Consequences of the Discovery of America
The REFLECTION PAPER is 10% of the overall grade. It is due on April 24. No papers
will be accepted after that date. You need to write at least 3 pages, double-spaced, in
Times New Roman, size 12. You should send me the paper by email.
In the reflection paper, you have to answer the following question:
“DO YOU THINK THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
ARE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?”
To answer this question you can do your own research about the effects of the discovery,
you can use your own knowledge about the topic, and you can refer to class content.
Apart from these sources, you HAVE TO refer to the two readings (attached):
Alfred Crosby: “The heirs of Columbus” (This text offers a positive view of the discovery
and its consequences). Eduardo Galeano: “The distribution of functions between
horseman and horse”. (This text offers a negative view of the discovery and its
consequences).
To do this exercise properly, you have to understand and assimilate the mandatory
readings as well as any other material that you want to add, and write from your own voice
and perspective an answer to the question. You can use ideas from the readings or your
own research, but these ideas should be transmitted in your own voice. For more
information about how the exercise will be graded you can check the rubric posted on the
content area. Please ask me if you need help.
Solution
Introduction
In the early centuries, leaders of several European nations sponsored missions abroad
hoping that explorers would locate great wealth and vast undiscovered land. Christopher
Columbus was an Italian explorer who landed in America and marked the beginning of
transatlantic colonization. In early 1451, Christopher Columbus got a job on a merchant ship
and he remained at sea until 1470 when French privateers attacked his ship. The boat sank
leaving Christopher Columbusfloating on a scrap of wood and made his way to Lisbon where
he studied mathematics, astronomy, and navigation. He also began plotting plans that would
change the world. Towards the end of the 15 th century, it was almost impossible to navigate to
Asia from Europe by land but Christopher Columbus had another idea which involved sailing
across the Atlantic instead of around the massive African continent. By 1492, Christopher
Columbus began sailing and by 1498, he has sailed west across the Atlantic three
times(Collier, 2007). This led to the opening up of America as he was able to explore
potential opportunities as he found the land of America with an existing population which
provided a huge market for European products.
The Positive impact of the discovery of America
The discovery of America had a positive impact on both the occupants of the land and
the European explorers. Their way of living had to change with the introduction of new tools,
and other machinery. The effects of the discovery of America can be classified into
economic effects, nutritional effect, and the demographic effect.
The economic effect
According to Crosby (1987), the discovery of America had a significant economic
effect on both the Europeans and the Native Americans. The most actual and immediate of
American influence on Europe during the initial post-Columbian century was mainly
CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
financial. Profits soared faster than wages and traditional fees. This made other people rich
and others poor since the cost of wages was very little and the value of the work imposed on
the servants was way rewarding to the Europeans. One of the greatest achievement of
Christopher Columbus was the creation of a world market. The American market for
manufacturing goods became more important since the European population was growing.
This boosted the development and opening up of the interior of America. Roads allowed easy
movement of goods from the firms to the warehouse for packaging and distribution.
The nutritional effect
Christopher Columbus was the greatest supporter of all time. He managed to fuse the
agriculture of the old and the new world into contact by adding more useful plants. He
increased the number of kinds and the quality of food available to human beings by giving
them access to all plans and animal breeds. The discovery of America led to the introduction
of different nutritional food crops and domesticated animals making places that were
previously inhabitable conducive for human survival as food is available. Food crops
introduced in America have contributed to the increase in national food production and have
made it possible for population growth. By 1983, American maize accounted for over one-
sixth of all the grain produced in the world. The discovery of America has positive effects on
food production as it led to the introduction of a balanced diet which led to a population
increase from 750 million to 5 billion between the year of 1750 and 1986.
The demographic effect
The discovery of America triggered a population explosion among some people and
implosive in others. By the time two generations had passed after the initial white settlement,
the old generation had almost completely diffused into the European customs. The traditional
practices such as hunting which were limiting young people in the community were
CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
abandoned and paved way to new practices such as education. The Native Americans lost
their cultural practices to adopt better and advanced cultural practices which were introduced
by the Europeans. In doing so, they were able to increase their knowledge and earning major
responsibilities in European firms and industries.
Negativeeffects of the discovery of America
The discovery of America was also marked with negative effects in the process.
European nations that came to America with the aim of exploring and commercializing on the
resources available. Almost all the important products produced in America were transported
by the Europeans to their mother nations to be used in developing them. European came with
the main intention of exploring the land and making profits which will be returned back for
development in their own nation.
Europe needed gold and silver. These resources were found in America hence the
money in circulation kept multiplying hence leading to rising of the movement of capitalism.
They began taking control of cities and towns with the aim of retaining control of monetary
values existing in the region. Eventually, colonies were discovered, conquered, and colonized
in the process. This action disadvantaged the local Americans who had their own ways of
living and governing among themselves.
Europeans obtained economic surplus from the people they dominated and used it in
other ways and purpose. This explains the reason behind wealthy Europeans surrounded by
Native Americans living in poverty as they were overworked and underpaid at the same
time(Galeano, 1997).
Conclusion
The consequences of the discovery of America had both positive and negative effects.
More constructive benefits were achieved by the Americans. The discovery of America led to
CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
its development and advancement in production and manufacturing practices. From the
reflection paper, it is clear that the positive impacts of the discovery of America completely
outweigh the negative impact.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
Reference
Collier, J. (2007). Christopher Columbus: to the New World. New York: Marshall Cavendish
Benchmark.
https://books.google.com/books?id=bvrljX_Q7h0C&dq=Christopher+Columbus&so
urce=gbs_navlinks_s
Crosby, Alfred W. (1987). The Columbian Voyages: The Columbian Exchange, and Their
Historians. Amer Historical Assn.
Galeano, Eduardo (1997). Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a
Continent. New York: NYU Press.
Order with us today for a quality custom paper on the above topic or any other topic!
What Awaits you:
- High Quality custom-written papers
- Automatic plagiarism check
- On-time delivery guarantee
- Masters and PhD-level writers
- 100% Privacy and Confidentiality