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Initially the Europeans did not intend that their disease would decimate the native populations. They did not fully understand contagion and had almost no knowledge of resistance to disease, so they could not conceive of their childhood disease being so deadly to the native population until they actually saw it happen. Even then they did not know why. However, after natives resisted the Europeans or rebelled against them, Europeans sometimes used methods of germ warfare from Europe, which included giving natives blankets and other clothing that had been taken from dead smallpox victims. This spread the small pox to targeted populations.

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How was the Native American population in the Americas affected by the arrival of Europeans?

the native population was destroyed by European colonization, once they began interacting with each other trade and war both erupted between the groups, disease being the number one killer by far due to the natives having no resistance to the European diseases, followed by war with Europeans.


How did European exploration impact native Americans?

European exploration of the Americas had a devastating impact upon the Native population. Specifically, the Europeans brought diseases with them that the Native Americans had no immunity against. The Native population was ultimately reduced by 90 percent.


What was the first and perhaps most profound result of the meeting of native and European cultures?

importation of European diseases.


What effect did the Columbian Exchange have on the Native American population?

The Columbian Exchange had a devastating effect on the Native American population, primarily due to the introduction of European diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and measles, to which Indigenous peoples had no immunity. This led to catastrophic declines in their numbers, with some estimates suggesting that up to 90% of the population in certain areas perished. Additionally, the exchange brought about significant changes in lifestyle, agricultural practices, and territorial displacement, further impacting Native American societies. Overall, the Columbian Exchange marked a turning point that fundamentally altered the demographic and cultural landscape of the Americas.


What was one negative result of the Columbian Exchange?

Disease killed millions of Native AmericansThe Columbian Exchange (the transfer of plants, animals, diseases, etc. between the old and new worlds) had both positive and negative impacts. For the native people in the Americas, the cumulative effect was negative.One example is large groups of native peoples being wiped out by European diseases like smallpox.

Related Questions

European settlers carry diseases with them that made many American Indians die?

yes, the diseases were transferred via trading. The diseases drastically decreased the population.


How did contact with European explorers and exposure to diseases affect the native American population?

The native population was drastically reduced by the introduction of Old World diseases. The exact percentage is unknown.


What do historians call the movement of people plants and animals and germs caused by Columbus's expeditions?

The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of American and European animals, plants, and diseases.


What do historians call the movement of people plant animals and germs caused by Columbus's expeditions?

The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of American and European animals, plants, and diseases.


What do historians call the movement of people plants animals and germs caused by Columbus expedition?

The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of American and European animals, plants, and diseases.


How did European diseases impact natives of Georgia?

The epidemic disease was the cause of population decline of the American natives due to their lack of immunity to the new diseases brought from Europe.


Why did epidemic diseases have such a devastating effect on the Native American population in the first years of contact?

European disease had a devastating effect on the indigenous population of Native Americans. Smallpox, ravaged whole communities and is thought to have been a much more direct cause of the precipitous decline Indian population.


Why did the population of central Mexico decrease so sharply?

The population decreased sharply due to war, slavery and European-brought diseases such as smallpox, for which Native American inhabitants didn't have any immunity.


What describes an effect of the Columbian exchange?

Huge numbers of American native peoples died from European diseases.


What did Columbus deliver to the new land?

Columbus gave the Hispanola Native Americans disease. He came from the old world and with him came diseases and the Native Americans had no immunity to these diseases. Other than that he opened the door to other European explorers.


Two of the major European diseases that devastated Native American polulations after 1492?

Two major European diseases that devastated Native American populations after 1492 were smallpox and measles. These diseases were introduced through contact with European explorers and settlers and resulted in significant declines in Native American populations due to lack of immunity.


How were Indian population of the Caribbean decimated?

European diseases