Why We Shouldn T Celebrate Columbus Day
There has been a large dispute over whether Columbus Day should be celebrated as a holiday. Due to Columbus’s past actions, Columbus Day should not be a holiday. Christopher Columbus is known for the “discovery” of America, though he only ever set foot in Cuba, believing it to be Asia. The locals he met were described by him as friendly and giving, but Columbus’s first thoughts of them were their use in slavery. Columbus fueled the growth of slavery and many other racist acts and should not be celebrated.
When Columbus returned to the Spanish court, he brought news of interest in good trade. According to Columbus’s journal, he states, “They ought to make good slaves.” He believed this because of their quick intelligence. As well as his thoughts of slavery, he also believed they could easily become Christians, as he did not see a religion of their own. Columbus forced natives to work for profits, sending thousands of Taino peoples to Spain to be sold into further slavery. The ones who were not sold were forced to mine gold and work on the plantations. If the Native peoples tried to revolt, they would be killed, and to prevent future rebellion, he paraded the dead bodies through the streets. …show more content…
Christopher Columbus and his men were responsible for many deaths and tortious acts. During the beginning, he brought countless diseases to the natives and, in turn, killed them. To look into even more horrific actions, there were many instances of rape and kidnappings, with many of the victims being children. In order to have the Indigenous peoples submit to his rule, he often mutilated them by cutting their hands or ears off. Overall, 56 years after Columbus's first voyage, it was quoted that “only 500 out of 300,000 Indians remained in Hispaniola.” His actions led to mass suicide and left a large dent in the Hispaniola
When Columbus returned to the Spanish court, he brought news of interest in good trade. According to Columbus’s journal, he states, “They ought to make good slaves.” He believed this because of their quick intelligence. As well as his thoughts of slavery, he also believed they could easily become Christians, as he did not see a religion of their own. Columbus forced natives to work for profits, sending thousands of Taino peoples to Spain to be sold into further slavery. The ones who were not sold were forced to mine gold and work on the plantations. If the Native peoples tried to revolt, they would be killed, and to prevent future rebellion, he paraded the dead bodies through the streets. …show more content…
Christopher Columbus and his men were responsible for many deaths and tortious acts. During the beginning, he brought countless diseases to the natives and, in turn, killed them. To look into even more horrific actions, there were many instances of rape and kidnappings, with many of the victims being children. In order to have the Indigenous peoples submit to his rule, he often mutilated them by cutting their hands or ears off. Overall, 56 years after Columbus's first voyage, it was quoted that “only 500 out of 300,000 Indians remained in Hispaniola.” His actions led to mass suicide and left a large dent in the Hispaniola