National/Federal Holiday Columbus Day National/Federal Holiday

What is Columbus Day all about? Celebrated the second Monday of October, Columbus Day is day set aside to commemorate Christopher Columbus's discovery of the New World, October 12, 1492. He personally did not know he had arrived in the New World (Americas); he thought he had arrived in another part of Asia. It is also a day to celebrate the role Italian immigrants have played in making the United States great.

Legal holiday Columbus Day is a legal holiday in the United States. Government offices, post offices, and banks are closed. Some schools, businesses are also closed. Others stay open. Virtually all stores are open on Columbus Day, and many hold special sales.

How did Columbus Day become a holiday? In 1792, a group called the Colombian Order organized a ceremony in New York City to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the new world. After the Civil War, a group of Italian immigrants in New York organized the first real celebration of that discovery. In the years that followed, other groups of Italian immigrants did the same. 

Becoming a holiday President Harrison In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation in honor of the 400th anniversary of Columbus's landing in the Bahamas. In 1905, Colorado became the first state to designate October 12th as a holiday. Other states did the same in later years. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared October 12th a federal legal holiday. In 1971, Congress moved the official observance to the second Monday of October. Harrison did not, however, make the day a national holiday.

Who was Christopher Columbus? Born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451 Born into a middle class family Expected to begin preparing for a career at an early age Went to sea at the age of 10 In 1470, he went to Portugal Continued to sail Believed the secret to finding a shorter route to Asia lay in sailing west In 1485, he approached King John II of Portugal with plans He asked for 3 ships & enough money to fund a year's voyage of discovery. King’s advisors stated it was a poor investment. He tried 3 years later & was denied again.

Shorter route to Asia He took his plans on to King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Spain. A committee was put in charge & after a very long time the monarchs finally decided to fund his voyage.

Columbus sets sail In August 3, 1492, he set sail with 90 crewmen and 3 ships, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. For more than two months at sea and no land, many of the crew wanted to turn back. Columbus press onward and on October 12, 1492, land was spotted. He called the land San Salvador and believed he reached an island off the East Indies (Asia) and called the natives, Indians.

How important was his "discovery"? Columbus was wrong. Years later, Amerigo Vespucci realized that Columbus had stumbled onto the Americas. Columbus made a total of four voyages. His writings and exploits influenced almost two centuries of exploration and discovery. His persistance, courage, and, determination, romanticized in the writings of Washington Iriving, were held up to generations of children as ideals to emulate.

What makes Columbus Day controversial? Columbus's initial mission as a quest "for gold, for God, and for glory.“ The enslavery of native populations through torture and violence & their genocide (systematic destruction of a racial & cultural group). News of the atrocities made their way back to Ferdinand and Isabella. They imprisoned Columbus but then released him to do his 4th voyage.

Reference The history of Columbus day by Julie Vickery-Smith. (1998-2010). Retrieved August 27, 2010, from http://www.theholidayzone.com/columbus/history.html