Ripley Riegert
Carrington
Writing 7A
March 7, 2023
DBQ
You know the explorer Christopher Columbus right? Well he was one of the many explorers during this time period who set out to explore. Typically explorers set out for Gold, God, and or Glory. What we didn't know was that when they landed they treated the natives there terribly. They forced the Native Americans to convert religions, brought disease, and took away their homes and families.
One of the worst things that happened to the natives was disease. Smallpox had spread to the Native Americans and their immune system wasn't used to it. PubMed says, ¨Native American populations were exposed to new infectious diseases, diseases for which they lacked immunity.¨(Katherine B 2002) This wasn't even the worst part. It was also how other people who didn't get it were affected that was bad. ¨They starved to death because there was no one left to care for them.¨ (Doc. 2) That seems almost worse than having the disease. Having to die because there wasn't anyone left to care
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If you didn't convert your religion they would kill you. ¨Native Americans burned for refusing to convert to Catholicism.¨(Doc 5) No one should be forced to change their religion. just like no one should be burned alive for not converting their religion. In the textbook it says, ¨Spanish missionaries also saw a purpose in conquering the region. They wanted to convert the native peoples to Christianity.¨ (World Civilizations 799) So multiple people took the opportunity to try to change their religion. Christopher Columbus was a main enforcer of this. Osu.edu says, “Columbus forced the natives to convert to christianity and begin practicing this new religion against their desires.” (Myles Hudson) Christopher Columbus was not the best guy. I used to think he was cool but now I see that he was a very bad person who takes advantage and harms innocent