Columbus Day Research Paper

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Everyone who’s been through school can remember the lessons on Columbus and his four voyages. The saying “in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue,” which has been heard by many generations. At a young age we are taught about how he set sail trying to reach Asia, but instead he stumbled upon the Americas. On Columbus Day we Americans celebrate his journey to the Americas and how he brought the New World into the eyes of the Old World. Columbus paved the way for European exploration and colonization, changing world history forever. This exploration and colonization is a source of debate and controversy. For many with native heritage, Columbus Day is a day of somber remembrance of the natives who were ushered into genocide as a result of Columbus’s …show more content…
The natives today have called upon the end of Columbus Day, citing that under the rule of Columbus and many other Old World countries they have suffered greatly because of the mass genocide and slavery which in the modern world would have been considered a war crime. “all of them can be taken to Castile or held captive in this same island; because with 50 men all of them could be held in subjection” (Columbus). In Christopher Columbus’s own words, written in his own personal journal, and on the journey that led him to the Americas, he is explaining that these natives are very submissive by only needing 50 men to gather them up to be used as servants. Many of these natives had no choice, either stand up and fight, resulting in death or submit to the Spanish Government with no injury. “acknowledge the Church as the ruler… But if you do not do this… we shall powerfully enter your country, and shall make war against you” (Ferdinand). This document written by King Ferdinand of Spain and addressed to the native population demanded that the natives either accept the Spanish rule or face the consequences. Faced with either death or what they thought would bring peace, the natives chose the latter, not realizing what was lying ahead for
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