Argumentative Essay: The Celebration Of Christopher Columbus

Most people in our nation grew up thanking Christopher Columbus for the Discovery of America and celebrating him every year on the second Monday of October. And although Columbus spurred the exploration and eventual colonization of the New World he did not discover the country we call home. Columbus landed on an island in the Bahamas and enslaved the peaceful natives for selfish reasons. Does this sound like a national hero we should celebrate? No, of course not. The United States should not continue to celebrate Columbus Day.

The Spanish empire throughout the 15th and 16th centuries dominated sea exploration. So when an Italian man with the idea for new sea routes to Asia, its no wonder he turned to the Spanish crown. Ferdinand and Isabella

Him and his Spanish counterparts slaughtered men, women, and children alike. They would decapitate the innocent, burn humans alive, and beat young children to death (Las Casas). When Columbus originally encountered the natives, he recounted that they were a peaceful, generous, and loving peoples (Columbus). Yet he still chose to participate in this torture. Columbus also never actually stepped foot onto North America. The closest he came was the Bahama’s. After his initial voyage, Columbus exaggerated his findings and convinced Isabella and Ferdinand to provide him with more ships and men. His next voyages failed miserably and he was eventually sent back to spain in chains due to his harsh treatment (Fraser). Not even his own people accepted him when he returned. Finally, the land that Columbus so-called discovered, was already filled with millions of indigenous people. Entire towns and empires were built and prospering, yet Columbus is taking all the credit. Specifically the Taino tribe in the Bahamas was an accomplished city was already in place (Fraser). Instead of respecting these cities that were already built, he decided to destroy them to try and achieve