How do Americans View Christopher Columbus and George Washington Today?

798 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: A essay on christopher columbus

It is often hard to comprehend the amount of tireless effort it took to create such a superior country as America is. America’s ancestors worked tirelessly to give today’s people freedom. Much gratitude is owed to Christopher Columbus and George Washington for their success and impact on The United States of America. Though their success did not happen overnight, many Americans may think so. Both pioneers of advancements faced and overcame challenges and adversities. Both men were faced with the challenge of being leaders. Christopher Columbus was faced with the adversity of having a different culture while George Washington was faced with a war. These hardships forced both men to work very hard and ended up becoming two of the most respected men of America.
Christopher Columbus is famed today for discovering the Americas. It was his leadership that made this discovery, the hardest and most difficult one. Columbus had requested three ships for an expedition in Asia in order to obtain spices from countries there and bring it back to his country. Lucky for him, Queen Isabella agreed to sponsor Christopher Columbus on an expedition to the Indies. This was not one’s typical expedition. Columbus had high hopes of reaching the Indies by sailing west; something that seemed impossible to do during the time. He was given the three ships he requested and was deemed as the captain and general of this journey. It was very difficult for Columbus to successfully direct the ship members onboard since all of them believed they were doomed to death. This journey took about two months to complete. It is hard to imagine constantly have the uncertainty of whether one was going to fall off the Earth or not. This very though drove the ship members ins...

... middle of paper ...

...ning and many were dying because there was not enough food to go around. Washington had to try extremely hard during this period. He would find himself pondering about things that could be done, but given the time and lack of communication, success seemed impossible. This was difficult for George Washington to do but he kept both feet on the ground and continued to be the leader that everyone knows him to be.
Both leaders have truly inspiring stories. It is amazing that nothing broke these leaders’ hopes down. If Christopher Columbus did not take his voyage, then the Americas probably would have taken hundreds of years to be discovered. If George Washington had not taken the role of being the first man to govern America as one, then the laws and regulations would be extremely different. Both men’s stories go along with the quote, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Christopher Columbus's Letter To Luis De Santangel

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1492, Christopher Columbus was a self-made man who worked his way up to being the Captain of a merchant vessel. He gained the support of the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, for an expedition to the Indies. With the support of the Spanish monarchy, he set off to find a new and faster trade route to the Indies. Upon the arrival of his first voyage, Columbus wrote a letter to Luis de Santangel, a “royal official and an early supporter of his venture,” in February 1493 (35). The epistle, letter, entitled “Letter to Luis de Santangel Regarding the First Voyage” was copied and then distributed in Spain before being translated and spread throughout Europe. The Letter is held in such regard with the people as it is considered the first printed description of the new world. Through his description of the nature of the islands, Columbus decided the future fate of the islands. His description of the vast beauty of the nature around him, declares both the economic and nationalistic motivations for colonizing the new world.

    Read More

  • George Washington And Thomas Jefferson

    354 Words  | 1 Pages

    George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were two important men who affected our nations independence and the beginning years of our country. They helped form this nation into a free and sovereign country. Yet, they were different in many aspects they shared a few common features. Both Washington and Jefferson grew up in the southern state of Virginia and like most owned land to grow and harvest crops. In growing up they came from two different class levels of living. The Jefferson family was more famous and richer than Washington’s giving him a greater advantage and opportunity to succeed, especially in higher education. After Jefferson finished regular schooling he was able to attend the College of William and Mary were he studied law. He did so under the teaching of George Wthe who was considered perhaps the greatest teachers of law in Virginia at the time. Washington however was taught by his mom mainly in mathematics and received no higher education. Washington was still knowledgeable and began to put it to use in the army to become as a young British soldier. He interred the army at the young age of nineteen were he began to learn leadership and military strategy which would prove useful in the Revolutionary War to come. Jefferson on the other hand was involved in the laws, courts, and small politics. At the young age of twenty-five Jefferson was elected to the House of Burgesses in Virginia were he served for five years. Washington was known for his great motivational speeches that would rally troops together to prepare for war and lead on to victory. Jefferson was more of a writer not a speaker and by using his skill he wrote and brought forth fresh ideas of independence and freedom.

