An Analysis of 1492 When Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue Essay

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Thats the one date everyone remembers, the date in virtually every school childs history textbook. But, they leave out pretty much everything about Columbus and his exploration of the New World. Its the part many people have yet to learn about. For years, Columbus has been presented to us as a hero. In 1934, President Roosevelt even gave Columbus his own holiday. To this day, we celebrate his discovery of America. What is found in history textbooks now, have seemed to show another side of Christopher Columbus, a side that they wouldnt dare teach in elementary school. Its the rest of Columbus tale of discovery. This paper will show you that Christopher Columbus didnt technically discover America and that his actions were much louder than the words we read about in school. Third grade seems like such a long time ago, yet I remember the Christopher Columbus story like it was nothing. It started out with a boy named Christopher Columbus he was born and raised in Genoa, Italy. He grew up wanting to be an explorer. He also grew up believing the earth was round, yet no one believed him, so the great explorer intended to prove it. He was going to find a westward route to India. To go on this exploration, he needed ships and men and the only one who was willing to provide him with this was Queen Isabella of Spain. She provided Columbus with three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. He set sail in 1492 and after about two months they had reached land. Columbus believed he had reached India. He had no idea he had encountered another part of the world. He actually ended up in the West Indies, the island we today call Haiti. Because he thought he was in India, when he met the people that already lived there he named them Indians....

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