Why does the United States celebrate Columbus day even
though he never actually set foot
in the United States?

As for Columbus himself, he mapped the coasts of Central America and South America but never set foot on land that is now the United States and Canada, and died thinking he had discovered Asia. He ruled the Caribbean islands as viceroy and governor so brutally that, according to US-History.com: “Even his most ardent admirers acknowledge that Columbus was self-centered, ruthless, avaricious and a racist.”

Columbus has long been believed to have been born in Genoa, Italy, although some historians say he was born in Spain’s Catalonia region. He sailed for the Spanish crown, and his remains are in Spain. Italians in the United States have taken great pride in him and sponsor many of the celebrations held in his name each year to honor Italian American heritage.

Explanation:

so they can defeat there oppenent

c]extended voting rights to african americans