jan 1, 1492 - Columbus Lands in the Caribbean

Description:

Columbus lands in what he thought was North America, but it is actually the Caribbean. He immediately claims the land for Spain, along with many of the Indigenous people. He enslaves them under the justification of "Manifest Destiny." In addition to enslaved the Indigenous peoples, the Spaniards brought smallpox to their communities which wiped out millions of Natives.

Added to timeline:

Date: