The traditional, academic hierarchy of painting genres is as follows: history paintings, portraits, genre

The traditional, academic hierarchy of painting genres is as follows: history paintings, portraits, genre paintings (everyday life), landscapes, and, finally, still-life paintings.
Regarding the first of these, history painting portrayed the significant deeds of virtuous persons and possessed an instructive quality that emphasized significant moral, ethical, religious, and nationalistic ideals. Artists Benjamin West, John Trumbull, and John Vanderlyn (see pages 81–85, 92–97, and 125–128 in your text) are three of the foremost American followers of history painting in the style of the Grand Manner (i.e., in the manner of Renaissance Masters).
In your initial discussion post, consider the questions below:
How were their works similar or different?
What were the themes and sources for these works?
For what reason(s) were history paintings so highly regarded—not just in America but in Europe as well—or, put another way, what did they offer to viewers?
How did the work of West and Vanderlyn differ in their approach to Native Americans as subject matter?