    Read More

  • George Washington-Founding Father?

    1179 Words  | 3 Pages

    George Washington became President in 1789 and since then has been regarded as America’s “Founding Father”(10). This grand and hero-like status is said to have “began gravitating to Washington six months before the Declaration of Independence, when one Levi Allen addressed him in a letter as ‘our political Father.’”(10). The preservation of Washington’s role as a national hero has been allowed by authors and the media omitting his many flaws as if they had either been forgotten or were no longer important. Yet by excluding these human faults, they have projected an almost god-like hero and inflicted him upon the nation as their Father, somebody whose “life still has the power to inspire anyone”(10).

    Read More

  • A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    America is a nation that is often glorified in textbooks as a nation of freedom, yet history shows a different, more radical viewpoint. In Howard Zinn’s A People's History of the United States, we take a look at American history through a different lens, one that is not focused on glorifying our history, but giving us history through the eyes of the people. “This is a nation of inconsistencies”, as so eloquently put by Mary Elizabeth Lease highlights a nation of people who exploited and sought to keep down those who they saw as inferior, reminding us of more than just one view on a nation’s history, especially from people and a gender who have not had an easy ride. In some respects, we can attribute the founding of America and all its subsequent impacts to Christopher Columbus. Columbus, a hero in the United States, has his own holiday and we view him as the one who paved the way for America to be colonized.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Founding Brothers

    1408 Words  | 3 Pages

    George Washington had character and was extraordinary. Ellis described Washington as an "incalculable asset." His leadership skills were unique. His actions were performed for his country, not for political gain. He was also directly associated with every major event of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress, and the building of the new republic. Even the country 's new capitol had his name. These were some of the things that made him so special. Washington was not prideful and not easily led. He offered suggestions and warnings to his replacements and told the government to expand in a way that would keep the country standing; he was well aware of how dainty the country was. The United States would never have survived without him.

    Read More

  • Columbian Exchange

    2028 Words  | 5 Pages

    Christopher Columbus was a famous navigator and explorer who was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. Columbus wanted to claim land for Spain so he could be rich and spread religion. He originally set out to find the East Indies for many reasons. One was that he hoped to establish trade routes and colonies in order to gain wealth. Another was that there were now bigger guns that could be strapped on ships so he felt that his voyage had more of a chance of being successful. The main reasons for his exploration was that he wanted to find a western route to Asia to find the riches that Marco Polo talked about in his book. So basically he was not courageous, he was just greedy. He intended on arriving in Japan on his first voyage, but instead, he arrived at the Bahamas archipelago. He ended up making numerous voyages and claiming the lands he visited for the Spanish Empire. Columbus continued voyages creating the first lasting European conta...

    Read More

  • America's Evolution: From Columbus to Lindbergh

    791 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since Columbus’ trip across the sparkling Atlantic, America has transformed from a disunited band of British colonies and has evolved into a world power. Improved technology, enhanced communication, and increased opportunities all have risen in the 400 years between Christopher Columbus and Charles Lindbergh crossing the treacherous ocean. Nevertheless, both adventures were unique in their aims, challenges, essential skills, and results.

    Read More

  • Christopher Columbus: The Hero

    913 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...us brought America to the attention of the civilized world, to the growing, scientific civilizations of Western Europe. The result, ultimately, was the United States of America. It was Columbus’ discovery for Western Europe that led to the arrival of ideas and people on which this nation was founded on. The voyages of Christopher Columbus contain one of the great adventure stories of all time. His first journey across thousands of miles of unknown ocean, in the middle of the rebellious grievances and tensions of his crew, was not only one of the most significant achievements of recorded human history, but was also a demonstration of Columbus's dominance as mariner and navigator. For a while he had faults and defects, which brought turmoil to his personal life, but there was no flaw, no dark side to the most significant of all his qualities, of course his seamanship.

