Christopher Columbus: A Cold Blooded Killer

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A cold-blooded killer has developed into a national hero and celebrated on Oct 10th each year. Christopher Columbus is the name of the man, who has been developed into a national figure and hero because of his discovery of the new world. Most Americans are taught in the fifth grade that Christopher Columbus was the man who sailed the ocean blue in 1492. That, however, is not the whole picture. His accomplishments do not discard his past or everything else that made him the man he was. His discovery of the Americas does not sugarcoat the fact that he was a cold blooded man who carried out acts of genocide and caused a great deal of suffering for the native people, in order to obtain lands he believed were his. He is responsible for the deaths of many innocent lives. …show more content…

Christopher Columbus should not be celebrated as he exploited the natives and carried out acts of murder. Christopher Columbus is not just the “hero” who discovered the New World. His actions following his discovery of the Americas were cruel and unjust. As governor in 1495, Columbus instituted a tribute taxation system, requiring every native that exceeded the age of fourteen to fill a small hawks bell with gold (Freeland and Tinker 31). Those who did not fulfil the Spaniards expectations regarding tribute were punished with the severing of one's hands causing them to die a slow painful death from the excessive bleeding (Freeland and Tinker 26) . About 10,000 were killed from this system alone (Churchill). This was a brutal, yet simple way for Columbus to obtain riches and gold, by using the people who knew the land best. This allowed Columbus to obtain great riches, as it ensured great wealth for both Spain and himself. The natives were given the choice between death or attending to the spaniards physical or financial desires and needs. Columbus was responsible for his very own army that was free to rape the native

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