Eurocentrism and American History - An Analysis of the 19th-century American History Narratives in Korean High School World History Textbooks -

This paper critically examines how 19th-century American history is portrayed in South Korean high school world history textbooks. Focusing on textbooks from the 2009/2011 and 2015 curriculum revisions, the study reveals that American history is often framed through a Eurocentric lens, failing to fully capture its regional distinctiveness and the broader global themes of the 19th century. Key events like the Civil War are frequently reduced to simplified narratives of capitalist success, neglecting the significance of slavery and its relationship to the prevailing currents of liberalism and nationalism shared by both Europe and America. To address these limitations, the paper proposes alternative approaches that situate American history within the broader contexts of the Americas, the Atlantic world, and global interactions. These perspectives aim to offer students a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of American history, enabling them to better appreciate the global significance of 19th-century developments.