History has been written from the perspective of the victors in every history book up to this point. In A Peoples History of the United States, Howard Zinn presents an account of history told from the perspective of the oppressed American people. It begins with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 and concludes with the outcome of the 2000 Gore and Bush presidential elections. Zinn provides the unfiltered truth of educators in today's school systems. By establishing an everyday people's perspective, as opposed to the familiar one that students have learned in school systems, Zinn creates a summary of history that informs his readers about well-known historical topics. He describes scenarios overlooked by traditional textbooks and speaks on behalf of the voiceless. This engaging, mind-altering teaching process demonstrates how the roles of wealth, race, and gender play a role in American history. Why did Howard Zinn choose to base his novel on oppressed people throughout history instead of "heroes"? Zinn makes an important distinction early on about his values ​​versus the perspective and experiences of the oppressed versus the oppressor's point of view. Zinn preferred to recapitulate U.S. history that had previously been swept under the rug. Zinn writes to show the perspective that is not presented in most history books, but he believes that his point of view is not the only one worth seeing. He decides that: “I don't want to invent victories for popular movements...I believe, to emphasize new possibilities by revealing those hidden episodes of the past in which, even if for brief flashes, people showed their ability to resist, to unite together, sometimes to win” (Zinn 11). Zinn intends to show the corner of......center of the card......buildings; "quality" people rode in carriages or sedan chairs, had portraits of themselves, wore wigs, and filled themselves with rich food and Madeira..." In Newport, Rhode Island, Bridenbaugh found, as in Boston, that "town meetings, although seemingly democratic, they were actually controlled year after year by the same group of aristocratic merchants, who secured most of the important positions..." (Zinn 48). White Americans would describe this time period with a positive approach, due of proof that they have significance in the government. The victors have defined rights, wealth and all the work falls on the shoulders of their slaves. This period of time, a person's social class and race determine what they experience over the course of the Their life actions set up a completely different story and perspective than those who have endured a different lifestyle.