Post by Slayer on Apr 20, 2009 20:59:21 GMT -5
This is an essay I'm writing for history, It's Historical intolerance to the Natives of the Caribbean by Columbus. All citations etc. are in place, so don't sue me! It's in a Topic Outline form ATM too.
Columbus - The Truth
Columbus’ voyages were examples of historical intolerance to the indigenous peoples of Central America through his use and abuse of slavery, forced labor, the slaughter of the natives in the Caribbean through inhumane methods, and our celebration of all of these acts through covering this reality up.
Historical Background
Our history textbooks try to “Heroify”(As James W. Loewen puts it) Columbus by inventing stories of his “Harsh” voyage across the atlantic.
As Land of Promise puts it, “Three small, storm-battered ships are lost at sea, sailing into an unknown ocean. A frightened crew has been threatening to throw their stubborn captain overboard...” but Loewen debunks this false history by using Columbus’ own journal against him.
“Columbus’s own journal reveals that the three ships...” (James W. Loewen, 52) had seen smooth sailing throughout their travel. Creating fake history in order to make the reader have a false sense of relation to Comlubus undermines the horrific inhumane acts that he performed against the Haitians of Central America.
Columbus wasn’t trying to conquer a savage nation either, as Loewen puts it, “On Christmas Day of 1492, Columbus needed help. Santa Maria ran aground off Haiti. Columbus sent for help to the nearest Arawak town, and “all the people of the town” responded “with very big and many canoes.” “They cleared the decks in a very short time,” Columbus continued...” (James W. Loewen, 65)
Columbus responded to these acts of kindness by conquering the people of the Caribbean. “Ferdinand Columbus describes how it worked:
“[The Indians] all promised to pay tribute to the Catholic Sovereigns every three months... every person of 14 years of age or upward was to pay a large hawk’s bell of gold dust; all others were each to pay 25 pounds of cotton. Whenever an Indian delivered his tribute, he was to receive a brass or copper token which he must wear around his neck as proof that he made his payment. An Indian found without such a token was to be punished.
With a fresh token, a Native was safe for three months... the Spanish punished those whose tokens had expired: they cut off their hands.” (James W. Loewen, 56)
Before Columbus had arrived in Haiti, the estimated population was at approximately eight millions inhabitants. (James W. Loewen, 57) Three years later, a census taken by Columbus’ brother estimated a native population of 1.1 million. After only twenty-three years of “discovery” the Haitian’s native population had dwindled down to only about 12,000. (James W. Loewen, 57)
Columbian expeditions were no innocent voyage, mingling kindly with the native populace, they were blood sport, hunting down the Indians, shown by a primary source document quoted in James W. Loewen’s book.
“... With many crossbows and small cannon, lances, and swords, and a still more terrible weapon against the Indians, in addition to the horses: this was 20 hunting dogs, who were turned loose, and immediately” [proceeded] “to tore” [tear] “the Indians apart.” (James W. Loewen, 55)
Causes of the Event
First and foremost, before I get too deep into the next section, there are a few untrue “facts” that must be cleared up. For the most part truly, just one. Columbus’ wasn’t the genius, ground breaking explorer that we were taught. He wasn’t a gifted navigator, the other captains of the ships that accompanied Columbus had captains far more experienced in navigation.
Other than the truth of what Columbus really did during his “exploration” of the “savage” lands, a most absurd misconception is that Columbus was alone in the fact that he thought the world was round. In James Hannam’s words, “... at the time everyone knew it was a globe and were arguing about how big it was. The idea that the uncouth people of the Middle Ages thought the Earth was flat is an example of the myth that has been propagated since the nineteenth century to give us a quite unfair view of this vibrant and exciting period.” (1)
Once again, our history creates a false sense of identification with Columbus, saying that he was the genius who thought of the groundbreaking idea that the earth was round.
Creating a hero out of the harsh conquerer of the Caribbean is not only unfair to their memory, but unfair to their ancestors who no doubt (if they even KNEW the truth of what columbus did) would be absolutely beside themselves with anger and grief.
