d

1182 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impacts of European colonialism on Native Americans

Revealing how the world was discovered stirred up controversy between the Indians and Christopher Columbus as well as the “right of discovery.” Christopher Columbus feels that he discovered the “New World” because he is the one who brought attention to it and declared it Spain’s. However, the Indians believe that they discovered it because they were the ones who were living there before it was even known. How can something be discovered when it has already been found? In the book, Five Hundred Years, it states that, “English speakers, meant to uncover: to reveal something that already exist.”(1) The “Right of Discovery” belongs to the Indians because they were not only there first to live there, but found that land, however, Columbus set a pathway to manifest destiny by taking a land already occupied for his own. He took over a land and gave it national attention across the world. If it is continued to be believed that discovers are the ones who have the right to do what they want with the land, expansion might not have been an option. The revealing that Columbus did opened doors for others to expand and to utilize all resources to make America better.
Christopher Columbus was on track to create history and did so in revealing the “New World.” As he went through his voyage he approached an island occupied by an uncivilized group of people. Columbus writes to Spain describing the people ultimately as savages. They do not dress, they do not know how to utilize weapons, and they would leave their children. (5) As he went about his voyage he claimed all these islands occupied by people as Spain’s land, Columbus added, “I found very many islands filled with people without number, and of them all have I taken possession for their Highn...

... middle of paper ...

...nually fighting back for what was taken from them.
History has proven that what you work for is what you get. Columbus did what he needed to do to gain land as the Indians did what they needed to, to prosper in this world. Discovery is gaining control of what you want with no circumstances. Christopher Columbus paved the way to what ultimately became known as manifest destiny. He took over an occupied land for his own by force. Later events showed the same known as the “Great Frontier.” History does not repeat itself because the circumstances are not the same, but it is similar because of how things are handled. The final thing that can be done is to provide in history books that Columbus did more than just discover the “New World,” but began this destiny for future settlers to take land that they want to expand and utilize all resources that are available to them.

Show More
Related

  • The Myint Author Of Christopher Columbus: Hero Or Villain?

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ransby believes “Columbus 's image has been scrubbed clean and sanitized by many generations of American historians so that he can now be offered up as a sterling example of the glorious era of discovery.” (Ransby, 1992/2015, p.14). Objective evidence is also a major component in this article. Columbus’s journal proved he wanted to exploit, and enslave the Indians. A population of 300,000 dwindled to a mere one by 1540. (Ransby, 1992/2015, p.12). Many scene of rape, murder and beating were also described in journals of sailors that travelled with

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Columbus And Cortes

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    On October 12, 1492 Christopher Columbus landed on unknown territory, however, in his perspective of Earth he thought he made a new route to Asia. He travels throughout the lands, soon, he discovers new forms of inhabitant plants, as well as, indigenous people that were native to those lands. Years later he soon unravels that it was all unaccustomed terrain. The monarchy of Spain also discovers Columbus’s new discoveries, then, they send more explorers to conquer the lands. In 1520, Hernan Cortes goes with the order from Spanish royalty to go to the newly discovered lands to conquer them, also, help expand the Spanish empire. Overall, Columbus and Cortes both reported the new lands they recently discovered back to Spain, however, their descriptions

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Christopher Columbus's Letter To Luis De Santangel

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1492, Christopher Columbus was a self-made man who worked his way up to being the Captain of a merchant vessel. He gained the support of the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, for an expedition to the Indies. With the support of the Spanish monarchy, he set off to find a new and faster trade route to the Indies. Upon the arrival of his first voyage, Columbus wrote a letter to Luis de Santangel, a “royal official and an early supporter of his venture,” in February 1493 (35). The epistle, letter, entitled “Letter to Luis de Santangel Regarding the First Voyage” was copied and then distributed in Spain before being translated and spread throughout Europe. The Letter is held in such regard with the people as it is considered the first printed description of the new world. Through his description of the nature of the islands, Columbus decided the future fate of the islands. His description of the vast beauty of the nature around him, declares both the economic and nationalistic motivations for colonizing the new world.

