Chapter 23

Zinn Chapter 23 Notes

Title of the chapter, The Coming Revolt of The Guards, is not a prediction, but a hope by Zinn
The title of the book, respects the “people’s” views on resistance – Zinn likes to disrespect the government
Zinn thinks in terms as a racist, and believes people have been deceived – has strong appeals towards rebellion of the minority and independent thinkers
Tries to appeal to the working class as the “people”
He tries to “rebel” against the government by opposing the US with how they support the elite
The US used, in the first hundred years, slogans and the “people’s” ideas to engrave its own ideas and put them into action
In the early years of the US, the government was very controlling and more willing to sacrifice heavily then after the Civil War
During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, turmoil and social upsurges were greatly impacting the US
After WWII, the 60’s was a time of radical change and revolts along with war and the politics of Watergate
Often, Zinn puts forth his opinions on the under classes and their struggles
He states how the government is making the country worse by its policies and actions
Zinn looks more on the failures and events that affect the revolts and rebellions of all the movements, even though he stated he supported the revolts.
The middle class is like the buffer or the “guards” of the social system, if they stop caring or take a side, the entire system fails and falls
Zinn likes to focus on the middle class and has strong opinions towards the ideas that we are to sacrifice all to keep the system in check, even though Zinn has stated that the system is corrupt and should be replaced
Strongly states that a new revolution of the middle class is coming with the “now” progression
Zinn expresses the world as a prison – with superiors or supervisors that are corrupt and have evil intentions
He focuses on the idea that with all the hardships of the past it can only get worse
Zinn likes to switch his statement views. He will, at one point, support the ideas of the middle class and that it should rebel; then he will stop and state that all should stop the madness of the middle class and make sure that there is no rebellion with those ideas
He very strongly uses the fear of crime to try and show that something is coming, with very little evidence to support it
He expresses the ideas for radical change and elite intervention, which he previously expressed should be prevented
Now, Zinn tries to state that the people should come up with a new system of government and apparently expresses the terms, socialism and socialist a lot. I believe he wants a Socialist America
Zinn’s Main Viewpoint of the Chapter: to bring about change with little violence, but involves everyone and his views of a greater future.