American History: Why don't they teach the truth?

Question

I was in the Dominican Republic for vacation a while ago .. and Christopher Colombus is buried there. One white couple asked why was he buried there since he discovered America? HELLO? He landed in Hispanola - which is NOW the Dominican Republic. Why doesn't everyone know this? The Spanish were here first - Hence all these Spanish named states - Florida - Arizona - California - Colorado etc. Why don't they teach the facts? Maybe I'm wrong.

Oh! And I'm sorry if I offend anyone by saying the couple was "white". I'm sure a lot of Americans - Black - White etc.. dont' know this. It's just amazing how they don't include Central or South America as being part of the Americans.

Answer 1

I mostly agree with your perception, American and World history is taught in a mostly confusing fashion in the American school system. Too much historical time is covered in too little real time and important facts are often left out.

As is however, Christopher Columbus was the first “modern" European to reach the continent of North America. It is true that on his first voyage he landed on Hispaniola. However, he made three more voyages shortly after, on the third reaching the South American mainland and on the fourth reaching the North American mainland (Central America).

Additionally, although Columbus is usually thought to have been Genoese (modern day Italy), he sailed for Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella, hence the early Spanish influence and domination in the New World.

Answer 2

I have taught American History for 20 years and I have NEVER taught that Columbus set foot on North American soil. So I DO teach the truth. I also teach the truth that the Spanish were the first Europeans to gain control of the land after murdering, raping, and pillaging the gold of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans. And then after taking control of that land in North America (in what is today California, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Texas, and New Mexico) couldn't figure out what in the hell to do with it. They sat on this goldmine of valuable real estate for nearly 300 years and couldn't figure out what it was good for. It wasn't until the western Europeans defeated Mexico and took over this land that people were smart enough to develop the land and turn it into the most valuable real estate in the Western Hemisphere. THAT is also the truth. I also teach the truth that illegal immigration is slowly reducing the value of that land and will in time (if not stopped) turn the Western United States into a garbage dump like Mexico now is. THAT too is the truth.


That truth knife cuts both ways doesn't it?

Answer 3

Regarding the matter of not including the Caribbean and South America into the "America" category, this is just something that has been created through a strong sense of identity of being from the United States. Remember the U.S., whether you agree with its practices or not, is currently one of the most, if not the most economically wealthy country in the world right now. This eclipses a lot of countries that are still in the Americas, like all Latin American and South American countries.
As for the truth about Christopher Columbus, U.S. history has a tendency to "herofy" persons in history to use them as examples for small children. They use Christopher Columbus as a noble explorer that didn't fully understand his "discoveries" and died poor and penniless. This story is useful to creating a sense of a accomplishment in younger children, although the story is basically false. Personally, I think that history can be presented in deeper, more analytic ways for children, and I think a richer history lesson is due to the U.S. youth.

Answer 4

The whole of this problem doesn't lie with the schools. I was never taught that Colombus discovered the US, I was taught that he explored parts of Central and South America. I went to public schools, so I don't think the blame lies with the schools. The problem is that a lot of people don't care about learning history. I have friends who are college educated that couldn't tell me when WWII ended. Some people just don't care about learning this kind of stuff. It's sad, but you can't blame the schools for someone not wanting to learn.

Answer 5

let me tell you that the schools don't teach you everything because the America history is the harshest history in the world. During the civil war , they shot tacks, and other junk that they found. Many people from Europe and Asia came to the America in the 1920's. The government sent two laws. One was the Chinese Exclusion Act that banned Chinese for 20 years. The other was the immigration act of 1970 that only let a number of immigrants enter the us. The time of discrimination, They hosed down black kids. They are afraid that the truth comes out, people will go back home

Answer 6

He did "discover" the Americas (the Vikings actually probably got here first, by the way--they just didn't stay), but I'm with you--who in the world thinks North America is all of the Americas? That's not what they teach--it sounds like the people you spoke with slept through class.

Answer 7

He "discovered" the Americas, named after Amerigo Vespucci (sp.?) in European terms...of course, there were many many "Americans" already here....Incas, Aztecs, all the various tribes scattered throughout the two hemispheres....

The problem starts with age specific information. Third graders have a hard enough time comprehending that there is a "world" with continents and countries....anyway, information starts out in its most simplistic, common denominator terms....ideally, teachers would spark interest, and as ages rise, students would look up further details to gain a greater understanding of our global economy/society.
Young ones need to be taught the joy of exploration and the tools to explore....reading, science, math....NOT the details of each and every thing....its on the internet..
How about the many black-skinned Americans who are NOT from Africa, hence not "African American". How about the American tendency to call all Asians "Chinese or something".
There are 57 ethnic groups in Vietnam....the Kurds in Iraq are not Arabic....etc etc etc

Answer 8

I teach American History, and I do NOT teach that Christopher Columbus discovered America. As a matter of fact, he never set foot in North America. Columbus landed in San Salvador. I do teach, however, that his journey helped launch other explorations into the Western Hemisphere.

Answer 9

Hey, what about the Vikings? They were here before the Spanish and the native people were here before that.

I'm not sure what you want to hear. Columbus did re-discover, if you can put it like that, the continent of America. You are equating the US with America which is not geographically correct.

Answer 10

He landed there, but came back on more than one occassion claiming lands for the Spanish Crown. He did go north and "discover" america. And he was the primary catalyst for the influx of explorers coming west. Thus he is recognized as "discovering" America.