Question

What was the impact of European colonization on Native Americans? Give at least two examples. (Make sure to use full sentences and cite evidence.)

Answer 1

The European colonization had devastating impact on Native Americans due to environmental changes and the introduction of diseases:

1. The introduction of European weapons linked to the popularity of beavers led to overhunting. Overhunting led to the extinction of beavers which affected the ecosystem as a whole. Europeans also brought pigs to the new land that ended up eating the foods deers and other animals depended on leading to scarcity.
2. Europeans brought with them diseases (such as smallpox) that the native population were NOT immune to which resulted in a great number of deaths. The high mortality rate of the older population meant the loss of both tradition and knowledge.