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. He led the way for future colonists to settle the United States. Columbus arrival is seen as the beginning of civilization in the Americas. In another case, some people think Columbus was a hero because he represents a leader who went far and beyond to find America. October 11, 2021 5:00 am. Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) is generally considered to be a great explorer during the Age of Exploration . Her Campus may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Furthermore, Columbus continued to enslave Natives and abuse their nation, damage their environment, and their rights as humans. Columbuss Native American slave trade morphed into the African slave trade by the mid-16th century. A new intersectional publication, geared towards voices, values, and identities! . So yeah, Christopher Columbus, upon closer inspection, is a terrible fellow to honor. It was still his idea to sail west, rather than east to hit the East Indies, right? 1. 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. Land was first spotted by Rodrigo de Triana, a lookout on the Pinta, and thereafter by its captain Martin Alonso Pinzo, who notified Columbus. We may not like it, but its our shared heritage. And those multiple viewpoints may help engage students who might feel otherwise unrepresented in a history class, such as females and students of color. Chat with professional writers to choose the paper writer that suits you best. When Columbus arrived in 1492, he enslaved the Natives, and took control over their way of life, and also made his way into the Caribbean Island. Legal Statement. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. . Thats a lesson for later. ), Christopher Columbus initiated the trans-Atlantic slave trade. So, yes, in 1498 and 1502, he did reach the continental Americas. South Dakota was the first state to rename Columbus Day, in 1990, electing to go with Native Americans' Day. Because of his voyages to America, other great explorers ventured across the Atlantic and in under one hundred years, settled the new world. (Though it should be noted a large portion of the deaths of Native Americans was due to disease, not violence--an inevitable consequence of Old World illness in New World soil. It is claimed by these people that the enjoyment and simplicity of Columbus day is almost a mask or distraction to divert the people from the many indigenous lives lost after the discovery of the New World. And Erickson was certainly as European as Columbus (at least in todays geographical terminology.) 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. There are many examples in his writings where he gave instructions to this effect. Every Columbus Day I am forcibly reminded of my hatred for Christopher Columbus. But heres the kicker. April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. For the first time this year some calendars don't mention Columbus Day but says October 11 is Indigenous Peoples' Day. Captivating History, Christopher Columbus: A Captivating Guide to the Life of an Italian Explorer and His Voyages to the Americas, Captivating History, 2020 2. If we have a holiday honoring somebody, the question on everyones mind should be, Why are we honoring them? Columbus day represents an exploration that lead to many discoveries and examples of leadership and control. Columbus day is a controversial holiday, but one that should be celebrated. Not many civilizations were safe when invaders arrived, from Assirians to Vikings; from Gengis Khan to the Roman Empire; from the Jewish general Joshua to the colonial British Empire. Reference list: Herman Lindquist, Christopher Columbus var han riktigt klok, Fischer, 1992. Mudlarker Finds Bronze Age Shoe on a UK Riverbank Dated 2,800 Years Old! 4. Why We Do Not Celebrate Columbus Day. Or Napoleon Bonaparte Day, for that matter. We shouldn't be wasting our time on holidays that won't even. Indigenous Peoples Day: Why it's replacing Columbus Day in many places. Columbus Day is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. (He had plenty of different ships on subsequent voyages.). According to, Columbus believed that he was playing a part in a divine plan to Christianize the world. Columbuss actions arent taken into consideration as much as they should be. The statue of Christopher Columbus remains encased in a wooden box on Marconi Plaza Aug. 12, 2020, as the sun sets on the day the Philadelphia Art Commission voted to remove it and store it while the city deliberates on a new permanent home for the controversial monument. An angry mob decided to drag them. This conflict between reality and fiction is what makes Columbus Day one of the most controversial holidays in America. A main argument for the idealization of the 15th century explorer is the idea that he was the first European to discover the Americas. 1. This criticism had quickly faded over time, and was replaced by a more pressing issue; the improper treatment towards indigenous people. Spanish conquistadors couldn't believe their eyes while exploring the rugged terrain of the Andes during their invasion of Peru. Other times they would go and massacre an entire village. By REAGAN ESCUD SCOTT / Monday, October 10, 2022. But Columbus couldnt deliver on the gold claim. We need students to understand that Columbus is important, even if he isnt someone to be celebrated. Well, the tough thing about labeling someone as good or bad is the definitions change with the times. Those left were forced to work in mines and plantations. . I think there is a ton of potential in celebrating an Indigenous Peoples' Day, but what that is, what it looks like we need to start with asking indigenous folks to define it. If we blame Columbus and the Spanish kings, we should also blame every other invader and conqueror in History. Likewise, Thomas Jefferson, also a slave owner, should be remembered for writing one of the most brilliant documents in the history of mankind, the Declaration of Independence, which contributed greatly to the ending of slavery and segregation in the United States. A recent Marist Poll shows why: Those campaigning against Columbus Day are in the minority. 