Christopher Columbus, The, And The United States - 971 Words

Introduction In the United States, when a child is asked to think about Christopher Columbus, chances are the child will portray him as a courageous, heroic explorer who discovered America. However, when a child is asked about what they think of when they see an Indian, the child will most likely describe a half-naked human with a feather on his head. Any young American will unknowingly stereotype Indians as figures of the past. These cognitive constructs [stereotypes] are often created out of a kernel and then distorted beyond reality (Hoffmann, 1986). Without any doubt, these attributed characteristics are incorrect. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans regard Indians as â€Å"obstacles to white settlement.† However, historians, scientists, and researchers understand the fact that Indians were â€Å"one of the principle determinants of historical events.† So where does the tragic level of misinformed Americans come from? Ultimately, the overarching origin for this injustified American perspective of the Native American lies in the stereotypes perpetrated by this culture’s education and media. Five hundred years after the first recorded commentary about American Indians, minorities have struggled to overcome the pervasive effect of these impactful stereotypes. This study reveals how the first encounter between Christopher Columbus and the indigenous peoples in 1492 inspired religious racism and indentured servitude in the Americas, which responded withShow MoreRelatedChristopher Columbus : The United States And Charles C. Mann s 14911449 Words   |  6 Pagestoday, Christopher Columbus is known by the majority of students as the man who so called â€Å"discovered† the Americas accidentally on his voyage to India. Students learn about the â€Å"Indians† that Columbus stumbled across and the cultivations that Columbus and his crew were able to accomplish on the new lands. Books te ll of new resources, materials, and goods that made it all the way across the sea from Genoa, but students have not been introduced to the carryover of disease(s) that Columbus and hisRead MoreChristopher Columbus s Discovery Of The Disoriented Magnetic Compass Off The South Eastern Coast Of United States1030 Words   |  5 PagesI. INTRO: A. Attention Getter: Since Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the disoriented magnetic compass off the South-Eastern coast of the United States, more than 1000 people have vanished into what is called The Bermuda Triangle. For centuries, many have reasoned with their fears of the unknown only to coin it a mythical second name, The Devil’s triangle. B. Statement of Credibility: Through vast studying of oceanic research articles, I have found that the media overwhelms the general publicRead MoreChristopher Columbus : A False Narrative For Americans1282 Words   |  6 Pagesthe United States, students learn that Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and â€Å"discovered† North America. This common misconception creates a false narrative for Americans learning about Christopher Columbus’ legacy - and indeed about the country’s early post-European history. When Christopher Columbus came ashore, North America was already inhabited by hundreds of thousands of native peoples so the concept of Christopher Columbus somehow â€Å"discovering† what is now the United StatesRead MoreAmerican Lit : Burden Of The United States1031 Words   |  5 PagesMorgan Finley American Lit Burden December 12, 2014 American What does it mean to be American? Webster’s defines an American as: Of or relating to the United States of America or its people, language, or culture. My definition to be American means that you’re free. Free to say what you want. Free to choose your own religion. Free to vote for whom you want. Free to grow up and pick the occupation you desire. Free to go where you please. Free of being a slave to no one! Free to love whom you wantRead MoreThe Historical Perspectives Of The Columbus Day Became A National Holiday Essay1747 Words   |  7 Pageshow in fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue. His discovery of America, and not the Indies as he originally thought, would be significant in history. Thus, Columbus Day became a national holiday in the United States in 1937 under President Theodore Roosevelt and would later become a national holiday in 1971. It signified the â€Å"celebration and commemoration of Christopher Columbus’ discover y of the New World† (Hitchmough). However, Columbus Day also sparked controversy with regardRead MoreWaiting A Minute Trs, By Christopher Columbus1640 Words   |  7 PagesWait a minute TRS, are you trying to trick me again? Columbus Day is in October! Vandals defaced an iconic statue of Christopher Columbus in Boston’s North End by covering it in red paint and tagging it with the phrase â€Å"Black Lives Matter.† - via WCVB Channel 5 Boston I know, I know; we re only supposed to have to deal with this orgy of self-hating SWPL signaling once a year, but we appear to have had a little misfire in the afterglow of #TakeDownTheFlag and the cavalcade of conservatives willfullyRead MoreChristopher Columbus And The Father Of Space917 Words   |  4 PagesChristopher Columbus (Italian: Cristoforo Colombo) is considered, by popular belief in the United States of America, to be the â€Å"Father of the Americas†. Columbus was not the first European to reach mainland in the Western Hemisphere, but his efforts did lay the path to settlement of the â€Å"New World†. Similar to Christopher Columbus, Neil Armstrong was a pioneer in his own right; he is the â€Å"Father of Space†. Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong were obviously two very different people based on theRead MoreChristopher Columbus : The True Agenda Essay1386 Words   |  6 Pages The True Agenda Christopher Columbus was born in born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. He was not born into a very wealthy family like many assume he was, but in fact was born into a middle working class family. Christopher’s father worked extremely hard as a wool weaver to support his wife and four children. Ever since a young age the ocean and the endless opportunities of where it could lead fascinated Christopher. As Columbus got older, he developed a theory. He believed it would be faster for EuropeanRead MoreThe Journey Columbus By Christopher Columbus1628 Words   |  7 PagesDeveloped Through the Uncovering of San Salvador in 1492 Christopher Columbus’s adventitious finding of San Salvador led to the initial European â€Å"discovery† of the New World. Columbus, an Italian explorer, attempted to sail west from Spain to India, funded by King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile (Christopher Columbus’s Exploration). He sailed west using three boats: the Nià ±a, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria (Christopher Columbus the Italian Explorer). They reached the island of GuanahaniRead MoreHow Do Americans View George Washington and Christopher Columbus Today?772 Words   |  4 PagesWashington had an impact on America during the late 1700’s, and Columbus had an impact on what he hoped was the West Indies in the late 1400’s and early 1500’s. George Washington and Christopher Columbus are viewed in two complete different ways. Columbus found America and brought the early English settlements over. Washington helped found our country. However even though both men affected our country both are viewed differently than today. George Washington set a legacy that we are still following