Between 1482 and 1485 Columbus traded along the Guinea and Gold coasts of tropical West Africa and made at least one voyage to Elmina, Ghana. After all of this, he made four transatlantic voyages to the new world beginning with his first famed voyage in 1492. Columbus was from a middle class family. At times, they would make an example of a Native by cutting his hands off and tying them around his neck, then telling him to go and 'share the message' with the rest of his tribe. After Columbus established the first Spanish colony at La Isabela, on the north coast of Hispaniola (modern-day Dominican Republic), relations between the Spanish and the indigenous population quickly deteriorated. The con for Columbus Day written by Elliot Lassitter. Thankfully, Columbus Day has morphed into Indigenous Peoples Day. Read More The Zinn Education Project also includes a bunch of primary sources related to Columbus, such as writings by Bartolom de La Casas. Dating back around 200 years, the nonreligious had been adverse to this celebration. Yes, this guy didnt commit genocide. Its the responsibility of our school system to talk about Columbus as part of our work to prepare students to be citizens. April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. October 11, 2021 5:00 am. Why is he important? And in general, we want to students to engage with controversy. 1. 'Green Card Warrior' Nick Adams weighs in on 'Fox & Friends First.'. Dominant narratives tend to speak about heroes in a simple sense; counternarratives can be much more critical. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. Thats when learning happens. The United States and several Latin American countries celebrate Columbus Day to recognize Christopher Columbus striking land in the Americas and the mixing of European and Native American Cultures. Should the United States continue to celebrate Columbus Day? Rather than celebrate, we believe it should be a day to mourn the destruction of an indigenous population which had lived in peace for tens of thousands of years before Columbus a rapist and murderer set foot on American soil. Its like me walking into your house (with my gang and all of us armed to the teeth) and saying, Wow, look what I found here, boys. 4. And the D.C. City Council recently approved a measure to abolish Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day. This is where many of the peaceful natives were met with brutal deaths onboard, whether it be from disease or mistreatment from the handlers. Cathedrals are some of the most awe-inspiring structures in the world, with their grandeur and intricate details captivating visitors for centuries. We dont know exactly where this is, but its most likely one of the islands that make up modern-day Bahamas. To get a custom and plagiarism-free essay. . There has been much debate over whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. Howard Zinns A Peoples History of the United States includes horrific, detailed eyewitness accounts of how the Spanish explorers treated the Native Americans. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. They have no iron. But many would be killed if they did not accept Christ, even if they didnt understand what the Spanish were explaining to them. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, he simply could not conceive of the the idea that he might be wrong. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. Although it has been a tradition in the United States to recognize this day as a federal holiday for many years, whether Christopher Columbus' actions merit celebration is now being questioned, and rightly so . If you still think Columbus Day is something worth celebrating, here are five other reasons why it isnt: After studying a handful of his favorite books, including the journals of Marco Polo, Columbus became convinced that it was possible to sail directly west to reach the Indies, as China, Japan and India were then known as in Europe. It was first celebrated on October 12, 1792, when the New York Society of Tammany honored Columbus on the 300th anniversary of his first voyage. Although many people have adopted Columbus day as "Indigenous People's Day," many people will not agree that we should also have a holiday . There are also theories that the Irish arrived far before the Vikings, and that the Chinese and Polynesians may also have also visited the Americas before Columbus. Diseases were spread and were not able to be resisted by the sick slaves. This new day was first adopted in Berkeley, California in 1992. I doubt it. In his free time, Mettler enjoys reading, running, hiking, backpacking, and walking his dog. Thats a lesson for later. Ironically, the District of Columbia is named after, you guessed it, Christopher Columbus. Yet, what is rarely discussed is the barbaric genocide perpetrated by Native American tribes from Mexico to Peru against other Native Americans before the arrival of Europeans. However, it was his brother, the cartographers idea to sail West. This is the Monster Celebrated on Columbus Day, The American Holocaust: Columbus and the Conquest of the New World, Multicultural View of Christopher Columbus Story, The Rise of Sexual Assault in the Military. Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. (You may want to add this into the equation.). In a racially equal world, Columbus shouldn't be celebrated. Many believe that they sailed even further south, maybe as far as New Brunswick. Architecture of the Floating (Or Sinking) City: How Was Venice Built? I discovered America. