Christopher Columbus Cruelty

Christopher Columbus is celebrated every year in America on October 9th. Columbus is said to have sailed and discovered America in 1492. This is completely inaccurate and it is perplexing to think that people actually celebrate such an absurd person. The cruelty he caused, the slavery he established, and the credit he got for things he did not do, all contribute to why Columbus Day should not be celebrated. He cruelly harmed people for not accomplishing his orders, hunted men, and persuaded rape. Forcing labor, dispatching shipments of slaves, and setting detrimental habits, all were ways Columbus slavery. Lastly, Columbus got credit for discovering america, discovering that the world was flat, and spreading christianity.
Columbus should
not be honored for his brutality and malice. Columbus caused and encouraged in violence against the Natives of the islands of the Caribbean. For example, when Columbus searched for gold and was unable to find it, he set up a tribute system which forced the natives to frequently bring him gold. In Source 4 it says, “Later Columbus set up a tribute system to get the gold he had been unable to find, forcing the people to bring him gold regularly”. Columbus was very greedy and cut off the hands of those who failed to accomplish his orders. He also had many people do his work for him. For instance, “Columbus’ men hunted the people for sport” (Source 4). They would kill innocents and use their corpses to feed the dogs. Furthermore, Columbus aided his men to rape women. He allowed his men to sexually assault women as young as nine or ten and “...he punished minor offenses against his domination by cutting off the Natives’ noses and ears” (Source 4). Not only did Columbus mistreat the natives, but he also established slavery in the Caribbean.
Columbus initiated slavery by forcing labor.
His slave trade put many in danger, because it would ship “Natives from various parts of north America both to Europe and to the Caribbean. But, so many of these people died…”.(Source 4). Columbus also sent large shipments of Native people from other islands to Europe as slaves. This began the pattern of transatlantic slave trade. Also, the actions of Columbus set the habit of white dominance over African-Americans. This became part of the American society in the middle of the many years of slavery, which is still a main characteristic of our culture today. Columbus’ actions and what he did caused a lot of dishonor toward him, but also what he has also not done caused dishonor as
well.
Columbus got credit for many things he did not do.
Columbus is known for discovering America, but he did not because it was already inhabited by other settlers. For instance, “The American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘discover’ as ‘To be the first to find, learn of, or observe’”. (Source 4). It is not possible to discover a place which tens of millions already know about. Columbus also got credit for proving that the world was not flat, and was actually round. This is also incorrect because during that time educated Europeans did not believe the earth was flat, but “the few who did believe so, the ones routinely cited by modern historians to support the medieval flat earth idea, were the exceptions rather than the rule, ridiculed by their peers.” (Source 4). Lastly, Columbus was said to have spread Christianity. The Natives of the Caribbean were demolished within two generations by the Spanish discoverer. None of the generations were “converted to the Catholic faith, which was supposedly a prime motive of those voyages.” (Source 4). As you can see, Columbus clearly does not deserve the credit for doing nothing.
In conclusion, America should discontinue the celebration of Christopher Columbus because of the inhumanity and cruelty he put people through, the slavery he established, and the recognition he obtained for things he did not do. America should not be taking such patriotic pride on a day that honors such a discourteous
person.