Christopher Columbus Research Paper

Christopher Columbus may be one of the best known explorers and settlers of the New World, but since his discovery, many came to do the same things he did. The only difference is that they had different reasons for doing so. European settlers came to the New World in search of freedom, fame, and gold. European settlers came to the New World for many different reasons in order to create a better life for themselves and future generations. Christopher Columbus created the connection between the Americas and Europe. Suddenly, explorers began to flock to the area for various reasons. Some wanted fame. Others wanted freedom. Some sought after wealth. Whatever the reason, they encountered many Native Americans who helped them in the beginning, but …show more content…
The Pilgrims came here searching for religious freedom. Back at home, they were being persecuted for not having the same beliefs as everyone else. Throughout the piece Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford referred to God many times. This showed how important their beliefs were to them. They were so devoted to God, they were willing to travel across the ocean into the unknown. Bradford wrote, “And I may not omit here a special work of God’s Providence,” (Bradford 5). What he meant by this is God is the reason the Pilgrims got the opportunity to leave England and arrived safely in America. It was their continued belief that allowed them to receive religious freedom in the end. Some people may say that the Pilgrims came to the New World because the king needed them to create a new colony. In reality, the Pilgrims came here to stop being persecuted by the government. The immigrants came to America for a different freedom. They wanted freedom of choice. Here, they were able to be anyone they wanted to be and embrace whatever culture they chose. They could live in America and freely express their native cultures. They could also choose to be a mix of culture. In “Blaxicans” and Other Reinvented American, Richard Rodriguez talked about how he had a Mexican background, and when he came to America, he was still able to embrace his culture, while also learning to embrace …show more content…
In the short story Balboa, Sabina Murray told the story of Balboa, a Spanish explorer who came to America to discover the Pacific Ocean and redeem himself by becoming famous. Back in Spain, Balboa did many evil things to innocent people. He was facing death when he decided to get on a boat and travel to Panama to be the first person to see the Pacific Ocean. By doing so, he was hoping to bring fame back to Spain and to himself. “Unless Balboa thinks, unless he brings glory by being the first to claim this great ocean for Spain. Then the king will see him as the greatest of his subjects, not a troubling peasant, a keeper of pigs,” (Murray 80). Balboa knew that if he did not find the ocean, he would most likely end up dead. Spoiler alert: He was killed anyway. Balboa also traveled to America to redeem himself of the bad he did. Back in his home country, Balboa separated Indian tribes and pitted them against each other. He then spread diseases throughout the tribes which resulted in numerous deaths. His dogs tore up children and babies as well.(Murray 81). He treated the Indians terribly and deserved the treatment he was supposed to receive. By traveling to the New World, he thought he could get redemption and change the king’s image of him. He wished that by achieving fame he could save his life. Many people may argue that Balboa came over seas to escape death and not to become famous. This is false because if he

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