Published 10/15/25
By Mandy Wang
All students at Millburn Middle School had a delayed opening on Monday, October 13 due to the celebration of Columbus Day, a federal holiday in the United States. Columbus Day is always celebrated on the second Monday of October to honor the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Americas.
Expedition Background
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who sailed under the flag of Spain to find a water route from Europe to Asia—specifically the East Indies (China, Japan, and India)— for trade. But instead of doing so, he landed on an island in the Bahamas he named San Salvador, which is part of the Americas, also known as the New World, on October 12, 1492, and claimed the land for Spain.
Upon arrival, he encountered friendly Native Americans whom he called “Indians” because he thought he had reached the East Indies. Fortunately for Columbus, these so-called “Indians” were open to trade and exchanged items like parrots and cotton for European goods like glass beads and mirrors.
Post-Expedition
Columbus’s expedition might just seem like a minor adventure of a random explorer, but there is a reason we still remember Columbus’ name more than 500 years after his voyage. Here are two of the major impacts of his landing in the New World:
The Columbian Exchange
After his voyage, Columbus brought back reports and small amounts of gold, which made people see the potential of wealth in the New World. This sparked trade between the two “worlds.” Key items traded included crops like corn, potatoes, and tomatoes from the Americas to the Old World and wheat sugar, and coffee from the Old World to the New World.
However, what was “traded” was not just these goods—European diseases were spread to the Americas and killed up to 100 million people (around 90% of the Indigenous population). This caused a huge population decline among Native Americans.
European Colonization
After Columbus reported his discoveries, other European nations— including Britain, France and the Netherlands—began sending explorers, settlers, and soldiers. This started a huge wave of colonization across the Americas. Some of these early settlements later became the first Thirteen Colonies of what is now the United States.
The Debate
Today, Columbus' legacy is one of the most debated in American history. While some view him as a hero that discovered America and brought wealth and prosperity to both the New and Old Worlds, others see his expedition as the start of devastation for Indigenous peoples. Due to these opposing views, many people began to question how Columbus should be remembered.
PRO
Supporters of Columbus Day believe the holiday honors an important moment in world history. They argue that Columbus’ landing in the Americas connected Europe and the Americas for the first time, opened the window for trade between the two continents, and was the starting point of the creation for the modern world. For all these reasons, they claim that Columbus is a true legend and should be celebrated.
CON
Critics argue that the holiday ignores the terrible aftermath of Columbus’ arrival to the New World. As mentioned above, European diseases that were deadly to the Native Americans arrived to the Americas along with European goods and killed around 90% of the Indigenous population, and huge numbers of the Natives were also displaced as Europeans came and forced them out of their lands. Furthermore, up to five million Native people were enslaved between the 15th and 19th centuries. Even Columbus himself was known to have cut off Native people’s hands if they did not pay him gold. All this evidence can prove why Columbus is not an accomplished explorer but a ruthless exploiter. This is also why some people prefer to use this day to remember the courage Indigenous people showed through such hard times, by celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day.
The debate over Columbus Day is certainly a great way to learn more about all the details in history that happened during this time period. No matter what side people take, there is no denying how the long lasting legacy of Columbus forever shaped history.
Work Cited:
An American Secret: The Untold Story Of Native American Enslavement
Christopher Columbus - Facts, Voyage & Discovery | HISTORY
Christopher Columbus's voyage - (AP European History) - Vocab, Definition, Explanations | Fiveable
Columbus Day - U.S. Embassy in Argentina.
European colonization of the Americas - Wikipedia
Columbus the Explorer? Or Ruthless Conqueror? | NEA
Oct 12, 1492 CE: Columbus Makes Landfall in the Caribbean
Trade and the Columbian Exchange | Oklahoma Historical Society