Popular historical narratives of American history often emphasize celebrated heroes. These figures are often white men who had positions of power and privilege in society, and people of color or women who advanced societal values that Americans now observe. Part of what Zinn aims to do in A Young People’s History of the United States is problematize the concept of heroism by exploring lesser-known, controversial, or troubling aspects of some major American heroes.

Zinn addresses this practice directly in his brief introduction:

I am not worried about disillusioning young people by pointing to the flaws in the traditional heroes. We should be able to tell the truth about people whom we have been taught to look upon as heroes, but who really don’t deserve that admiration (xi).

He immediately lists Columbus as a prime example, citing the “rampage of violence” he unleashed “to find gold” (xi). Among other problematic heroes, Zinn names Andrew Jackson, whose treatment of Native Americans was abhorrent, and Theodore Roosevelt, who ushered in an era of American occupation abroad. However, Zinn doesn’t completely quash the idea of heroes; he aims to highlight underappreciated ones. Instead of revering Columbus, he posits, we should respect the legacy of Spanish priest Bartolomé de Las Casas, who chronicled Spanish cruelty toward the Indigenous peoples that Spain encountered in the Americas.