American history wars

The American history wars refers to ongoing academic and popular debates surrounding the character and culture of the United States. It has received new attention in the 2010s and early 2020s with the The 1619 Project.

Common points of contention include:

• The extent in which American actions in the Cold War were justified.
  • This includes debates on whether McCarthyism was simply a matter of historical paranoia or justified, whether the nation's foreign policy was in contradiction to its stated principles, and how great a threat Marxist–Leninist states actually were.
• Topics surrounding race, gender, and sexuality, including the impact of slavery, historical persecution of Native Americans, and the Lavender Scare.
  • Whether attempts to migrate past injustices, such as affirmative action, land acknowledgements, and the growing presence of "DEI" in many American institutions are counterproductive or beneficial.

See also

• Australian history wars
• Canadian history wars