Christopher Columbus Visions

In Thomas Paines excerpt describing America in 1971, he provides many key points explaining what America was then and it gives a great basis to compare to what it is now. He starts off explaining tthat America is a melting pot of people of all different nationalities and cultures, then he moves onto the civil unison of our government and people, and lastly he talks about taxes and the rich vs. the poor.

In the novel, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created, Charles C. Mann enlightens and captures how Columbus’s expeditions united the lands of Eurasia and America. It is a well-written and informational book that successfully displays much of the development and foundation of our present all from the European discovery of the new world. Charles C. Mann’s main objective with this book was to extend on the geographer, Alfred W Crosby’s explanation of “Ecological Imperialism.”

The letter Christopher Columbus wrote back to Spain to report his findings in the New World sparked intrigued me and sparked my imagination. Why I have been so absorbed in this letter I can not explain. This letter is supposed to be about describing an unknown land, a land that has not been seen by anyone besides the natives, but it seems that there is more to it than that. Columbus is known in elementary schools as the man who found the New World, and is regarded as a hero. To the contrary, historians who have done more research on Columbus say that he was driven by fame and fortune and that he was tyrannical in his ways with the indigenous peoples of the places that he came to find. I feel that the contradictory tones Columbus uses

He requests gold commonly from the natives and inquiries every one of the islands with expectations of finding more. He sees the natives as a wellspring of efficient advantage, planning to utilize them for functional purposes. Despite the fact that there are no signs of enormous measures of gold and spices in the New World, Columbus keeps on requesting more Spanish support with a specific end goal to seek after his yearning for acclaim. All through his letters, Columbus conveys to King Ferdinand and his wife an explanation behind his investigation. He specifies his heavenly reason as his entitlement to the New World. He imagines that God has picked him to find and develop this freshly discovered land. Columbus has included both his God given right and his own expectations in his writings, however he utilizes his awesome reason to legitimize his craving for riches, greatness, and control of the Indians. He has basically secured his own selfish ways with a heavenly slant predominant among numerous peers and “learning men” of his time, in this way making an unadulterated mental self view for

Columbus’ vision to reach Asia by sailing west was rejected a number of times by the King of Portugal, James II – and at first was equally rejected by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. These rejections were decisions derived from recommendations made by royal “scientific” committees. Each of these committees deemed that Columbus had grossly underestimated the distance and time in voyaging west to reach the Asian continent. It was Ferdinand who recalled Columbus to the royal court of Spain, and upon “political” reconsideration with his wife Queen Isabella – the Royals eventually agreed to finance the exploration dream of Christopher Columbus (Kreis).

Columbus states that, this land has abundance of food and shelter, which was supposed to be reserved for nature and the Native Americans.

America is an improbable idea, a mongrel nation built of ever-changing disparate parts, itis held together by a notion, the notion that all men are created equal, though everyone knows that most men consider themselves better than someone. "Of all the nations in the world, the United States was built in nobody's image," the historian Daniel Boorst in wrote. That's because it was built of bits and pieces that seem discordant, like the crazy quilts that have been one of its great folk-art forms, velvet and calico and checks and brocades. Out of many, one. That is the ideal.The reality is often quite different, a great national striving consisting frequently of failure. Many of the oft-told stories of the most pluralistic nation on earth are stories

America was not always the successful country that it is today and some Americans were once not actually from the United States. Instead, the states stemmed off from different cultures around Europe, the land being split between many big contenders like Britain, Spain, and even France. The thirteen colonies were the start of the US and would eventually become rebellious enough to break away from the system that they had once lived under. The states undergone construction to build a new government and a new way of life for the generations that would come. After two hundred and thirty nine years of practicing and figuring out our way of life, America has both succeeded and dropped in many areas. The definition of America has certainly changed throughout the years, but one thing

Columbus lied about his discoveries. Thereupon, Columbus arrival to the Bahamas and found some islands. Columbus went back to Spain to share the good news of what he had found. “Columbus’s report to the Court of Madrid was extravagant. He insisted he had reached Asia (it was Cuba) and an island off the coast of China (Hispaniola). His descriptions were part fact, part fiction.”4 Columbus knew that he had not discovered the Indies, but these islands had been never discovered before for other sailors, when he went to Spain and said that he discovered the Indies, there was no doubt that Columbus was a liar that committed a lot damages just for fame and wealth.

The first analyzed source Columbus's October 21, 1492 journal entry ,written by Columbus himself, is bound to have bias. The journal entry describes the “New World” with very lavish vocabulary. He describes a lake: “Groves of lofty and flourishing trees are abundant, as also large lakes, surrounded and overhung by the foliage, in a most enchanting manner.” (Columbus). Columbus makes it sound as if these islands are the best and most extravagant places. He writes like this in order to keep the queen and king of Spain happy and funding his expedition. Columbus does not describe the condition of his crew almost as if he doesn’t care. The journal being a primary source, has lots of bias due its the purpose.

In Columbus’ letter to King Ferdinand of Spain, he starts off by describing the many islands he has found and taken possession of. Columbus wants to prove to the king, who has funded this journey for him, that he has found something and that what he has “found” is of worth. Although, he claims he found these islands, he did not find these lands empty. The land had already been occupied by the Native Americans and because of a language barrier between the two groups, Columbus was able to use that against them and prove its legality of his possession of the land. The Indians on the other hand had no idea what these Europeans were up too.

Benjamin Franklin and John Winthrop, men with different ideals, present the same notion that America should be presented as a “city upon a hill.” Franklin believed that the American dream should be presented as an ideal where men and women are equal and can both move up in social class on their own, practicing any religion they desired. On the other hand, Winthrop believed that the new world was a religious safe haven only for the Puritans. American Exceptionalism was overall the main focus, guiding America to define itself as a special nation founded upon democratic values and liberty.

1. Christopher Columbus Born 1451 in Genoa Christopher Columbus was a sea traveller at a young age. Sailing in service of the Spanish Queen and King Columbus set forth to find a westward route to Asia. Columbus sailed the seas with the Nina Pinta and the Santa Maria and hit land in 1492. Met by friendly faces Columbus called these guys and gals Indians no knowing he actually landed in North America.

Since the day when the fleet of Columbus sailed into the waters of the New World, America has been another name for opportunity, and the people of the United States have taken their tone from the incessant expansion which has not only been open but has even been forced upon them. (100)

History has changed throughout time and has created a long term impact on how we view ourselves and how our story came about. We’ve moved forward and since the 18th century. Americans had written themselves off as a united nation that share common values and beliefs. Especially on Independence. As we open the history books, America 's growth and development counted on the constant failures and hardships it went through. The nation has grown in power, morality, and size. Americans had grown significantly due to our failures and successes we’ve had in the past, along with the determination and strive for a better nation, while we learned from the conquering and enslavement of our own people.