Chinese Scholars Since 1978 By The United States, A Comprehensive Study

This paper sorts out the literatures of American general history composed by mainland scholars in China since1978.First of all, brief review and comment are given to the three American general history books written by mainland scholars before1978. Among the three books, American History edited by Yao Shaohua is the first book about American general history both compiled and published by mainland scholars in China. Though its content is simple with little learning value, its leading role is beyond question. A Brief History of the United States and American History of Early Development edited by Huang Shaoxiang are the two first-published American general history books after the founding Of New China in1949and they are also the first books compiled by following the guide of Marxism-Leninism, but these books have a preference toward the history of politics and economics.Secondly, detail comments will be presented to the ten American general history books by mainland scholars since1978. These books are completed in accord with the spirits of Marxism-Leninism, and distinguished from each other in characteristics. Abridged Edition of American General History and an Outline of American History from1492to1823by Huang Shaoxiang are formed by revising his previous works of A Brief History of America and American History of Early Development. These two new books make great achievements, but also arouse many arguments. Some scholars regard that the two books are developed from dogmatic interpretation of Marxism. Apart from this, the books still have an inclination towards the history of politics and economics. New Compilation of American History from1492to1989coauthored by Yang Shengmao and Lu Jing is a textbook for university students. It mainly focuses on economy, society, ideology, literature and art, science and technology, policy and decree as well as political system by taking political thread as the main outline and according to chronological order. The Rise of the United States from17th to19th Century and the20th Century American History edited by Huang An’nian add up to be a general history book which proposes in its preface the problem we should take into account when we are studying and investigating the history of the United States and this is of vital significance to direct our research into American history. Outline of American History edited by Gu Xuejia is vivid and elegant in style of writing. The pictures in Outline of American History-from Colony to Superpower edited by Yu Zhisen are freehand sketching with explanatory characters, being visual and vivid. General Theory of American History edited by He Shunguo divides the whole American history into four stages and expounds the history of the United States from the perspective of sociology. The six volumes of General History of the United States edited by Liu Xuyi and Yang Shengmao boast abundant details, grand scale, complete and specific content and precise demonstrations, which is undoubtedly the best work about general history of the United States with highest achievement up to now. History of the United States-the Dream and Reality of the Immigrants’Country edited by Li Qingyu is short and concise, but it is novel by discussing the Roosevelt’s New Deal from the angle of legislation and putting forward the problem "where will the American civilization go". The History of the United States by Wang Jinhu expounds the history by taking the global historical view as its guiding ideology.Lastly, the progress made by mainland scholars during the process of compiling general history of the United States is presented. And at the same time, existing problems are summarized and some possible solutions are proposed. The achievements include taking persistently Marxism as the guiding ideology, the increasingly deep interpretation and development of Marxism, the enlarging study scope and field as well as more comprehensive collecting and application of historical data.The existing problems are that the composition of general history of the United States usually starts from the narrow national sentiment, that the use of historical method remains to be enriched and perfected and that the history books lack interest.The ideas proposed include the following. Adhere persistently to the reasonable guide of Marxism. Learn extensively from others’ strong point to perfect the historical method. Break away with the bound of nationalism so as to comprehensively and reasonably compile the history of the United States. Dig deep into the historical data. Strengthen the cooperation between nations. Improve painlessly the level of the public history.