History of Immigaration

1. There are two different perspectives on Columbus “discovery” of the Americas. One people are thinking that if 500 years ago Columbus hadn’t find America, now we wouldn’t have any civilization here. Another perspective tells that Columbus brought a war and devastation on the peaceful lands. In other words, it was a beginning of extermination of the native people after Columbus landing.

2. Ethnocide – it is a form of genocide when cultural heritage and traditions of conquered nation are destructing. For example, in Samayac, Guatemala in 1625 Juan Maldonado, a judge, made a law which made illegal for native people their traditional dances. If someone tries to resist it, the punishment was waiting for him.

3. A) In the first two hundred years of European colonization, indigenous American people were almost exterminated. For example, in the Bahamas the population of original people fell from 3 million to 300 people!!! And it happened just within 12 years. Another example also provides us with shocking numbers: in Puerto Rico and Jamaica, the number on natives was reduced from 600,000 people to 200 in 50 years.

B) Extermination.

C) The Beothuk people of Newfoundland were killed like animals in 19th century. The last Beothuk was killed in 1829.

4. Colonialists which tried to conquer lands of Asia and Africa did a lot of destruction on these territories, but they went back home afterwards, because native people were able to defend their lands. Therefore, they saved their independence. In case of original people of America, they weren’t able to protect themselves. That is why they lost their independence.

5. Nowadays it is very important for native people to have their own government. Colonialists just came and confiscated lands which were belonged to the original people. So, why should they obey the laws of their captors? Native people have their own view on the way of life and they want in order people respect and acknowledge their rights....