Next, is the fact that Columbus had whole heartedly believed at first that he had sailed to Asia. With this knowledge still in mind, he was eager to conquer these people. He obviously came prepared with soldiers (stated earlier, on page 3). What’s next is an absolute shock at the inhumanity of one of our nation’s iconic figures. Knowing well that the Natives couldn’t speak their dialect Columbus would recite the following before attacking,
“I implore you to recognize the Church as a lady and in the name of the pope take the King as lord of this land and obey his mandates. If you do not do it, I tell you that with the help of God I will enter powerfully against you all. I will make war everywhere and every way that I can. I will subject you to the yoke and obedience to the Church and his majesty. I will take your women and children and make them slaves... The deaths and injuries that you will receive from here on will be your own fault and not that of his majesty nor of the gentlemen that accompany me.” (James W. Loewen, 36-37)
1.The Church, and the monarchy of Spain knew of these attacks and supported them, especially after “Columbus finally found gold on Haiti in significant amounts” (James W. Loewen, 60)
With the gold to be found in the Americas (so far the Caribbean) other countries soon became jealous of Spain’s newfound fortune. Columbus opened the doors to Europe to the brutal colonization of the Americas.
Effects of Columbus’ Voyage
The first conquistador of the Caribbean of the Caribbean, Columbus, had struck gold on the virgin soil of Haiti. Soon, all of Europe was after America, with it’s new slave trade, vast amounts of gold, and new land for the smaller countries to sink their teeth into.
In the near future the pattern of brutality and savageness that Spain had started spread to the rest of Europe, and decimated the Native peoples through all of North and South America. Hernan Cortes and other conquerors entered, spreading disease and violence to the Indians. France, Britain, and the like colonized America leading to the virtual end of many tribes, and much of Indian culture in North America.
The discovery of the Americas was the most outstanding feat of any explorer of the time, and the primarily white societies “heroified” Columbus for stimulating all of their economies with a surplus of gold. This glorious perception of Columbus has followed him throughout history and thus into our textbooks. Flaws as large as this shouldn’t be taught to any one in any grade what so ever. In third grade, I came back to my homestead and began to preach Columbus’ Glorious deeds. Shortly after he began to show me the true side of history... If this were taught in textbooks then children wouldn’t ever get bored during history, they would be enthraled by what our nation’s heros have done.
These lies may not be the first misconception on the textbook author’s behalf, but still sets a trend for telling a false truth to the future of our nation.
Why It Matters Today
This matters today for a number of reasons, but as any teacher or person(s) over the age of eighteen may tell you, “History is bound to repeat it’s self unless we teach it to our children,”. With this in mind, when we venture into the universe and find another planet with beings occupying it, we may go about it to nice as we think Columbus did, or to bold like he truly did, but either way, it may not end amiably.
Also, a blazingly obvious statement is that it isn’t fair to the people who were present in the Pre-Columbian era to make a hero of their annihilator.
This cover up of facts is extremely prevalent in our society, and in European society as well, assuming that it’s being taught to them, if they’re being taught at all is down right scandalous.
The Haitian's death numbers as stated above were in the high millions, almost as many Haitian natives were murdered as Jews in the holocaust, yet do you see us making statues and holidays for Adolf Hitler? Also, the lack of knowledge on this subject would be as if (using another example from the holocaust) nearly all of the Jewish community was oblivious to the fact and or occurrence of the Holocaust and idolized Hitler.
Last but deffinetely NOT least is that Columbus’ exploration can easily be traced back to be the root of slavery, and in turn racism to the African American population. Once he had impeccably decimated his slave population in the caribbean, the following generation began to import slaves form Africa for their immunity to the diseases of the area. Once America was formed these slaves were sent up into our very own U S of A and from their plantations, racism, and “The War of Northern Aggression” were soon to be wrought.
