatore, translated three times into English, became very famous in England. The translation by Mr. Oldisworth
under the title The Accomplished Senator was reprinted in London in 1733 as well as by the American Institute of Polish Culture,
Miami, FL, in 1992. |
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| Facts to remember: |
Wawrzyniec Goslicki laid out the ground work for the democratically controled government and also for a set of ethical rules in
The Accomplished Senator, which, accordingly to scholars, found direct line to the Fathers of the American Declaration of Independence. |
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WARS AND REBELLIONS ACROSS EUROPE |
| Omission: |
| While describing the situation in Europe, the same authors do not mention the Jagiellonian Dynasty in Poland (1385-1572). Yet, at that time Poland was a great military power and an important cultural center in Central Europe.
From New Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 6, page 470.
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth extended its borders from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The Jagiellonian rebuilt and expanded the University of Cracow, "the second oldest in Central Europe." |
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| Facts to remember: |
| Throughout the period from the 14th to the 16th centuries, Poland was a great military and cultural center in Central Europe. |
| Omission: |
| The authors failed to explain that the occupation of Poland was a treacherous move by a coalition that included Russia, Prussia and Austria (1772) while the last one was saved from defeat from Turks by John III Sobieski in 1683. Three crowned heads, who pretended to be called "benevolent rulers," trisected Poland's body among themselves. This was a totally unprovoked assault of a free neighboring country in the middle of Europe. Unfortunately, the authors do not find it necessary to explain this situation and some very casually stated that "Poland ceased to exist" - nothing more! |
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| Omission: |
| Some authors stated "A major aim of the delegates to the Congress of Vienna was to maintain order and peace." This would sound very awkward to Polish contemporaries. In our opinion, it should be explicitly stated that with regard to Poland, in spite of the fact that a greatly reduced Polish Kingdom under the Romanoff's scepter was created, the Congress had, in reality, sanctioned the unlawful, criminal seizure of Polish territory at the end of the 18th century. |
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| Omission: |
The authors stated: "Together with the rulers of Prussia and Austria, Catherine played a leading role in the partition of Poland.
The three powers helped themselves to huge bites of Polish territory until, by 1795, the country no longer existed as an independent nation." But this was the most serious breach of international law in modern times. For the sake of historical fairness the event should be presented as it really was. |
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| Facts to Remember: |
The partition of Poland, which lasted almost 150 years, was the most serious breach of international law in modern times.
Source: Adam Zamoyski: The Polish Way, pages 265-266. |
| Omission: |
When analyzing nationalism some authors state: "the Slavs … demanding independence..." Reference should be made to the fact that Poland was for almost 150 years partitioned between three imperial neighbors and Poland's demand for independence was recognized by all the progressive forces in Europe and the U.S.A. Therefore, Poland's war for independence was fully justified. Distinctions should be made between justified wars for independence and imperialistic wars to conquer other countries' lands.
The differences between nationalism, patriotism and chauvinism should be explained. |
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| Facts to remember: |
| Poland's war for regaining independence was a just and patriotic war which ended 150 years of partitioning. In this connection, it is worthwhile to remember an accurate definition of patriotism.
"A patriot loves his Motherland and its people and entertains those feelings with respect to people of other nationalities, and at the same time he is ready to work and sacrifice for the good of his own country."
From Slownik jezyka polskiego (Dictionary of the Polish Language)
Students should be aware that in the name of chauvinism millions were killed by the Nazis and even today are being killed in Yugoslavia. |
| Omission: |
| The Russian Revolution. In our opinion, very important facts regarding the Bolshevik revolution and its expansion to West Europe are missing. Despite their slogans about peace, they actually marched into Poland according to Trosky's concept of permanent revolution. Marshal Tukhachevsky in the daily order to his soldiers said "over the dead body of Poland the road leads to world's fire." |
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| Facts to remember: |
The Polish Army under the command of Jozef Pilsudski with great sacrifice defeated the Red Army, stopped them at the gates of Warsaw and saved not only Poland but the West from the "blessings of Stalinism." "Restoring Peace" it reads: "...The allies also reestablished an independent Poland held by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia." Without an explanation that those were ancient Polish territories students may have wrong impression that Poland was built at the expense of those three empires.
Source: New Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 9, pages 444-445.