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. Here Are Some Reasons Why. And, sure he was directly responsible for the enslavement, torture, mutilation, and murder of tens of thousands of Native American people in the Caribbean islands during his quest for riches. Unfortunately, many irksome doings lay deep under the surface. Despite the time that has passed, Columbus Day still remains a subject that most people would rather not think about. Americans, for all our faults, love adventure. While Columbus Day is not a widely celebrated holiday, the question of whether or not to celebrate it are definitely up for discussion. He thereby claimed the lifetime pension for himself, cheating the rightful claimant out of both glory and a significant amount of money. The Knights of Columbus lobbied state legislatures to legalize the holiday. Columbus was a brilliant man in his own right. It involves grappling with multiple perspectives, a fundamental skill for historians. The City Council recently voted to get rid of Columbus Day and replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day, commemorating indigenous, aboriginal and native people.. He and his crew were greeted with smiles, gifts and food. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. If I sailed to Italy and said that I discovered this land in the name of Rowan University it wouldnt fly right? According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. His contract with the monarchs, called The Capitulations. Until his dying day Columbus maintained that the land he had discovered was Asia and not a new continent. Because of his voyages to America, other great explorers ventured across the Atlantic and in under one hundred years, settled the new world. Just as the country grapples with the meaning and problems of Confederate monuments, so too are schools, towns, and even whole states grappling with Columbus Day. Many are deciding to rename and refocus the holiday, choosing to call it Indigenous Peoples' Day to honor the people whose lives and cultures were irreparably damaged by the colonial conquest that the age of exploration ushered into being. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! And thats even if you discount the fact that native peoples lived in these places all along. Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. For if we celebrate Columbus, we are celebrating a racist genocide, massive land robbery, barbaric slavery, serial rape and systemic torture. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. From early colonial exploration, to our push westward with manifest destiny, to our more modern quest to outer space and landing on the moon, Americans seem to have an innate desire to push the boundaries and discover new places. Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Christopher Columbus wasnt American! Growing up, I wasnt exposed to this truth. The holiday celebrates . Columbus set a precedent for exploration of the new world. Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. When Columbus landed on the island of Guanahani in 1492, North and South America were . Three other states New Mexico, Maine, Vermont followed suit this year. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. While we are thankful for this land we call America, it . This kept them from planting crops, leading to widespread starvation. In 1927, Chicago's outer drive, connecting the city's North and South Sides, was renamed for Leif. "It's difficult to think there exists a site anywhere with a higher concentration of cave art.". So yeah, Christopher Columbus, upon closer inspection, is a terrible fellow to honor. For privacy reasons, she has previously written on Ancient Origins under the pen name April Holloway, but is now choosing to use her real name, Joanna Gillan. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. So, yes, in 1498 and 1502, he did reach the continental Americas. We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. Yet in the past few decades, something has changed. But its hard for children to understand that someone who they were taught to idolize is a bad guy. Columbus Day is a national holiday in the United States that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. Columbus Personified the American Spirit. Understanding controversies what Columbus did, how he did it, whether we should be commemorating him builds skills that are fundamental for understanding history and social studies. The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. CONTACT US: St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins, native peoples lived in these places all along. We need to own it. Columbuss men used native girls as young as nine or ten as their sex slaves. Monday marks Columbus Day, in honor of Christopher Columbus but not all will be celebrating the Italian explorer. In a letter that has been preserved among his personal historical records, Columbus wrote that God inspired him to make a deal with his Spanish crew and stake his life on it. Without Columbus, the age of exploration wouldnt have been inspired in the way that it was, and has a vital place in American history. There are still people who believe Christopher Columbus found America and