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. If the world was round, this was possible, he thought. Three other states New Mexico, Maine, Vermont followed suit this year. Columbus was from a middle class family. About the author: Daniel Berenson contributes to Medium now and then in this case now with original and unique views on such things as squirrels, politics, fairy tales, history, and Spanish telenovelas. 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. Sorry, Mr. Once we do this, Columbus Day can be a truly inclusive holiday. Both in an effort to secure funding for their expedition. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, We are a hopeful species. These books have fueled the trends I mentioned around Columbus Day. This is also apparent when he was trying to get sponsorships for the trips. In his free time, Mettler enjoys reading, running, hiking, backpacking, and walking his dog. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Alaska was second, in 2017, enacting Indigenous Peoples Day. (See, Columbus promised Ferdinand and Isabella so much, including gold, they had given him 17 ships and well over a thousand men for his second voyage! Below are five reasons why Columbus Day celebrants can hold their head high in 2019 rather than kowtow to guilt-based politics. Get in touch! There are many good reasons as to why Columbus Day is such a controversial holiday. It is perhaps worth revisiting the two distinct reasons why we celebrate Columbus Day in the first place, and . When Columbus first landed on American soil he was met by the Arawak native Americans. Except, once Chris had succeeded in Spain, he didnt wait for his brother. We dont know exactly where this is, but its most likely one of the islands that make up modern-day Bahamas. Along and through History, conquerors have had violent behaviour. Thousands of the Taino, or Indians as Columbus had referred to them, were shipped out to be traded internationally. However, his other two ships on his first voyage were the Santa Clara and the Gallega. In any case, we know for a fact that Europeans traveled to America almost 500 years before Columbus. We think of Columbus Day as a heroic and triumphant day ever since 1970, when the holiday was legally made a national holiday. Like Andrew Jackson, Christopher Columbus is a historical figure who is celebrated as a mythical hero. Columbus Day is one of America s oldest holidays. With three boats, the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, he set out in search of a better trade route to India. The king wrote, We in his name will receive you with love and charity, respecting your freedom and that of your wives and sons and your rights of possession and we shall not compel you to baptism unless you, informed of the truth, wish to convert to our holy Catholic faith., Columbuss drive for exploration was religious. But what exactly does it mean to be civilized? Historical knowledge can help students create an argument to answer those questions. And in general, we want to students to engage with controversy. Columbus Day was supposed to recognize the greatness of all of America's people, but especially Italians and Native Americans. When I got to high school and learned the truth about Columbus I felt betrayed. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? (2020, Aug 20). Though he didnt discover America, he was the person to show the rest of the developed world that there was more far away lands. After his voyage to America, he became one of the most well known explorers of his time. Cathedrals are some of the most awe-inspiring structures in the world, with their grandeur and intricate details captivating visitors for centuries. 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. The American Indian Movement, among other groups, have gone as far as to state that the continuous celebration of this holiday is oppressive towards Native Americans. 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. Columbus was a brutal and cruel man who . As Columbus might have quipped, One good turn deserves another. Okay, he never said that, but his writings prove that he would not have been opposed to it in the least. In fact, the result of Columbuss voyages was mass, Columbus didnt do too well as a governor of these new lands. On his third, he named Trinidad and landed in present-day Venezuela. When it comes to celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day, I want to make sure we do justice to indigenous folks. A genocide happened in "the Americas," and it began with Columbus. You can order an original essay written according to your instructions. 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. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This movement sees Columbus as a symbol of destruction, and thus not to be celebrated. Since then, it's spread across the. Lets look at Columbus himself, to see if he meets the definition. Its important to learn about what Columbus did to Native Americans because not everyone knows the truth about him and his treatment of the Natives. 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. Most Americans didn't even know much about Columbus until Washington Irving yes, that Washington Irving wrote. "It's difficult to think there exists a site anywhere with a higher concentration of cave art.". Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. 1. He cheekily claimed that he had spotted land a few hours before Triana and Pinzo, but that he hadnt said anything in case it was a false alarm. So, there you have it; five reasons not to celebrate Columbus Day this year (or any other year). 