Book summary

This book takes a look at the myth that the United States is founded by and for immigrants and shows a more honest look at the history of this country.

My review

If you want to learn an incredible amount of information, read this timely book.

It explores American imperialism and how immigration in the U.S. is a war story with refugees having to move to the country thay killed them.

My only feedback for this book is that it felt a bit disorganized at times, often jumping from one topic or point in history to another.

Everything I learned

• While history likes to portray Alexander Hamilton as an abolitionist, he married into a wealthy slave-trading family (Schuyler family) and even participated in the slave trade for his in-laws.

• No country has been bombed so heavily for so long (relative to the country's population) than Laos during the "Secret" war. Taking place at the same time as the Vietnam War, the Laotian Civil War was kept secret (not acknowledged by the CIA until 1994) because the involvement of the CIA and other foreign powers. (photo from Getty Images)
  
  Duing this bombardment, more bombs were dropped on the small country of Laos than all of the bombs dropped in WWII (2 million tons of cluster bombs).

• In the span of three days during the Korean War, the U.S. launched a mass killing spree in the village of Noguen-ri killing between 250-300 women and children. This massacre wasn't known to the American public until 1999 thanks to an Associated Press article. Documents proved that the U.S.commanders ordered their troops to shoot and "fire on" civilians.

Further learning

• "Researcher finds evidence Alexander Hamilton owned slaves"

• America's Secret War: The CIA's Hidden Campaign in Laos | History Documentary

• "Other incidents of refugees killed by GIs during Korea retreat"