Introduction
Here in the United States, Columbus Day is a holiday which was created to honor an Italian explorer credited with discovering America and claiming it for Spain. (It is important to note, however, that there were people already living here and there is strong evidence that the vikings had explored the area 500 years earlier.) Several states in the U.S. do not observe the holiday, most notably Hawaii and South Dakota who have designated the same Monday as an observance for native peoples.
Throughout much of Latin America, October 12th is known as Día de la Raza or Día de la Hispanidad. The date still refers to the day Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas, but the focus is less about honoring the man and more about recognizing the Spanish influence on the Americas. The holiday is widely controversial throughout Latin America and is considered by many to support a Eurocentric view of history which does not reflect the indigenous experience.
What do you think? Should the United States continue to uphold Columbus Day? Do you think it seems appropriate to give Native Americans their own national holiday?
(Taken from Señorita Beth's Spanish blog http://senoritabeth.blogspot.com)
Task
Today, you will be exploring a series of resources to help you decide your stance. Should the United States continue to uphold Columbus Day or do you think it seems appropriate to give Native Americans their own national holiday?
You will be completing this web quest to become better informed about the issue and then prepare a written response to explain and justify your position on the issue. Lastly, you will take part in a mini-debate in class.
Process
USE THIS LINKED ARTICLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
Link: http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/columbus-day
1. What is Columbus Day commemorating? When did it happen?
2. When did Columbus Day become a federal holiday?
3. What two things does this holiday honor?
Origins of Columbus Day
4. When Columbus set sail, what was he planning on doing?
5. Where did he land?
6. “Contrary to popular belief, most educated Europeans in Columbus' day understood that the world was round, but they did not yet know that the ____________________________________ existed. As a result, Columbus and his contemporaries assumed that only the _______________________________ lay between __________________________________ and the riches of the ______________________________________________. ¨
7. When he saw Cuba he thought it was _____________________________________________.
8. He believed Hispaniola was ____________________________________________________.
9. Where did he establish Spain’s first colony in the Americas?
10. Did he ever realize he wasn’t in Asia?
Columbus Day in the United States
11. When was the first celebration of Columbus Day?
12. Which two communities took pride in the celebration of the explorer?
13. In 1892, who asked Americans to celebrate “four completed centuries of American life”?
14. In 1937, who made the event a national holiday?
15. When was it originally observed?
16. In 1971, it was decided it would be celebrated when?
Columbus Day Alternatives
17. Why was this holiday rejected in the 19th century?
18. Columbus arriving is said to be the cause of what two things?
19. What things were causing the deaths?
20. In Latin American nations, how Columbus’ landing anniversary observed?
21. What is the meaning of “Día de la Raza” in English?
22. What does “Día de la Raza” celebrate?
23. What is the holiday called in Venezuela?
24. What is it called in Berkeley?
25. What is it called in South Dakota?
26. What is it called in Hawaii? Why?
WATCH THE VIDEOS AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
27. How many trips did Columbus make to the Americas?
28. What did his voyages pave the way for?
29. What is believed to be true about before Columbus arrived?
30. Who may have been the first European to arrive in America? When did he arrive?
31. Which other people may have discovered America?
27. What is Los Angeles the latest city to do?
28. What three cities have already made it an official holiday?
29. What idea does Indigenous Peoples Day challenge?
Evaluation
Answers will be graded on Tuesday as a class