...Is Christopher Columbus a Hero? Columbus Day, celebrated in October, is a controversial holiday in the United States, with debates over whether Christopher Columbus should be revered as a hero or condemned as a villain. Modern scrutiny of Columbus' life reveals layers of controversy, including his violent encounters with Indigenous peoples, his role in initiating transatlantic slavery, and his role in spreading deadly diseases. As calls for Indigenous Peoples' Day grow, it is crucial to evaluate these contentious issues and understand their significance in today's context. Columbus Day served socio-political purposes, allowing Italian-Americans to celebrate their heritage and assimilate into the U.S. It became a symbol of ethnic pride and assimilation....
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...Is Christopher Columbus a hero or a villain? Based on the documents I read, the info told me that Christopher Columbus was a hero. But I personally think that he was both. He did discover land, and traded with Indians but at the same time he did kill a lot of people, and he was not very kind to everyone. The documents that i read also showed that he was a villain and a hero, but in most of the documents it stated that he was more a hero than a villain. In document 1 the info tells me that Christopher Columbus was a hero. In his diary he was a hero because he was being nice to the native American. The native Americans came up to there boat in big canoes and brought balls of cotton, parrots, and javelins to trade with them. Most people would...
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...Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Many believe that he is a hero but in fact he isn’t. He really was an invader because he wasn’t invited. Therefore Christopher Columbus is a invader not a hero as many think. The first reason Christopher Columbus was an invader believed in slavery. Columbus and his men enslave the people of the west indies and they were subjects of violence and brutality. After enslaving them he would force them to christianity with the use of violences. And who ever left behind when Columbus leaves is forced to search for gold in mines and work on plantations. Next important reason is Columbus and his men were brutal to the natives. Columbus’s response to native rites he had a brutal crackdown many...
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...Christopher Radisich Professor Kuo History 301 TuTh 9:30-11:00 Columbus Day Nearly every elementary school student is aware of the name Christopher Columbus and probably that he discovered America. Unfortunately for history aficionados and people who research their history will be disappointed to find out that the famous Christopher Columbus explorer of the sea was an avaricious, human trafficking, tight fisted person. With the knowledge of Christopher Columbus terrorizing violence, greedy, and racism one could not help but too question why their is a day to recognize this man for discovering America or anything for that manner. Their must have been a reason why a day was implemented into American society to honor Columbus. On July 21, 1892 President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation establishing the new holiday “Discovery Day” and even praised Columbus as a “pioneer of progress and enlightenment” but this political strategy had little to do with Columbus or discovery america. Although Christopher Columbus had not been a historical figure to reverie or respect, he was utilized as a symbol by Catholic Immigrants to find common ground among the vast majority of the American people and President Harrison saw their growing population as an untapped voting resource in the Midwest and Eastern cities. At the end of the 19th century, a large influx of immigrant, from different cultures came to American soil and were faced with extreme prejudice and discrimination. A large...
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...A hero is someone who is admired for their courage, has achieved outstanding accomplishments throughout their life or their noble qualities, such as honesty and loyalty. At an early age we were taught that Christopher Columbus was a hero, that he sailed across the Atlantic ocean and found a new world with people who were already living there. He was also considered a hero because he brought back some of the natives, and gold for the King and Queen of Spain, who sponsored his expeditions. The most prudent position for me is Columbus is not a hero, because he enslaved the natives, used violence against them, and murdered the ones who didn’t obey him. One argument that strongly supports my position on the issue of Christopher Columbus is not...
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...Christopher Columbus: “Hero or Villain?” While many schoolbooks present Christopher Columbus as the famous Italian explorer who discovered America, history has painted a much more complicated picture. For a long time people are arguing was Christopher Columbus actually a hero or a villain? Was the man from Genoa a brave explorer or greedy invader? A gifted navigator or reckless adventurer? The man who laid the foundation for that most glittering daughter of the Western heritage: America is definitely a hero. Christopher Columbus was one of the greatest sailors and explorers of all time; in present time and in the past he represents a hero for the people. “He had made great proficiency in geography, astronomy and drawing, as they were necessary...
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...America should discontinue the celebration of Columbus Day. This holiday should not be celebrated because of a numerous of reasons. Such as, Christopher Columbus hadn’t discover anything new, he left a barbarous legacy that has been followed over the centuries and he treated the Natives cruelly. Columbus hadn’t discover anything new because people were already there, he didn’t prove the earth is round and he was not the first Non-American to find the New World. Additionally, he had left behind a legacy that had begun genocide and slavery, and one that is the false definition of courage and manliness. Columbus had also treated the Natives cruelly by raping their woman, cutting off their noses and ears and even unleashing greyhounds onto the Natives. America should not celebrate Columbus Day due to his failure to discover anything new. The places that Columbus had...
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...Jozy Martinez Mr. R Art History October 21,2014 Christopher Columbus Throughout history both men and women have brought changes all over this world, whether it was through revolution, discoveries, or simple changes in the way of life. One of these important people is Christopher Columbus. About five hundred years ago, the world was known to be flat, this was until Columbus came along. His main goal was to find a new way to get to Asia, instead he had discovered something even bigger than a new trade route, he discovered a whole new world. Although this might seem as though he was viewed as someone who helped benefit the world (a hero), Christopher Columbus can also be classified as a terrorist due to the way he treated the natives he found on his journey and how he took control of their natural resources. Christopher Columbus, the son of a poor wool merchant, was born in 1451 in Genoa (Italy). Columbus had worked for his father in his early years until he was a teenager. He had gotten a job on a merchant ship that traded their goods at various ports in the Mediterranean Sea. Between his voyages he studied both cartography (mapmaking) and geography. In the 1470’s, Columbus had travelled and live in Portugal. This was the greatest European seafaring center of the age, which meant that it was the center for explorers. During his stay in Portugal he studied mathematics, astronomy and navigation. Together with all his mastered skills he began to...