    Read More

  • The Issues Of George Washington

    668 Words  | 2 Pages

    With a new nation facing overwhelming difficulties, George Washington faced the challenges of being the first president to run, shape, and build the foundations of the newly formed United States. Washington came into office with the country in heavy debt, and an empty treasury. With the issues President George Washington was facing, he proved to be a paragon leader.

    Read More

  • George Washington

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...war, he influenced the nation to have a strong central government. After his death and the rejection of a third term, the two-term limit was made. The first president of the United States, George Washington held many reliable traits as a young man, as he grew to a war hero, and an influential leader for generations to come.

    Read More

  • What Is The Difference Between George Washington And Thomas Jefferson

    1866 Words  | 4 Pages

    George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were three incredible men who were very influential in the revolution of our country. They lived very different lives, but had the same ambition and desire for fame and fortune. The problems they faced and risks they took changed the course of our country and shaped it to what it is today.

    Read More

  • George Washingtons Life

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    George Washington inherited much more than a good mind and a strong body. He belonged to an old colonial family that believed in hard work, public service and in worshiping God.

    Read More

  • What Makes George Washington A Good Leader

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    Garrett Sheaman Mr. Saleeba English IV 12 March 2018 President George Washington All world leaders are judged based on if they were successful or a failure at their job, and George Washington is a leader who I believe was a successful leader. These are the things he did and the traits he possessed that made him a great leader. The first thing he did was he helped the United States separate from Britain control. Next, Washington had the ability to unify the people that were around him.

    Read More

  • George Washington: The Founding Father

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    The following six years Washington led the 13 colonies together. It was hard as he had to build up an army from untrained and unpaid men and was also appointed unskilled officers. He never had a big enough army to directly attack in battle and sometimes he was close to being defeated. He used skills that would drain the British and then attack and then force them out of the area. Washington had help from the French also that made winning the Revolutionary War possible. In 1781 the fighting was over.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of George Washington's Newburgh Conspiracy Speech

    1955 Words  | 4 Pages

    "His mind was great and powerful, without being of the very first order; his penetration strong . . . Perhaps the strongest feature in his character was prudence, never acting until every circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed; refraining if he saw a doubt, but, when once decided, going through with his purpose, whatever obstacles opposed." (Thomas Jefferson, as cited in "George Washington," 2006, para.19) George Washington is one of the most recognized and famous leaders in all history of the United States of America. He contributed greatly to the establishment of this prosperous country, from leading the Revolutionary armies into battle, to running the country as the first president, Washington has set precedence and example for all who have and are yet to follow. He was a noble man who demonstrated characteristics one would expect from a hero figure. He was not power-hungry, but did things and played his role for the good of the country, for patriotic purposes, to help America become the success it is today. In March of 1783, the soldiers of the American military were restless, bored and in a terrible state of doubt and distrust concerning the newly formed congress of the country. When these soldiers joined the army, they were promised a certain amount of money according to their service, but by the war's end, congress was nearly broke and not in a position to pay them all they had earned. The soldiers planned a rebellion against congress for their unjust treatment, and attempted to hold an unauthorized meeting of the officers on the matter. Washington forbade the meeting, but called for one a few days later, in which he gave his speech concerning the Newburgh Conspiracy ("The Rise and Fall," 2006, para.2). General Washington was a highly respected man among his peers, soldiers, and fellow men. His opinions, approval, and presence alone were enough to validate many plans, documents, and meetings throughout his life, so it is no wonder that even simple words or acts performed by General Washington were respected, and more often than not, taken to heart by his audience; perhaps this is why it may seem surprising that one of the most important speeches he ever gave fell on relatively deaf ears, leaving the audience hesitant, confused, seemingly unaffected by his powerful use of diction, and emotional appeal.

    Read More

More about How do Americans View Christopher Columbus and George Washington Today?

Open Document