[1] Monuments honoring Christopher Columbus are being defaced and destroyed. This

Question

year's Columbus Day celebrations will spark strong debate over the explorer's legacy,
but by looking at Columbus in the big picture of history, one can see today's
anti-Columbian fury is either misguided or part of a blind political agenda to demonize
early European activity in the New World.
[2] First, let's consider the matter of European disease transmission, principally
smallpox, which is estimated to have killed 70 to 80 percent of Native Americans. While
those numbers are staggering, the deaths happened over many decades. Holding
Columbus responsible is beyond preposterous. Further, calculating an actual number of
deaths is impossible because estimates of pre-Columbus populations vary enormously.
In Hispaniola, for example, the range runs from 250,000 to 3 million.
[3] It's also worth remembering all other epidemics. The Black Death, originating in
Central Asia, killed 40 percent or more of the European people — some 50 million souls
— between 1346 and 1353. This is a negative consequence of the interaction and
advancement of civilizations.
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[4] In the case of Columbus and later Spanish settlement in the Americas, let's
remember, the exchange of disease worked both ways. Most historians believe the
Great Pox epidemic that killed 5 million in Renaissance Europe came from the New
World.
[5] Next, consider the civilizations of the New World. They cannot be romanticized
because they have left behind great monuments. The earliest societies, such as the
Mayans, were as brutal in exploiting subject peoples as any other civilizations.
Diseases Aren't One Way
[10] Columbus was a product of his time. He was also a great explorer, an intrepid
adventurer, a man of fervent faith and a defiant leader who blazed a path to the modern
world. His admirable traits allowed him to rise above his human imperfections.
[11] He holds a special place in the minds of Italian-Americans and Hispanic-Americans.
These groups celebrate Columbus Day with parades and statues.
[12] Christopher Columbus also enjoys iconic status in the wider American mind. Parks,
playgrounds, streets, squares and schools pay tribute to him. Columbus was much
admired by our founders. The District of Columbia carries his name.
[13] No question, we must examine the accomplishments of Columbus. Doing so in the
proper context shows there's no justification in destroying, defacing or removing his
monuments — or in minimizing his legacy.
© Houston ISD Curriculum 2023-2024
[8] How could Francisco Pizarro conquer the great Inca Empire with fewer than 200
men? How did Hernando Cortes overwhelm the powerful Aztecs? Answer: They found
willing allies in subjugated, enslaved or rebellious native populations.
[9] European civilization has evolved, but 20th century wars, atrocities, genocide and
terrorism show humanity is still prone to the same savage impulses as Assyrians and
Aztecs.
Remember The Period In Which He Lived
6] Tourists love to visit the magnificent pyramids of Teotihuacan and the Mayan sites
close to resorts. So beautiful! So inspiring! So conveniently located! Not so beautiful if
you consider the human sacrifice that regularly occurred there.
[7] The later Aztec and Incan civilizations were no more humane. War, slavery and
human sacrifice were common and pre-dated 1492.
Short Constructed Response (SCR)
How does the author use logical appeals to develop his claim?

Answer 1

The author employs logical appeals, or logos, throughout the text to validate his claim that the criticism of Christopher Columbus is misguided or politically driven. Here are several ways in which logical appeals are utilized:

1. Statistical Evidence: The author presents statistics regarding the death toll from European diseases among Native Americans, noting that estimates range widely and that these deaths occurred over several decades. This approach questions the attribution of blame to Columbus, arguing that it is unreasonable given the lack of precise historical evidence tying him directly to those deaths.

2. Historical Context: The author places Columbus’s actions within the broader context of European history, using comparisons to other epidemics, such as the Black Death, which decimated the European population. By illustrating that disease transmission was a common outcome of civilization interactions and not isolated to Columbus's voyages, the author reinforces the idea that blaming Columbus solely ignores the complexities of historical events.

3. Civilization Comparisons: The author argues against romanticizing pre-Columbian civilizations by highlighting their own brutal practices, such as war, slavery, and human sacrifice. This comparison serves to argue that moral judgments should be consistent across different civilizations and times, suggesting that the standards applied to Columbus should also examine the practices of Native American societies.

4. Causal Relationships: The logical progression is made clear through cause-and-effect reasoning. The author discusses how the conquests by figures such as Pizarro and Cortes were facilitated by alliances with oppressed Native populations, which indicates that native experiences were multifaceted and not solely about European oppression.

5. Emphasizing Complexity: By stating the assertion that humanity continues to exhibit savage impulses throughout history, the author highlights the persistent nature of violent impulses across civilizations. This serves to argue that to single out Columbus for condemnation does not consider the broader historical trends that have persisted through time.

Through these logical appeals, the author constructs a rationale that defends Columbus’s legacy against contemporary critiques, arguing that understanding Columbus requires a nuanced view of history rather than one based solely on modern moral judgments.