    Read More

  • Paradise Found And Lost - Critique

    632 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although this essay is historically accurate it lacks important details, which might paint a different view of Columbus. Boorstin writes favorable of Columbus and depicts him as a heroic and determined figure who helped shape history, but he neglects to include Columbus’ unethical acts committed in the world that was not supposed to exist, the Americas. When Columbus first discovered the New World, he took care that the royal standard had been brought ashore and he claimed the land for Spain in front of all, including the indigenous population who had been sighted even before Columbus made landfall. According to the medieval concepts of natural law, only those territories that are uninhabited can become the property of the first person to discover them. Clearly this was an unethical act. Thus, the first contact between European and non-European worlds was carried out through a decidedly European prism, which ensured Spanish claim to the islands of the Americas. Faced with a colony in an inhospitable area, the Spanish soon inaugurated the practice of sending regular military parties inland to subdue the increasingly hostile natives. Members of the indigenous population were captured and enslaved to support the fledgling colony. The object of Columbus’ desire changed from exploration and trade to conquest and subjugation.

    Read More

  • A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    In some respects, we can attribute the founding of America and all its subsequent impacts to Christopher Columbus. Columbus a hero in the United States, has his own holiday and we view as the one who paved the way for America to be colonized. However, people tend to forget the other side of Columbus, the side that lusted after gold and resources that often belonged to the native inhabitants he came across in his exploration. In his insatiable greed, he and his crew committed countless atrocities, such as torture and killing of defenseless natives. Columbus’s discovery of these new lands contributes profound and negative effects as future colonists arrived. “Zinn estimates that perhaps 3 million people perished in the Caribbean alone from raids, forced labor and disease” (Zinn, 1980). Columbus was seen as a cruel man, who saw the peaceful inhabitants as right for the conquering and lead to the devastation of the native population, yet is celebrated every October.

    Read More

  • Christopher Columbus: The Villain

    548 Words  | 2 Pages

    Christopher Columbus unintentionally discovered America, when he landed in the Caribbean Islands. He had left Spain in search of Asia and India. When he and his crew arrived at what now is Haiti for his second voyage, they demanded food, gold, and anything else they wanted from the Indians, even sex with their women. Columbus punished those who committed offenses against him. Rape and enslavement had been brought upon the natives. When the natives of the land, known as the Arawaks, tried to fight back, it led to a massacre of their people in which by Columbus? order, meant crossbows, small cannons, lances, and swords to destroy them. Even wild hunting dogs were released to rip up the Arawaks, whom by the end of the day were dead or ready to ship to Spain as slaves. None of this was ever taught to students.

    Read More

  • c

    659 Words  | 2 Pages

    In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch says, "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit em', but remember it's a sin To Kill a Mockingbird." This quote demonstrates Atticus's firm belioef in the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is to treat others how you want to be treated. Atticus follows the Golden Rule throughout the novel, including while defending Tom Robinson, a local African American accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Due to Atticus's firm belief in the Golden Rule and the fact he must live with himself before others and tries to teach his children the right thing to do, it makes sense for him to defend Tom Robinson.

    Read More

  • What Is The Letter To Christopher Columbus Santangel

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. However, even after centuries later, little is truly known of the mysterious voyage and findings of the new world.1 By examining “Letter from Columbus to Luis Santangel”, one can further contextualize the events of Columbus' exploration of the New World. The letter uncovers Columbus' subtle hints of his true intentions and exposes his exaggerated tone that catered to his lavish demands with Spain. Likewise, The Columbian Voyage Map read in accordance with the letter helps the reader track Columbus' first, second, third, and fourth voyage to the New World carefully and conveniently. Thus, the letter and map's rarity and description render invaluable insight into Columbus' intentionality of the New World and its indigenous inhabitants.

    Read More

  • Biography of Milton Meltzer

    1349 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ueen Isabella and King Ferdinand II of Spain. Christopher Columbus was also quite interested in acquiring treasures from what he thought was Asia. However, some people thought what Christopher Columbus did was as glorious as the creation of the world. In the end, Christopher Columbus’s “reputation had its ups and downs over the centuries” said Milton Meltzer (174). To conclude, through the power of technology, the courage and bravery of individuals, and having the right mindset of other nations and their cultures, beliefs, and traditions, there is nothing wrong with two nations interacting with one another. However, if two nations are interacting with one another through crimes against humanity, genocide, and no emotions, then that’s not discovery. It’s invasion.

