Christopher Columbus: Hero Or Villain?
Christopher Columbus was a villain because he promoted slavery and brought new diseases to the Americas.
Christopher Columbus promoted the enslavement of the natives. For example, He wrote in his diary on October twelfth, “…that the people are ingenious, and would be good servants…” (Halsall). This shows that Columbus believed that these people would be good slaves, so therefore he could take them. This is important because Columbus was only thinking of himself and was encouraging slavery. Furthermore, two days later, on October fourteenth Christopher Columbus wrote, “…as your highness will see by those seven which I have ordered to be taken and carried to Spain in order to learn out language and return…” (Halsall). This is showing that they believe that the Natives are not as important as themselves, so they can take them. This is important because the natives are taken to be used …show more content…
In addition, Christopher Columbus wrote a letter to his son, Ferdinand, and significant other, Isabel, in which he tells them, “…I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts… and they have been very serviceable.” (Zinn). This proves that Columbus was taking and keeping natives for his own use. This therefore shows that Columbus enslaved the natives, and used them for knowledge, rather than work. As is exemplified, Christopher Columbus was a villain because he used the natives and promoted their enslavement. Moreover, Christopher Columbus was a villain because he brought deadly new diseases to the new world. For example, in 1656, a New Netherland traveler explains, “The Indians… affirm, that before the arrival of the Christians and before the smallpox broke out among them, they were ten times as numerous as they now are, and that their population had been melted down by this disease, whereof nine-tenths of them have
Christopher Columbus promoted the enslavement of the natives. For example, He wrote in his diary on October twelfth, “…that the people are ingenious, and would be good servants…” (Halsall). This shows that Columbus believed that these people would be good slaves, so therefore he could take them. This is important because Columbus was only thinking of himself and was encouraging slavery. Furthermore, two days later, on October fourteenth Christopher Columbus wrote, “…as your highness will see by those seven which I have ordered to be taken and carried to Spain in order to learn out language and return…” (Halsall). This is showing that they believe that the Natives are not as important as themselves, so they can take them. This is important because the natives are taken to be used …show more content…
In addition, Christopher Columbus wrote a letter to his son, Ferdinand, and significant other, Isabel, in which he tells them, “…I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts… and they have been very serviceable.” (Zinn). This proves that Columbus was taking and keeping natives for his own use. This therefore shows that Columbus enslaved the natives, and used them for knowledge, rather than work. As is exemplified, Christopher Columbus was a villain because he used the natives and promoted their enslavement. Moreover, Christopher Columbus was a villain because he brought deadly new diseases to the new world. For example, in 1656, a New Netherland traveler explains, “The Indians… affirm, that before the arrival of the Christians and before the smallpox broke out among them, they were ten times as numerous as they now are, and that their population had been melted down by this disease, whereof nine-tenths of them have