Today, the immoral acts that were committed by Columbus in the founding of America are almost never remembered in comparison to the happiness that many associate Columbus Day with, in having a day off from school or work. Many do not remember the horrors that Columbus brought to the Indians of the New World and of the impacts of his voyage. The primary reason for his voyage was to find new trade routes to the East Indies which would bring him more wealth and fame. However, although he ended up finding the New World, he still received the wealth, fame, and glory he was searching for, each being a variation of the greed that consumed Colombus in his expeditions. On his first expedition he encountered the Arawak people of the Bahamas which he believed were very vulnerable and could easily be converted to Chrisitanity and taken as slaves. He even said "I could conquer the whole of them with 50 men, and govern them as I pleased." This shows his power hungry mindset and that he was leading these voyages in order to solely benefit himself. On later expedition similar events occurred. Columbus would accept the gifts and services that he was given by the Indians, just to take their land, convert them to Christianity and use them as slaves. Additionally the disease brought to the New World by Columbus and his men took countless lives of the Indians. He obtained much wealth from the Indians themselves and also from monarchs who paid him to carry out these expeditions. Columbus should be remembered as a villain but by most people today, Columbus is recognized as the hero who founded America resulting in a three day weekend.
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