Eugene Debs Not in History Books

[Alpha Killer II]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_V._Debs
Isnt Weird that after all my years of Education that I have never even heard of him? But turns out he made a big impact on American History but He wasnt even in our history books, does anyone have any comments?

 

[cubsfan6506]

He was in my Middle School Histroy book. He was the leader of the railroad workers union, he ran for prez a few times and he got arrested over . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . charges. (Thats from memory so its proabaly not right.

 

[Stolen Rutters]

He was in my middle school history books too. The teacher even idolized the guy. I think you are overestimating his relative contribution, though. He's famous because he kept running for president.

The labor movement is big in Michigan. Look up Walter P. Reuther for someone who made a real impact in American labor.

edit - If you are interested in single individuals who stood out, Samuel Gompers keeps coming up. I don't know much about him, but the AFL at the time kept seeding new unions throughout the period.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

He was in my books as well, but I heard more about Gompers.

 

[Lockesdonkey]

Hm. My textbook spent a good 3-4 pages (scattered throughout the relevant sections of the book) talking about Debs and his rise; Gompers was barely mentioned.

Guess Americans have gotten less Marxophobic...Or perhaps history profs have thrown up their hands and accepted that college creates lefties (I was in AP, so we used a college textbook).

 

[Traitorfish]

We touched on him in high-school, but it was really just a passing reference. Still, that shows at least a reference can get across the Atlantic, so he's got to be at least mildly significant.

 

[ParkCungHee]

We touched on him in high-school, but it was really just a passing reference. Still, that shows at least a reference can get across the Atlantic, so he's got to be at least mildly significant.

He's a very minor figure, really. His most significant role in U.S. history was as a test for the laws passed by Wilson to keep the war going.

Isnt Weird that after all my years of Education that I have never even heard of him?

I think that says more about you then about all your years of education.

 

[Dachs]

He's a very minor figure, really. His most significant role in U.S. history was as a test for the laws passed by Wilson to keep the war going.

He is also a good comic reference, you know - who else has gotten a million votes for President from jail?

Having said that, though, IMHO he basically created the idea of American socialism and made it much more palatable than it had been before. Of hard achievements, though, there's not much to go on.

I think that says more about you then about all your years of education.