Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Genocidal Leader
Lisamel Hernandez
Lisamel Hernandez
American Survey 110
Prof. John Daly
17 September 2014
Columbus’s Historical Role Throughout our life we have celebrated Columbus Day. Christopher Columbus to us is the man who discovered America. But he is not really who they have claimed to be throughout your high school and middle school years. They claim that he is this great person who helped the natives and gave them a better life. In the book “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James Loewen shows us the real truth about Christopher Columbus. Also in his letter he gives a lot of vivid information that we don’t catch on until we open our minds. In my opinion Columbus was a genocidal leader. Two things that straight off the back lets us know Columbus as our “hero” was not a good person, he did not discover America he actually didn’t even step foot in north America, and he did not prove the world was round, it was written in a book. He was a liar. According to Loewens, Columbus main plan at the beginning of his voyage was not to explore or trade but to conquest and exploit. The way he did this was through religion. He tricked the Native Americans to turn Christian in return for them to do whatever they wanted. After they had converted he told them that they had to follow and do as he said and if they didn’t he would go to war because gods faith was in his hand. Columbus made the natives his slaves by taking their land, wealth and labor. He also created a slave trade. When Columbus and his friend got to Haiti they demanded that they give him whatever the Indians had including sex with their women. To make sure that they did what they were told he had punishments. When an Indian made a mistake or didn’t do what he asked of them the Spanish would cut off their ears or nose. When they went on a hunt they choose 500 natives and enslaved then to join then on their voyage to Spain in which 200 of them would die. They choose another 500 to stay
Genocidal Leader
Lisamel Hernandez
Lisamel Hernandez
American Survey 110
Prof. John Daly
17 September 2014
Columbus’s Historical Role Throughout our life we have celebrated Columbus Day. Christopher Columbus to us is the man who discovered America. But he is not really who they have claimed to be throughout your high school and middle school years. They claim that he is this great person who helped the natives and gave them a better life. In the book “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James Loewen shows us the real truth about Christopher Columbus. Also in his letter he gives a lot of vivid information that we don’t catch on until we open our minds. In my opinion Columbus was a genocidal leader. Two things that straight off the back lets us know Columbus as our “hero” was not a good person, he did not discover America he actually didn’t even step foot in north America, and he did not prove the world was round, it was written in a book. He was a liar. According to Loewens, Columbus main plan at the beginning of his voyage was not to explore or trade but to conquest and exploit. The way he did this was through religion. He tricked the Native Americans to turn Christian in return for them to do whatever they wanted. After they had converted he told them that they had to follow and do as he said and if they didn’t he would go to war because gods faith was in his hand. Columbus made the natives his slaves by taking their land, wealth and labor. He also created a slave trade. When Columbus and his friend got to Haiti they demanded that they give him whatever the Indians had including sex with their women. To make sure that they did what they were told he had punishments. When an Indian made a mistake or didn’t do what he asked of them the Spanish would cut off their ears or nose. When they went on a hunt they choose 500 natives and enslaved then to join then on their voyage to Spain in which 200 of them would die. They choose another 500 to stay