Conclusion
A. Columbus’ voyages were clearly examples of historical intolerance to the indigenous peoples of Central America through his use and abuse of slavery, forced labor, the slaughter of the natives in the Caribbean through inhumane methods, and our celebration of all of these acts through covering this reality up.
Columbus - The Truth
Columbus’ voyages were examples of historical intolerance to the indigenous peoples of Central America through his use and abuse of slavery, forced labor, the slaughter of the natives in the Caribbean through inhumane methods, and our celebration of all of these acts through covering this reality up.
Historical Background
Our history textbooks try to “Heroify”(As James W. Loewen puts it) Columbus by inventing stories of his “Harsh” voyage across the atlantic.
As Land of Promise puts it, “Three small, storm-battered ships are lost at sea, sailing into an unknown ocean. A frightened crew has been threatening to throw their stubborn captain overboard...” but Loewen debunks this false history by using Columbus’ own journal against him.
“Columbus’s own journal reveals that the three ships...” (James W. Loewen, 52) had seen smooth sailing throughout their travel. Creating fake history in order to make the reader have a false sense of relation to Comlubus undermines the horrific inhumane acts that he performed against the Haitians of Central America.
Columbus wasn’t trying to conquer a savage nation either, as Loewen puts it, “On Christmas Day of 1492, Columbus needed help. Santa Maria ran aground off Haiti. Columbus sent for help to the nearest Arawak town, and “all the people of the town” responded “with very big and many canoes.” “They cleared the decks in a very short time,” Columbus continued...” (James W. Loewen, 65)
Columbus responded to these acts of kindness by conquering the people of the Caribbean. “Ferdinand Columbus describes how it worked:
“[The Indians] all promised to pay tribute to the Catholic Sovereigns every three months... every person of 14 years of age or upward was to pay a large hawk’s bell of gold dust; all others were each to pay 25 pounds of cotton. Whenever an Indian delivered his tribute, he was to receive a brass or copper token which he must wear around his neck as proof that he made his payment. An Indian found without such a token was to be punished.
With a fresh token, a Native was safe for three months... the Spanish punished those whose tokens had expired: they cut off their hands.” (James W. Loewen, 56)
Before Columbus had arrived in Haiti, the estimated population was at approximately eight millions inhabitants. (James W. Loewen, 57) Three years later, a census taken by Columbus’ brother estimated a native population of 1.1 million. After only twenty-three years of “discovery” the Haitian’s native population had dwindled down to only about 12,000. (James W. Loewen, 57)
Columbian expeditions were no innocent voyage, mingling kindly with the native populace, they were blood sport, hunting down the Indians, shown by a primary source document quoted in James W. Loewen’s book.
“... With many crossbows and small cannon, lances, and swords, and a still more terrible weapon against the Indians, in addition to the horses: this was 20 hunting dogs, who were turned loose, and immediately” [proceeded] “to tore” [tear] “the Indians apart.” (James W. Loewen, 55)
Causes of the Event
First and foremost, before I get too deep into the next section, there are a few untrue “facts” that must be cleared up. For the most part truly, just one. Columbus’ wasn’t the genius, ground breaking explorer that we were taught. He wasn’t a gifted navigator, the other captains of the ships that accompanied Columbus had captains far more experienced in navigation.
Other than the truth of what Columbus really did during his “exploration” of the “savage” lands, a most absurd misconception is that Columbus was alone in the fact that he thought the world was round. In James Hannam’s words, “... at the time everyone knew it was a globe and were arguing about how big it was. The idea that the uncouth people of the Middle Ages thought the Earth was flat is an example of the myth that has been propagated since the nineteenth century to give us a quite unfair view of this vibrant and exciting period.” (1)
Once again, our history creates a false sense of identification with Columbus, saying that he was the genius who thought of the groundbreaking idea that the earth was round.
Creating a hero out of the harsh conquerer of the Caribbean is not only unfair to their memory, but unfair to their ancestors who no doubt (if they even KNEW the truth of what columbus did) would be absolutely beside themselves with anger and grief.
