The Tragedy within the Success

Do you trust your history book to tell you everything? Maybe you shouldn’t rely on only one source. Some textbooks only skim the surface of stories. One instance of this would be the true story behind what Christopher Columbus did. Recent evidence states that Columbus abused his power and he shouldn't have a day that celebrates only him.

Previously, Columbus was the “person who found the Americas,” but that is historically incorrect. We celebrate Columbus day as if he was a hero who saved mankind but he did the exact opposite. Zinn explains how much the Native Americans suffered and their perspective during Columbus's “discovery” of the Bahamas. We learn that because of his discovery, everyone was able to benefit from it but we never learn specifically how his actions affected the Arawaks.

At the New World Columbus decided to enslave the natives living there because they had a lack of clothing and their technology was not as advanced so he automatically assumed that he was superior. Also Columbus assumed they did not have a religion so he wanted to convert them to become Christians. But these natives had an impressive ways of using the resources they had, such as intricate decorations and a agricultural system. But Columbus still felt that they were uneducated and incompetent so he also made settlements in their land and claimed it as his own. “They are fit to be ordered about and made to work, to sow and do everything else that may be needed.”

Columbus viewed the culture of the native people of the islands as inferior to his own which resulted in a belief that he and his men have the right to harm and treat them harshly. ‘…On my arrival, I had taken some Indians by force from the first island that I came…’ By enslaving some of the Indians, Columbus showed that he believed that he had the right to enslave them because they were inferior to him in some way. ‘…to bear witness that he before all others took possession of that island for the King and Queen…’ With this statement, Columbus stated the belief that the Island did not even belong to the native people to begin

Although Columbus Day is used as the celebration between two sides of the world merging and creating an entire empire, it is also widely looked down upon for the way the merge was completed. “Upon arriving in the Bahamas, the explorer and his men forced the native peoples they found there into slavery.” This not only started the transatlantic slave trade, but also started a genocide that lead to the death of millions. Europeans also brought with them new diseases that they had no idea they were carrying, these diseases are but are not limited to smallpox and influenza. The natives feel the need for a new holiday knows as Indigenous Peoples Day. For the Native Americans, “‘Indigenous Peoples Day’ reimagines Columbus Day and changes a celebration of colonialism into an opportunity to reveal

The arrival of Columbus in 1492 has been viewed with mixed feelings with others believing the day should be viewed as an occasion for mourning. Some activists advocate for the day to be replaced with a day for ethnic diversity. The belief that he discovered America is not to say that he was the first to set his eyes on America, it meant that he opened up America to new opportunities. This was by bringing America to the attention of the New World by bringing the civilization of Western Europe to its residents. It was the discoveries of Columbus that led to an interaction of ideas and people and different cultures that made America what it is today.

In modern day society, we often overlook key points in history. For example, Columbus Day, why do we celebrate it? Well, from one’s point of view, we celebrate this holiday for several reasons, one of these reasons are because it recalls Christopher Columbus' entry to the Americas on October 12, 1492. This occasion is questionable on the grounds that the European settlement in the Americas prompted the downfall of the history and culture, of the indigenous people groups. What are some of the pros and cons from naming Columbus Day to Indigenous Day? That is what you will learn in this essay.

When Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas he stole land, kidnapped people and started a massacre. This all started August 3, 1492, when Columbus started his trip to India. According to Document B, “I took possession of all of them for our most fortunate King...no one making any resistance.” This was written by Christopher Columbus in 1493. In this quote he is referring to the people of the islands he discovered, saying that he has kidnapped them for the King. It also states, “ In the island, which I have said before was called Hispana, there are very lofty and beautiful mountains, great farms...and well adapted for constructing buildings.”, which describes reasons they should take over the land. Additionally, according to Document C,

1492 was a turning point for the Spanish, Columbus’s successful settlements in the new world encouraged further expeditions to discover resources and spread Christianity abroad. As we learned last week the

Columbus in the New world. America should not continue to celebrate Columbus Day because it brought destruction to Native Americans, provokes and discriminates Native Americans and Columbus never really discovered the Americas. It brought destruction to Native Americans by destroying them completely in the Caribbeans after two decades, punishing them in terrible ways and bringing slavery to them. It hurts Native Americans today through culture, racism and emotionally. And Columbus never really discovered the New Lands since America was not close to empty, he already had knowledge of “New Lands” and he was possibly wasn’t even the first non-american to reach the

Columbus Day is a day on the second Monday of October that recognizes the exploration of America. Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who worked in the Spanish government who came to the island of Hispaniola in pursuit of finding a shorter route to India. This controversial holiday sparks many argument about why we shouldn’t have the holiday and others defending the holiday. The good does not make for a good argument against all the bad that the day represents, including: taking a land that was not his, the brutal genocide of Natives, and the enslavement of Natives for illogical reasons.

Columbus Day marks the point in time which Christopher Columbus came to the “New World” in his quest of finding a shorter route to the Indies. On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus accidentally made history by being the first known European explorer to set foot in North America. Columbus paved the path of formation for our nation, and we should commemorate this achievement with a school vacation day. Christopher Columbus was a very brave man and was never afraid to go into uncharted territory. “During his lifetime, Columbus led a total of four expeditions to the New World, discovering various Caribbean islands, the Gulf of Mexico, and the South and Central American mainlands” ("Columbus Reaches the New World"). By accomplishing this, Columbus

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.

The belief in spreading Christianity into the Native population was one of the reasons why Columbus sailed to the Americas. Everytime the Spaniards visited a native community, they informed the members of the Christian truth and asked for their conversion. If the natives refused, the Spaniards felt justified to enslave the Indians since they defied the Church. Another reason the Spanish invaded the Americas was the idea that gold was in abundance there and their desire for gold. One native named Hatuey realized the Spanish were desperately after the precious metal and threw all his gold to the bottom of the river to protect his people. However, he was later burned alive. The Spanish required the Indians to pay a certain quota of gold every three months; anyone who didn’t had their hands chopped off. Since the amount of available gold was actually small, the Spaniards went on killing sprees. The Spanish murdered for fun, inventing brutal ways to spill blood. Indian babies were fed to hungry dogs and Indian men were slashed open as their innards spewed out. The Spaniards only cared for quick wealth too, despite human costs. In order to maximize profits and, the encomienda system was established and masters had complete control over their slaves. Enslaved Indians were worked to death and fed extremely poorly, many died of starvation. Those who were too ill or

2. Columbus’s contact with the Native Americans “revolutionized the ecologies, economies, and political system of Europe,” so this is a very important day to to be celebrated.