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. He asked for 3 more days, and if land was not sighted, the crew could do with him as they wished. All islands I would love to visit on a single trip. hen, on his fourth, final voyage, he landed at present-day Panama. In the early morning hours of the third day on October 12, the lookout . Always trying. 3.Two Reasons Why Columbus Day Should Not be Celebrated; 4.Should Christopher Columbus Day Be Celebrated Essay Example; 5.Columbus Day Is Not Worth Celebrating - GradesFixer; 6.Why Columbus Day Should Not Be Celebrated? On his 1492 voyage, Chris landed on a number of islands including some in the Bahamas very close to mainland Florida. Some committed suicide to avoid subjugation, others fled, but many rebelled. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. How could we look at this from a different perspective? While deprivations did occur, Columbus was quick to punish those under his command who committed unjust acts against local populations Columbus did not engage in the savage acts that have been pinned on him., In addition, Columbus strictly told the crew not to do things like maraud, or rape, and instead to treat the native people with respect. The plan was to join up once theyd gotten the backing they needed. It requires looking at dominant narratives and counternarratives. This was due to the impression that Columbus was attempting to spread Catholic influence. If we cannot honor anyone in human history that did not have flaws or imperfections, we cannot honor anyone at all. Students need to grapple with these multiple perspectives in history and the not-so-pleasant aspects of our past. 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). 1. Lets stop idolizing people in history who dont deserve it. However, it was his brother, the cartographers idea to sail West. Marist shows that even with all of the attacks on Columbus, 57 percent of Americans believe it's. 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. 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So before waving the US flag in celebration of a criminal who did not discover America, spare a thought for the millions of Native Americans who were murdered as a result of Christopher Columbus arrival on American soil. Christopher Columbus was a murderer, rapist, and thief who did not actually find America, but indeed only visited a land where Native Americans have already been living. And #5 gets worse. For instance, they lay out what specific textbooks omitted about Columbuss involvement with the slave trade and genocide. Its 2020 people. Columbus Day's only silver lining may be found at historically significant sites throughout the Caribbean that connect us to history. There has been much debate over whether or not Columbus Day should be celebrated. 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. 20 University Rd., 6th Floor Market data provided by Factset. On his second voyage, he landed at Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica among others. Columbus tried to build and has transformed the America we have today. Some of my students entered high school aware of the problematic nature of Columbus but their thinking is, Well, Columbus is not important to study, because he didnt do anything. We have to push back on that. Americans have the right to celebrate whatever they chose, but the history behind Columbus Day is not to be ignored. Top 5 Reasons NOT to Celebrate Columbus Day And 1 Reason To History comes with an agenda. The reason Columbus set sail on his epic journey in the first place was because he raped the 13-year-old daughter of a Spanish Duchess. Why is he important? That's my nephew, Trinidad, reveling in the joys of Caribbean sailing somewhere between St. Croix and Buck Island aboard Teroro II. But its hard for children to understand that someone who they were taught to idolize is a bad guy. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. "Ignore the propaganda and instead remember Christopher Columbus with gratitude and a clear conscience. Yet, despite all the gruesome sacrifice and slavery, some still wish to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. And thanks for reading this. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. Or maybe even plan to discover your own new-to-you islands! First of all, Christopher Columbus isnt even his name. It consisted mostly of about 12,000 public school students grouped into 20 regiments, each commanded by a principal. Columbuss men also killed off slaves whenever needed. Read More According to documents 6 " Christopher Columbus was the greatest, because he accomplished the most against the highest odds before Columbus ' time all European voyages had followed coastlines, or cross open seas to land previously known or at . . But our work was to exasperate, ravage, kill, mangle and destroy; small wonder," -Bartolome Las Casas, 1527. The pro for Columbus Day written by John Wirt. Most of us can remember the day when Americans still seemed to like Christopher Columbus. He would cut off the hands of people living in what now is Haiti for not bringing him enough gold every three months. (Not that the West solely had these ideas, but it put them in a package that wasnt generally available elsewhere.). 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. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. The White House is pushing National Coming Out Day as a way of changing the subject. He sailed to Iceland and Ireland in 1477, and to Madeira in 1478. However, a circumspect understanding of history offers numerous reasons why Columbus should not only be celebrated, but . Columbus Day should be celebrated because Columbus had done a lot to get to the point of sailing. In addition to The Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in The Daily Signal, Life News, The Colorado Independent, and The Millennial Review. History, in fact, is the story of conquest. This follows both Minneapolis and Seattle, which adopted the new. We need to set the record straight early on.