Monument Dbq Essay

Monuments are effective models of triumph and serve to pay respect to moments of sacrifice for the greater good. Many aspects complicate the seemingly simple idea of paying homage to a historic event or person. When creating a monument to memorialize such things, there are many important factors, some of which being public interest, location, and historical controversy. This thesis can be supported with Documents B, F, and

The people living in an area of a potential monument must show curiosity and support for said monument to have an effective impact on the community. In Washington D.C., “The Maine Lobsterman” is a sculpture of H. Elroy Johnson with his most popular catch: lobster (F). This sculpture was thrown together and “spent several decades being moved from city hall to museum to museum.” The public did not seem to care for the sculpture, resulting in vandalism and consumption by rats. This sculpture was ineffective in impacting its community because the population surrounding it had no interest in taking care of it or learning about it, therefore public interest is essential to an effective monument.

Location is another important factor in creating an effective memorial.

The Holocaust, one of the most horrific events in our world’s history, is one that must be memorialized to honor those who lost their lives to an undeserved cause (E). Its plans to be created at The Mall in Washington, D.C. was immediately frowned upon by Jewish and non-Jewish communities alike. The fact that a European persecution is memorialized in America, “who did little to stop the Holocaust from occurring,” is both unjust and offensive to many. This memorial is frowned upon by many because it did not take into consideration the importance of

location.
Similar to interest and location, another important component of creating a monument is the event or person’s relevance and the controversy surrounding it. Document B, a picture of the Christopher Columbus monument in Pennsylvania, has become increasingly controversial. Many believe he is nothing but a carrier of disease, slavery, and death to the Indigenous people that resided in the New World upon his arrival. In addition, Columbus never actually reached North America, but instead landed on numerous Caribbean islands. This controversy has sparked tension between counties in Pennsylvania and calls into question the importance and reasoning behind the monument.
In conclusion, monuments and memorials are extremely tedious in the sense that it is difficult to create something that checks every box: public interest, location, and historical controversy, among others. Educated citizens should continue to observe monuments with these factors in mind and consider if they are properly achieving their purpose of honoring people or events. Citizens must ask themselves if the monuments they see are a good depiction of times past, and how they can be improved for present and future generations.