Christopher Columbus Came To America Essay

In 1492 when Christopher Columbus first arrived in America and came into contact with the native people he wrote this about them: “they could easily be commanded, and made to work, to sow and to do whatever might be needed, to build towns and be taught to wear clothes and adopt our ways,” and, “they are the best people in the world and above all the gentlest.” (Present, 2003) As I researched Native Americans History I was and am certain you will be when you read this paper embarrassed at the way our forefathers came to this country and wreaked havoc on the people that were here first because they were different. What gives anybody the right to think they are more superior to another? Columbus came to America by chance because he believed that the journey by boat from Europe to Asia should be not only possible but comparatively easy. He …show more content…
During the time frame from 1880 to 1934 the Native Americans experienced forced assimilation which is what Chester Nez describes in the book, “Code Talker” (Bruchac). The Indian Office promoted this as a laboratory in social engineering by breaking up the “habits of savage life” by instilling “civilized” values through forced education, by insisting on agricultural labor and by pushing the notion of private property and the development of monetary funds. (Sons, Gale, & Learning, 2003)
By the end of 1934 the passage of the Indian Reorganization Act had been implemented because of the failed forced assimilation and deplorable living conditions on reservations. Many of the people living on the reservations had been plagued by poverty, ill health, poor education and socio economic dependency. The most important part of this Reorganization Act reverted over 2 million acres of land back to Indian holdings and 7 million more acres of leased grazing