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1493: Columbus Stole All He Could See. Uh oh…. Disclaimer: This lesson will turn your understanding of Columbus upside down. However, Mr. McLaughlin does not encourage hatred or rebellion against anyone or anything. (except for bad history)
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Uh oh… • Disclaimer: This lesson will turn your understanding of Columbus upside down. • However, Mr. McLaughlin does not encourage hatred or rebellion against anyone or anything. (except for bad history) • Seeking new perspective, not to throw dirt on anyone (post modern history- Jess Noll knows about this one)
Columbus and the Natives (p. 36) • Could conquer the island with 50 men • Sent slaves back to Spain- “thank you for the investment” • Columbus killed or enslaved Natives that would not accept Roman Catholicism • Beginning of slave trade • “The Requirement”- promises war and death if Natives don’t convert
Paying Tribute (p 56) • If the Natives provide gold or 25 pounds of cotton they receive a copper token necklace • If they could not pay tribute had their hands chopped off • Decimated Native economy, society, and politics • Impossible to sustain, Natives died too quickly
Encomienda System • Spanish first trade useless items for gold, even though Columbus said “No” • Native Village granted to Colonist • Essentially slavery • Spanish made Natives mine for gold, plant cash crops, literally carry them places
Native Reaction • Can’t farm or live when you need to mine or grow cash crops • Suicide • Jumping from cliffs • Women kill their children • Ran into the woods to escape • Fight against the Europeans • Carab population drops from 250,000 to 500 in 1550
Making War • Canons, horses, disease, attack dogs to subdue Natives • Hunted humans for sport • Raped women • Disfigured Natives for slight or no infraction- sent back to village as a warning
How did this happen… • Cognitive dissonance theory • Belief that Europeans are superior, Roman Catholicism is superior, whites are superior • Not enough opposition to outweigh the $ • Bartolome de las Casas- Spanish priest who tried to reform Spanish practices