Essay ON THE Discovery OF America DRAWBACKS PDF

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ESSAY ON THE DISADVANTAGES FOR AMERINDIANS DURING THE COLONIZATION...

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INSTITUTO DE EDUCACION SUPERIOR 6 SEDE EL CARMEN PROFESORADO DE INGLES

ESSAY ON UNIT 1: A NEW WORLD

SUBJECT: Historia contemporánea de las sociedades anglófonas TOPIC: Discovery – Colonization of America DATE: March 5th

INSTITUTO DE EDUCACION SUPERIOR 6 SEDE EL CARMEN PROFESORADO DE INGLES

Discovery of America: The colonization of the New World

The arrival of Christopher Columbus and the Spanish to America resulted on a devastating colonization for native Americans, where violence, deprivation of lands, and religious impositions were some of the most important negative aspects to point out. Most of history books claim that Christopher Columbus discovered America in October 12th, 1492. However; up to now, it was an unknown fact that… “Native Americans inhabited America much earlier” 1, this information clarifies the fact that it was not a discovery but a colonization, with a majority of negative aspects, but some positive ones for the Natives living in that period. To start with, the exploration to the New World attracted many explorers looking for the exploitation of the abundant natural resources in the the area. Supported by the Royalty in Spain, these explorers took possession of lands and resources by force, killing Indians and taking advantage of the use of guns to succeed. So, violence became a central element in the establishment of new settlers or explorers in the colonized America. “The Europeans who crossed the Atlantic in the wake of Columbus’s voyage had immense confidence in the superiority of their own cultures to those they encountered in America. They expected these societies to abandon their own beliefs and traditions and embrace those of the newcomers” 2

Another aspect to take into account to support the idea of colonization, is the religious impositions. During the colonization period, Christianity was forcefully imposed to the Indians. Religious impositions made many of the colonized people intellectually dependent on the imposers. In this way, their faith, beliefs and behavior were influenced by the Spanish religion.

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https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/the-discovery-and-colonization-of-america-history-essay.php Foner, Eric, 1943- author. Give Me Liberty! : an American History. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2014.

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INSTITUTO DE EDUCACION SUPERIOR 6 SEDE EL CARMEN PROFESORADO DE INGLES

This situation reflected an invasion of the people’s natural thought and world, which is in my opinion a way of violence and discrimination In fact, the religious mission, promoted by the Spanish, involved not only the “salvation” of the Indians from heathenism, by converting them into Catholics, but also the use of violence to carry out their mission. These religious impositions to those who were indifferent to the religious disputes, were other way of colonization of the Indians in that period. To conclude, although many of the aspects mentioned before are a clear proof that it was an invasion and colonization, it is also important to point out some positive aspects of the Europeans arrival to the New World, such as the new technologies, the organization and a system of rules and government. However; it is most important to acknowledge the real side of the coin in this matter, and to support those Native Americans who nowadays continue fighting for their rights and properties unfairly taken by the colonizers.

1

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/the-discovery-and-colonization-of-america-history-essay.php Foner, Eric, 1943- author. Give Me Liberty! : an American History. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2014.

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