that what he did was harmless because he was being a man of his time. The holiday is typically observed on the second Monday in October. In recent years, the conversation has become more nuanced, as educators and people across the country have begun to explore the many reasons why celebrating Christopher Columbus is problematic: the violent abuse of indigenous peoples, the launch of the transatlantic slave trade, and the introduction of a swath of lethal diseases to an unprepared continent. A lot of depopulation was caused by suicides, including some parents killing their own children to prevent them from living and growing up as a slave. -- Celebrate Italians (though there is some question as to whether Columbus would have considered himself an Italian -- he was long thought to have been born in Genoa, then an independent city-state in what is now Italy, though everyone from Greece to Portugal to Poland have claimed him as their own). Religion was heavily forced upon the Native American tribes, and the Europeans means of dealing with their obstacles run much more inhumane. And Erickson was certainly as European as Columbus (at least in todays geographical terminology.) Now, I got nothing against thousands of virgins or a good story. And yes, I know Columbus was at least in part a product of his brutish times and any nation who landed on Hispaniola in 1492 might have done similar things. And yet he is given an American holiday for discovering AmericaYeah Ill wait for that to make sense. Christopher Columbus is just one of those English adaptations someone felt was preferable to pronouncing a foreign sounding name. Now that the truth is becoming more widely known, people are pressuring their communities to stop celebrating Columbus Day. By 1516, there were 12,000. But the fact of the matter is that he started the colonialism within North America, enslaved groups of people, and laid out the groundwork for others to do the same is damning. "To date, these are the oldest traces of human existence in the Americas," said archaeologist Niede Guidon who has headed a mission to carry out large-scale excavation of Piaui's interior since the 1970's. And maybe only one reason to celebrate. @uknowhgse. I believe thats the tact to take when looking at Chris. How many countries award holidays to non-natives? If instead of Columbus, a Chinese marine had arrived first and "colonized" America, would be blaming the Chinese for the destruction of American civilizations? Why should we celebrate a man who promoted and distributed so much violence when we can celebrate and honor the history of Indigenous people? A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. Our writers can help you with any type of essay. Columbus Day is one of the oldest holidays in the USA Observing Columbus Day started back in the 18th century. Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. So why Columbus Day? Though he didnt discover America, he was the person to show the rest of the developed world that there was more far away lands. In our opinion, this is something to celebrate, not the arrival of Christopher Columbus who led the way for these indigenous populations to have their culture decimated and their population murdered, displaced or forced into slavery. Since then, it's spread across the. It is perhaps worth revisiting the two distinct reasons why we celebrate Columbus Day in the first place, and . The tradition of observing Columbus Day dates back to the 18th century. If we need a national holiday for the second Monday in October, lets at least honor an AMERICAN who hasnt been shown to be the prime mover in the torture/death/destruction of so many people. Their spears are made of cane. He decimated the native population. The first complete mapping of a Neanderthal genome took place about five years ago - supporting the human-Neanderthal hook-up and also showing that Neanderthal DNA in humans is a thing. Over a dozen states and more than 130 local governments have chosen to not celebrate Columbus Day altogether or replace it with Indigenous Peoples' Day. Even though Eratosthenes (Greek mathematician living in Alexandria, Egypt, Columbus never discovered anything. Hi! Trends are really hard to detect in a country as divided as ours, but Ive noticed two developments in my work teaching high school and teaching at Harvard. If this is what it means to be civilized and our children are taught to revere Columbus and his heroic adventure, what hope is there for our future? Columbus was taking advantage of opportunities to find goods by getting the help of slaves. Even after spending his whole career exploring the Caribbean, Columbus never at any point thought he had landed anywhere other than his intended destination, Asia. And Bart was left behind on the cutting room floor of history. 2023 President and Fellows of Harvard College, Who do we celebrate, and why? It is on public record, that Columbus rewarded his soldiers by giving them Native Americans to rape. As a result, in 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Columbus Day into law as a way to celebrate the hero who changed the world (Bragdon 12). Ahh, well, semantics. First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. While there is plenty to criticize about Columbus, and what followed his arrival, I think this movement is missing the point.
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