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| Omission: |
| The authors failed to explain that Poland had signed treaties with France and England stating that they would come with all force to help. Meanwhile, Poland had to defend herself giving her allies the time and opportunity to organize and prepare. It was pointed out by C.L. Sulzberger in The American Heritage, Picture History of World War II that "Poland was betrayed and sacrificed." |
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| Facts to remember: |
In September 1939, Poland was abandoned by its allies and fought alone against the Nazi onslaught.
Source: Adam Zamoyski: The Polish Way, page 375;
C.L. Sulzberger: The American Heritage, Picture of World War II. |
| Omission: |
| The authors failed to mention Polish underground forces. The authors cited the term "partisans" and concluded: "...they aided the allies with information and rescue efforts that saved thousands of people from the Nazis." Rightly so, but Polish underground forces also fought very bravely and inflicted heavy losses to the Nazi war machine, by sabotaging their traffic, destroying bridges, munitions, warehouses, attacking military units, etc. In this heroic task, Polish underground forces were as effective as Soviet underground and were recognized in many orders of the day by the Allied commands. |
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| Facts to remember: |
Polish underground forces were the second largest and second most effective of the Partisan forces in Europe.
Source: Stefan Korbonski The Polish Underground State |
| Omission: |
| The authors casually mention the Holocaust and the Nazi terror in Eastern and Central Europe, especially in Poland. The authors mention the concentration camps in which predominately the Jews were killed but failed to mention the casualties other nationalities suffered. After all, this was a slaughter exceeding the cruelties of Genghis Khan. The Nazis used the most modern technology and the services of German scientific elite to exterminate millions of people - Jews, Poles, Russians, Ukrainians, Gypsies, etc. Students should learn a lot more about this so it will not happen again. A proper space should be given to commemorate a heroic uprising against the Nazis by Polish Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943 and another chapter of heroic resistance against the Nazis during Warsaw's Uprising in August of 1944. Both risings resulted in an enormous slaughter of the civilian population and almost total destruction of Warsaw. American students should also know that no one, neither from the West nor the East came with help. The Russians Army stood idle across the Vistula river during the entire uprising. |
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| Facts to remember: |
Next to the Jewish, the Polish population suffered enormously and was slaughtered mercilessly.
Source: Other Holocaust by Bohdan Wytwycky;
The Forgotten Holocaust by Richard Lucas;
Brotherhood in Suffering - The American Institute of Polish Culture. |
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DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENTS IN EASTERN EUROPE |
| Omission: |
The authors bring the subject up to 1990, and one wonders why the topic of Polish Solidarity is not mentioned in this context.
This movement started in 1980-1981; actually it is credited with shaking up the old Soviet empire. From 1985 on, Solidarity ran somewhat parallel with Gorbachev's Perestroika. "On September 8th, the Congress (Solidarity, 1980 - Z.T.) even passed a motion to issue a statement of sympathy and support to all the downtrodden people of the Soviet bloc and to all the nations of the Soviet Union." It was a proclamation that the Poles were, as in 1831, and 1863, fighting "For Your Freedom and Ours". |
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| Facts to remember: |
The Polish Solidarity movement was the first independent Workers Union in Central Europe. The impact of this movement and its message have precipitated the downfall of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe and, finally, brought about a basic political change in the Soviet Union itself.
Source: Adam Zamoyski: The Polish Way, page 392 |
- Dziewanowski M.K.: Joseph Pilsudski: A European Federalist 1918-1922 - Stanford, 1969.
- Dziewanowski M.K.: War at Any Price - Prentice Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
- Goslicki Laurence Grimald: The Accomplished Senator - The American Institute of Polish Culture.
- Halecki O.: A History of Poland - Dorset Press, NY.
- Kasparek-Obst: The Constitutions of Poland and the U.S. - Kinship and Genealogy -
The American Institute of Polish Culture, 1980.
- Korbonski Stefan: The Polish Underground State - Hippocrene Books, NY.
- Lukas Richard: The Forgotten Holocaust - The University Press, Kentucky.
- Sulzberger C.L.: The American Heritage, Picture of World War II.
- Wytwycky Bogdan: The Other Holocaust - The Novak Report.
- Zajaczkowski Waclaw: Martyrs of Charity - Maximillian Kolbe Foundation, 1988. Washington, DC.
- Zamoyski Adam: The Polish Way - Franklin Watts, New York, Toronto, 1988.
- Brotherhood in Suffering - The American Institute or Polish Culture.
- New Encyclopedia Britannica.
For reading: Michner James: Poland, especially the chapter "Terror".
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Historical Errors
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