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...figures who are being reconsidered is Christopher Columbus. Columbus Day is a federal holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus, who is remembered in American culture as the daring and brave explorer who discovered America. However, the celebration of Columbus Day in America perpetuates a narrative of colonial supremacy, overlooking the traditions Christopher Columbus started of abhorrent treatment of Indigenous Peoples and commodification of the land. The origins of Columbus Day are rooted in nationalism and a desire for acceptance rather than a celebration of exploration. The utilization of Columbus...
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...fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue,” is the beginning of one of history's greatest fabrications. Columbus is portrayed today as a gentleman and an individual who brought prosperity to the new world. A hero is someone who possesses selflessness, humility, and integrity. Christopher Columbus was without a doubt a brave and talented explorer; however, the goal of his voyages were not to discover America or to prove that the world was round or to discover the New World. These theories were proven over 200 years ago by the philosopher Aristotle and the New World was first reached by Leif Erikson 500 years before Columbus. Columbus was only sailing in the interest of finding gold. He was a greedy dictator, exploiting...
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...the extension of one country by forcefully taking over another area of land for economic growth. One country that had become the victim of imperialism was Africa. European countries discovered that they could easily take over the tribes, and they had an enviroment good for agriculture. Natives of the land became enslaved towards the more powerful Europeans. The leader of the countries had a hunger to be the more powerful, superior country in the Europe, and having the most land was one of the key factors. When The Americas were discovered it be the first type of imperialism. They not only almost take over the entire west coast of the world, they nearly wiped the entire population of the natives.(Britt) People like Hernan Cortes, Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, and Cosme de Torres each arrived in a foreign country to try to expand their own beliefs to their country’s belief. Cosme de Torres went to Japan to try to convert the natives to Christianity, but while he was there he was heavily influenced by the Japanese. Hernan Cortes was a Spanish Conquistador who sought to take over the lands of Mexico. The author of the excerpt is an Aztec descendant, Miguel Leon-Portilla. He is an anthropologist who studied his ancestors very closely. He was successful with 4 of his novels, all having to do with the Aztec people. He was heavily influenced by the history of his people, about how they were brutally conquered. He was a very respected man after the publishing of his novels...
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...A lot of great nations have rich history of their own, whether it is bad or it is good. The United States of America has great history and tradition, from the Revolutionary War to the occupation of Afghanistan. When people who write about history discuss that of the United States, they often consider how eminent this country is and the great deeds other people of that country have done. Historians who write about the history of America often write about how it has had a share of great heroes from Christopher Columbus, Woodrow Wilson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, etc.. Nevertheless, historians often seem to not remember to mention the real heroes of America like, for example, John Brown and the Native Americans. Much of the history that historians write about don't always show precision. Since many historians only write about one side of history, it only makes it worse by not revealing the factuality of history and creates an erroneous image of what really took place. Many of our nation's great leaders have been distinguished as individuals who have the best interest of the country and every action they take on behalf of the country befittingly. For instance, in the book, Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James Loewen, he writes, "Under [president] Wilson, the United States intervened in Latin America more often than at any other time in our history." (Loewen, 16). What reason did the United States have to start an intervention in countries that...
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...Christopher Columbus Hero to Zero America. Land of the free and home of the brave. We as Americans are very proud of our accomplishments. One of the first things we learn as kids is the Pledge of Allegiance. Every morning we recite this poem celebrating America. We are so proud that we dedicate whole days to honor and celebrate our accomplishments. For example, Veterans Day honors veterans and victims of all wars. It also celebrates the end of WWI. Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors and celebrates one of the most powerful and influential civil rights leaders of all time. However, Columbus Day celebrates a murderer, rapist, self centered, slave owner. Why would we want to celebrate him? Columbus Day should not be celebrated because he created negative consequences that still exist to this day....
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...thought on the national holiday known as Columbus Day, and why you think it should or should not be recognized? After the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, lives of the Native American people on the once-peaceful Turtle Island changed rapidly. According to Render, many scholars believe that the sharply decline in population of the Indians is the result of the unintentional spread of European diseases throughout the Americas (22). However, this theory is only true for some individual populations. Most of the Native Americans, who did not die from diseases, were in fact deliberately killed by the colonizing powers. To many people’s surprises, the person who was at the head of the whole enslavement process and genocide of the Native people is Christopher Columbus, who is respected as a hero of America. Columbus came to Turtle Island and was overwhelmed of the remarkably endowed nature on the island. Above all else, one thing that caught his eye and attention: Gold. It is at the point of fact that Christopher Columbus and his son, Fernando, contributed in opening a series of continuous European colonization and vast destruction of Indian communities. In order to fulfill his greed, Columbus captivated the inhabitants of turtle Island, and either forced them labor to death or killed them with the most brutal ways anyone can possibly think of. The Native Americans were treated not as human, but rather as animals and entertainments for the Columbus’ men. Today, almost everyone grows...
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...Columbus Was a Corrupted Man A while back in third grade, we were taught that Columbus was the first person to discover America, and that everyone loved him because he was a great person. Well guys, he’s actually not the first one to discover America, and he definitely was not a nice guy. He was an arrogant, selfish, rotten brat that got his way all of the time, which a lot of people think is rubbish. He was a greedy invader rather than a brave explorer and didn’t care what anyone thought. We know now that Columbus was not a good man nor a great explorer. Columbus was as fake as the lies going around that he was actually smart enough to find America. Columbus day should not be celebrated because of all of the selfish things he did to better...
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