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COLUMBUS DAY is a legal federal holiIn the 15th century, European merchants wereday that commemorates the first voyage
looking for a new and shorter trade route to the East,of Christopher Columbus, who sailed
where they could get spices, gems, gold, and otherwest from Spain in 1492 and reached the islands of“exotic” goods. The main route was overland, but it
present day Bahamas. This region was little known towas long and dangerous. Portuguese sailors had exEuropeans, although it had been explored and inhabited
plored an ocean route, sailing down the coast of Africa,
by Native peoples for over 30,000 years.
around the Cape of Good Hope, on the southern tip ofColumbus mistakenly thought
Africa, then across the Indian Ocean
that he had found a new route toto Asia. But this too was a very longthe East, which at the time meantand treacherous journey.
China, Japan, India, and the InChristopher Columbus (ordies. So he called the islands theCristóbal Colón, as he called him“West Indies,” and the indigenousself) was an Italian seaman, living
inhabitants “Indians.”in Portugal. He believed that JaColumbus was not the first Eupan was only 3,000 miles west ofropean to set foot on this land—
Europe, and China and India were
Scandinavian Vikings, Irish missionnot far beyond. Educated men ofaries, and others may have been
the time knew that Columbus had
there as early as 1,000 AD. Nor did
underestimated the size of the AtColumbus “discover America” aslantic Ocean, and the world. Still,
many American schoolchildren were
Columbus insisted that by sailingtaught. Yet, the first voyage of Cowest, he would find a shorter route
lumbus was historically significant forto the East. He would then set up
a number of reasons. It confirmed that there were richa major trading port for the exchange of goods belands across the Atlantic Ocean, and it inspired a wave oftween east and west. All he needed were ships andexploration and colonization of the Americas—includingmoney. He asked the kings of Portugal, England, andland that eventually became the United States. For theFrance for financial support, but all refused. Columapproximately 10 million Indians,bus was a skilled seaman and navspread throughout the Americas atigator, but no one wanted to invest
PREVIOUS PAGE: Christopher Columbus, an Italian seaman
the time, the arrival of Columbus
in such a fool-hearty venture.
living in Portugal, convinced Queen Isabella of Spain
was significant in a different way—it to fund his first voyage west across the Atlantic Ocean
Eventually, Columbus conin
1492.
changed the course of their lives, andvinced Queen Isabella of Spain.
ABOVE: A monument in Sevilla, Spain is dedicated toeventually led to their near extinction Christopher Columbus, with King Ferdinand on one She and King Ferdinand agreed toand the decimation of their cultures. side and Queen Isabella on the other.
all his requests. Finally, on August
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3, 1492, he and ninety men set sail from Spain on theimmediately for Spain. A few days later, he landed onship, the Santa Maria. Two other ships, the Niña andan island near present-day Cuba, which he thought wasthe Pinta, accompanied him. They sailed west. Twopart of China.
long months went by. His men became tired and sick,
The Arawak were helpful to Columbus and hisand threatened to turn the ships back. Columbus encrew at first, but their feelings quickly changed when
couraged them, certain that they were close to Asia.
Columbus captured some of their members to take backFinally, on October 11th they sighted land. The next
to the Queen.
morning they landed on a lush island, and Columbus
When he returned to Spain on March 15, 1493,
thought he had succeeded in his mission. He was notIsabella and Ferdinand received him with great celeaware of his true location. On the island he encounbration and honor. He was granted the title of “Admitered the native inhabitants, the Arawak. From them heral of All the Ocean Seas,” was given funding for morelearned that the island was namedvoyages, and ordered to colonize“Guanahani.” Columbus christened Above: An early map indicates the lands in the region the new region for Spain. Columit “San Salvador” and claimed it visited by Christopher Columbus.
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F e D e r a l H o l i D ay sGlossarycommemorate(s): v. to honor and remember with aceremony or holiday
inhabit(ed): v. to live in; to reside in
mistakenly: adv. in error
indigenous: adj. native to a region
set foot: v. phrase. to step upon land or property
significant: adj. important; meaningfulconfirm(ed): v. to establish as true
extinction: n. dying off of all members of a group orspecies
decimation: n. destruction or killing of a large part ofmerchant(s): n. person who buys and sells items
spice(s): n. flavoring for food, such as, pepper, nutmeg,
cinnamongem(s): n. precious stone such as ruby, emerald, diamondexotic: adj. strange or different in a way that is fascinating, interesting, beautiful; foreign
treacherous: adj. difficult and dangerous
insist(ed): v. to be firm in one’s opinion, request, or belief
invest: v. to put money into, for future gain
fool-hearty: adj. foolish; unwise
venture: n. plan; undertaking
convince(d): v. to persuade; to make someone agreeaccompany(-ied): v. to go withencourage(d): v. to inspire; to make others feel braver
lush: adj. green and abundant with plant life
mission: n. goal; important plan or aim
inhabitant(s): n. person who lives in a certain placechristen(ed): v. to name ceremoniously
funding: n. money for a project or venturemonument: n. a stone, building, or some structure (largeor small) created to remember a person or event
dedicate(d): v. designed specifically for a person or
purposereplica(s): n. exact copy; likenessnative son: n. phrase. man native to a particular place,often one’s same country
banquet(s): n. a special meal held in honor of an important event, usually a large meal for many people
proclaim(ed): v. to declare officially and publicly
controversy: n. issue for which people have strong
opinions on both sides
reconciliation: n. renewed friendliness or relationshippetition(ed): v. to request with an official letter orstatement

the Americas, and expanded Spain’s empire, yet henever learned the region’s true identity. At his death, hestill believed he had found a route to Asia.
The Making of a Holiday
Few celebrations marked the voyage of Columbus
until hundreds of years later. In 1792, a ceremony washeld in New York honoring Columbus, and a monument
was dedicated to him. Soon afterward, the city of Washington was officially named the District of Columbia,
and made the capital of the United States. In the next
century, statues, streets, rivers, and cities were named forColumbus. The Columbian Exposition in Chicago in1892 displayed replicas of Columbus’s three ships.
Columbus Day became a holiday, due in part to theefforts of Italians in New York City and elsewhere. Outof pride for their “native son,” a group of New York
Italians organized the first celebration of “The Discovery of America” on October 12, 1866. In following
years, Italians in other cities held similar events withbanquets, parades, and dances. In 1869, San Francisco
Italians celebrated October 12, and called it “ColumbusDay.” President Franklin Roosevelt officially proclaimed
October 12 as Columbus Day in 1937. Now, it is celebrated on the second Monday in October, allowing fora long holiday weekend.
In recent decades Columbus Day has generated
much controversy. Native American groups and others
began to speak out against the claim that Columbus
had discovered America. They proposed that NativeAmericans, not Columbus, should be recognized as thefirst and true discoverers of America. They felt that in
the spirit of reconciliation the day should celebrate Native Americans. People petitioned their state and local
governments to establish an official Native American
Day holiday, or to replace Columbus Day with Native
American Day. As a result, in schools across the country, Columbus Day curricula began to include information on Native Americans, and on the impact of European contact. Some states now call the holiday by thedual name, Columbus Day/Native American Day. Other states have established a separate Native AmericanDay holiday. The state of South Dakota has officiallyreplaced Columbus Day with Native American Day inrecognition of indigenous people.
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