    Read More

  • The Positive And Negative Effects Of Christopher Columbus

    2154 Words  | 5 Pages

    Michael Memis In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain to try to find a route by sea to East Asia but instead “discovered” America. This led to many positive and negative effects, some of which were intended and some of which were not. While people can’t argue the effects of Columbus’ discovery, many people have different opinions on whether Columbus should be celebrated for discovering America, like he is in the United States, or reveled in for the heinous acts he committed. They also argue about whether European’s horrible treatment of Native Americans was worth the progress that resulted from it.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Jan Van Der Straet's Discovery Of America

    621 Words  | 2 Pages

    For example, in Columbus’ first Voyage he states, “I passed from the Canary Islands to the Indies with the fleet which the most illustrious king and queen our sovereigns gave to me. And there I found very many islands filled with people innumerable, and of them all I have taken possession for their highnesses, by proclamation made and with the royal standard unfurled, and no opposition was offered to me”(P.35). This Passage explains how Columbus finds islands that indigenous people have already settled on and uses complete domination to claim the land his. Columbus would only take over an island if it was something worthy to him. Columbus states, “I determined not to wait for a change in the weather and retraced my paths as far as a certain harbor known to me. And from that point I sent two men inland to learn if there were a king or great cities. They traveled three days’ journey and found an infinity of small hamlets and people without number, but nothing of importance. For this reason the returned” (P.36). In “Discovery of America”, the land looks very high with very lofty mountains. The lands also seem to have great wildlife for hunting, and eating. This is why in the picture the European

    Read More

  • The New World: A Clash of Cultures

    1577 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 1492, Spain's monarchy had liberated itself from Muslim reign and was eager to expand the kingdom. They employed Christopher Columbus and he went in search of new territory for the expansion of the kingdom. He set out for a second voyage in 1493; however, this voyage was different because he had plans of making claims of the land he "discovered" on his first journey (Calloway, 2012, p. 82). He brought many different species of animals and plant life as well as disease along with him. He had plans of making this land more like home, and these plans included civilizing the native peoples into the Spanish way of life.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Christopher Columbus's Letter On His First Voyage

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is an analysis of Christopher Columbus’s Letter on His First Voyage on page 381. Christopher Columbus wrote a letter to his King and Queen of Spain, while he was in the West Indies. He wrote this letter in February 1493 reflecting on his voyage across the Atlantic in 1492. After reading this letter, I can tell that Columbus felt like he was better than the native people of the different islands he journeyed and that a lot of things they did were very strange to him. I can also tell that the world was a lot different to him and to people in 1492, than it is to people in 2014 because he referred to the native people of the various islands he traveled to as Indians, whereas most people in 2014 know that India and Latin American are not the

    Read More

  • d

    639 Words  | 2 Pages

    Having a meaningful name is a gift that anybody can’t have. Most of the parents name their child with expectations of what the child would become, and usually the names they choose have great meanings. But does that mean there is absolutely no problem how the name is pronounced or spelled? Names usually have big impact on first impression when the person is being introduced, which may be very important. I believe that names are powerful piece of who we are and a symbol we live with for the rest of our lives so it shouldn’t be easily chosen; however, names shouldn’t be what we live up to.

    Read More

  • Terrorism and the Causes of Terrorist Attacks

    2144 Words  | 5 Pages

    The exploitation of many of the native peoples in the New World during the period of European expansion can be seen to have been centered on greed.  According to the class film Conquest of Paradise, Columbus' goal even before he set out on the expedition was to find a shorter trade route to the Indian Ocean.  He thought that by sailing west he would eventually hit India, thereby avoiding the long trip around Africa (Bulliet et al. 430).  Columbus' voyage, however, resulted in the discovery of a new continent when he reached the islands of the Caribbean in October of 1492.  The voyage of Christopher Columbus had "laid the basis for Spain's large colonial empires in the Americas... these empires promoted, among the four Atlantic continents, the growth of a major new trading network whose importance rivaled and eventually surpassed that of the Indian Ocean network" (Bulliet et al. 431).  But this trading network, however, was not gained without ...

    Read More

More about d

Open Document