Columbus Day 2025

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’s name more than 500 years after his voyage. Here are two of the major impacts of his landing in the New World:

1. The Columbian Exchange

After his voyage, Columbus brought back reports and small amounts of gold, which made people see the potential for 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.

CONS

Critics argue that the holiday ignores the terrible aftermath of Columbus’s arrival in the New World. As mentioned above, European diseases that were deadly to the Native Americans arrived in 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.