Next, is the fact that Columbus had whole heartedly believed at first that he had sailed to Asia. With this knowledge still in mind, he was eager to conquer these people. He obviously came prepared with soldiers (stated earlier, on page 3). What’s next is an absolute shock at the inhumanity of one of our nation’s iconic figures. Knowing well that the Natives couldn’t speak their dialect Columbus would recite the following before attacking,
“I implore you to recognize the Church as a lady and in the name of the pope take the King as lord of this land and obey his mandates. If you do not do it, I tell you that with the help of God I will enter powerfully against you all. I will make war everywhere and every way that I can. I will subject you to the yoke and obedience to the Church and his majesty. I will take your women and children and make them slaves... The deaths and injuries that you will receive from here on will be your own fault and not that of his majesty nor of the gentlemen that accompany me.” (James W. Loewen, 36-37)
1.The Church, and the monarchy of Spain knew of these attacks and supported them, especially after “Columbus finally found gold on Haiti in significant amounts” (James W. Loewen, 60)
With the gold to be found in the Americas (so far the Caribbean) other countries soon became jealous of Spain’s newfound fortune. Columbus opened the doors to Europe to the brutal colonization of the Americas.
Effects of Columbus’ Voyage
The first conquistador of the Caribbean of the Caribbean, Columbus, had struck gold on the virgin soil of Haiti. Soon, all of Europe was after America, with it’s new slave trade, vast amounts of gold, and new land for the smaller countries to sink their teeth into.
In the near future the pattern of brutality and savageness that Spain had started spread to the rest of Europe, and decimated the Native peoples through all of North and South America. Hernan Cortes and other conquerors entered, spreading disease and violence to the Indians. France, Britain, and the like colonized America leading to the virtual end of many tribes, and much of Indian culture in North America.
The discovery of the Americas was the most outstanding feat of any explorer of the time, and the primarily white societies “heroified” Columbus for stimulating all of their economies with a surplus of gold. This glorious perception of Columbus has followed him throughout history and thus into our textbooks. Flaws as large as this shouldn’t be taught to any one in any grade what so ever. In third grade, I came back to my homestead and began to preach Columbus’ Glorious deeds. Shortly after he began to show me the true side of history... If this were taught in textbooks then children wouldn’t ever get bored during history, they would be enthraled by what our nation’s heros have done.
These lies may not be the first misconception on the textbook author’s behalf, but still sets a trend for telling a false truth to the future of our nation.
Why It Matters Today
This matters today for a number of reasons, but as any teacher or person(s) over the age of eighteen may tell you, “History is bound to repeat it’s self unless we teach it to our children,”. With this in mind, when we venture into the universe and find another planet with beings occupying it, we may go about it to nice as we think Columbus did, or to bold like he truly did, but either way, it may not end amiably.
Also, a blazingly obvious statement is that it isn’t fair to the people who were present in the Pre-Columbian era to make a hero of their annihilator.
This cover up of facts is extremely prevalent in our society, and in European society as well, assuming that it’s being taught to them, if they’re being taught at all is down right scandalous.
The Haitian's death numbers as stated above were in the high millions, almost as many Haitian natives were murdered as Jews in the holocaust, yet do you see us making statues and holidays for Adolf Hitler? Also, the lack of knowledge on this subject would be as if (using another example from the holocaust) nearly all of the Jewish community was oblivious to the fact and or occurrence of the Holocaust and idolized Hitler.
Last but deffinetely NOT least is that Columbus’ exploration can easily be traced back to be the root of slavery, and in turn racism to the African American population. Once he had impeccably decimated his slave population in the caribbean, the following generation began to import slaves form Africa for their immunity to the diseases of the area. Once America was formed these slaves were sent up into our very own U S of A and from their plantations, racism, and “The War of Northern Aggression” were soon to be wrought.
Conclusion
A. Columbus’ voyages were clearly examples of historical intolerance to the indigenous peoples of Central America through his use and abuse of slavery, forced labor, the slaughter of the natives in the Caribbean through inhumane methods, and our celebration of all of these acts through covering this reality up.
