Columbus Essays (354 words) - Christopher Columbus, Age Of Discovery

Columbus In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. And, when he reached his destination he killed, raped and enslaved innocent natives. Was Columbus a villain? The answer to that question, in my opinion, would be yes. Christopher Columbus was a cruel, self-centered, delusional man who does not deserve to be praised for the discovery of America. First, Columbus was a cruel man who enslaved, raped, and murdered the natives of the countries he sailed to. According to an article by John Margolis entitled Goodbye Columbus, Columbus oversaw the killings of some (Indians) and ordered the enslavement of others. Margolis goes on to say that Columbus did not prevent his crewmen from raping the innocent natives, and even that he himself raped an Indian women after beating her with a piece of rope. If these actions do not constitute villainy, I don't know what does. Also, Columbus could be described as a self-centered and delusional man. His critics have described him as not a genius, but a stubborn ego maniac who convinced himself that the world was about 25 percent smaller than it actually is. Columbus believed that he was saving the souls of his captives and granting them eternal life by taking the natives out of their environment and shipping them back to Spain. He even went so far as to believe that he was getting personal messages from above. Columbus does not deserve to be praised for the discovery of America. In short, if he didn't do it, someone else would have within 10 years. He was not the only one who believed that the earth was round, and the ideas of similar voyages had been previously proposed. Christopher Columbus was a cruel, delusional, and self-centered man who does not deserve high praises for the discovery of America. He allowed the killing, rape, and enslavement of innocent natives. Columbus was an ego-maniac who believed that he was doing the natives favors by killing them. If he had not discovered America, it is believed that some other Europeans would have. As one can plainly see, Columbus was a true villain. History

Free Essays on Conflict Over Slave Expansion

There were many acts throughout the 1800’s that intensified the national conflict over the growth of slavery. Westward expansion, industrialization and immigration were all issues that brought about changes in society, which eventually led to more confrontations over the development of slavery. Two major political acts, the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas- Nebraska Act, both worked to resolve this issue. California’s population had grown so much that political leaders were quickly seeking statehood. This put California in the center of the debates over the issue of slave labor versus free labor. There were many different political groups emerging in the United States, all of which had different views on slavery and were looking to protect their social and economical interests. The Free Soil Party, Whig Party, and Congressional Democrats all had controversial opinions on the entrance of California into the union. After lengthy debates, Congress rejected the idea of allowing California to enter as either a free or slave state and instead formed a compromise. The Compromise of 1850 called for the passage of five separate bills: California would be admitted as a free state; slavery could not be restricted in any land acquired from Mexico; the federal government would assume Texas’s public debt in exchange for Texas yielding in its border dispute with New Mexico; slave trade would be abolished in Washington, D.C.; and a new Fugitive Slave Law would go into effect (WBA, 554). The intent of this act was to keep all political parties along with the public satisfied, maintain social and economic security in all areas, as well as preserve the unity of the states. Leaders of both major parties were satisfied with the compromise. They felt they had finally overcome the controversy about slavery and saved the Union from future conflict. Many farmers and workers also accepted the measures involved in the compromise. They, too, saw it ... Free Essays on Conflict Over Slave Expansion Free Essays on Conflict Over Slave Expansion There were many acts throughout the 1800’s that intensified the national conflict over the growth of slavery. Westward expansion, industrialization and immigration were all issues that brought about changes in society, which eventually led to more confrontations over the development of slavery. Two major political acts, the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas- Nebraska Act, both worked to resolve this issue. California’s population had grown so much that political leaders were quickly seeking statehood. This put California in the center of the debates over the issue of slave labor versus free labor. There were many different political groups emerging in the United States, all of which had different views on slavery and were looking to protect their social and economical interests. The Free Soil Party, Whig Party, and Congressional Democrats all had controversial opinions on the entrance of California into the union. After lengthy debates, Congress rejected the idea of allowing California to enter as either a free or slave state and instead formed a compromise. The Compromise of 1850 called for the passage of five separate bills: California would be admitted as a free state; slavery could not be restricted in any land acquired from Mexico; the federal government would assume Texas’s public debt in exchange for Texas yielding in its border dispute with New Mexico; slave trade would be abolished in Washington, D.C.; and a new Fugitive Slave Law would go into effect (WBA, 554). The intent of this act was to keep all political parties along with the public satisfied, maintain social and economic security in all areas, as well as preserve the unity of the states. Leaders of both major parties were satisfied with the compromise. They felt they had finally overcome the controversy about slavery and saved the Union from future conflict. Many farmers and workers also accepted the measures involved in the compromise. They, too, saw it ...