I think it is largely the second, after all many of the different nations did have prolonged contact with America or the 13 colonies and have descendants around

I think it is largely the second, after all many of the different nations did have prolonged contact with America or the 13 colonies and have descendants around right now who can tell us stuff. In regards to Africa, let's face it, most of us (and I include myself here) are pretty bad with history. I would have a hard time writing more then a cursory paragraph about the 30 years war for instance even though it is an important part of European history and I can't really tell you anything about the Taiping Rebellion except that the guy on one side thoght he was Jesus' brother even though it happened at the same time as the civil war and killed many many more people. With Native American history though it is the history of where I live. I have spent my whole life living in areas that were previously controlled by the Anishinaabe people but never learned anything about them in class. To me that would be like a German student knowing as little as me about the 30 years war or a Chinese student who can't tell you the basics of the Taiping rebellion.