Columbus's Relationship with the Natives
(Steven, Columbus, the indians and the 'discover'y of america)
In Christopher Columbus’s own words he quotes, “To this end, I, Columbus, decided to write down everything I might do, see and experience on this voyage, from day to day, and very carefully” (Peter & Connie, 1990, p.16). According to this book, the editors, Peter and Connie Roop, mention that Christopher Columbus wanted to have a friendly relationship with the natives they met. As a result Columbus decided to trade with these people. “I gave some red caps to some and glass beads to others,” (Peter & Connie, 1990, p.31). Columbus also added, “I warned my men to take nothing from the people without giving something in exchange” (Peter & Connie, 1990, p.31-32). Later that afternoon the natives decided to swim over to Columbus’s ships to give them goods in exchange; “They brought parrots, balls of cotton, spears, and many other things. We swapped them little glass beads and hawks’ bells” (Peter & Connie, 1990, p.32). The relationship with the natives was a great relationship at the beginning of the voyage.
Christopher Columbus also mentioned that he wanted to be friendly with the natives. Columbus states later, “I cannot believe that we have found a people with such good hearts, so liberal in giving, and so timid, that they strip themselves of everything to give all they have to us” (Peter & Connie, 1990, p.42). According to the article, The Meaning of Columbus Day, Chapin re-quoted Columbus by stating, “…they invite you to share anything that they possess, and show as much love as if their hearts went with it…." (Chapin). He went on to observe "…how easy it would be to convert these people — and to make them work for us" (Chapin). At one point in Columbus’s life he did care for the native people and what they have done. It looks like as time went on Columbus’ relationship with the natives started going in the opposite direction. Christopher and the Natives had a friendly relationship, then it slowly got worse.
Christopher Columbus also mentioned that he wanted to be friendly with the natives. Columbus states later, “I cannot believe that we have found a people with such good hearts, so liberal in giving, and so timid, that they strip themselves of everything to give all they have to us” (Peter & Connie, 1990, p.42). According to the article, The Meaning of Columbus Day, Chapin re-quoted Columbus by stating, “…they invite you to share anything that they possess, and show as much love as if their hearts went with it…." (Chapin). He went on to observe "…how easy it would be to convert these people — and to make them work for us" (Chapin). At one point in Columbus’s life he did care for the native people and what they have done. It looks like as time went on Columbus’ relationship with the natives started going in the opposite direction. Christopher and the Natives had a friendly relationship, then it slowly got worse.
(Zinn)
While Christopher Columbus was sailing his second expedition, he came across Indigenous people which he named them Indians. In the article, Christopher Columbus, “Columbus established a forced labor policy over the native population to rebuild the settlement and explore for gold, believing it would prove to be profitable” (“Christopher columbus”). While Columbus was traveling, he also had men who were not nice to the Indians. According to the article, Columbus Controversy, “In an era in which the international slave trade was starting to grow, Columbus and his men enslaved many native inhabitants of the West Indies and subjected them to extreme violence and brutality” ("Columbus controversy,"). The torture that Columbus put the natives through is very harsh. “Within four years of the time Columbus set foot on San Salvadorian soil, his men had killed or exported a full third of the native population” (Vickery-Smith, 1998). In Columbus’s own journals, his torture was very graphic. It is so devastating to see how Columbus, who was so appreciated by so many people because of what he had discovered, can be so hated for how he treated the native people he came into contact with.
Once Columbus arrived to the new world, he wanted six natives to be captured because he thought that they were not going to be good servants. He not only captured the natives, he put the natives to work, and then sold some as slaves. Slaves are people who have to obey what their owner tells them to do. The natives were starting to go against what Columbus was telling them so he killed many of them. Another controversy was how Christopher Columbus brought diseases into the New World. Two of the diseases that was brought over was smallpox and influenza, which is also called the flu. This effected many natives in the area and got them very sick. I now understand why there are people who do not want to celebrate Columbus Day. He was very cruel to the Indigenous people and killed many of them.
Once Columbus arrived to the new world, he wanted six natives to be captured because he thought that they were not going to be good servants. He not only captured the natives, he put the natives to work, and then sold some as slaves. Slaves are people who have to obey what their owner tells them to do. The natives were starting to go against what Columbus was telling them so he killed many of them. Another controversy was how Christopher Columbus brought diseases into the New World. Two of the diseases that was brought over was smallpox and influenza, which is also called the flu. This effected many natives in the area and got them very sick. I now understand why there are people who do not want to celebrate Columbus Day. He was very cruel to the Indigenous people and killed many of them.