The European colonization of the Americas forever changed the lives and cultures of the peoples of the continents. Although the exact pre-contact population of the Americas is unknown, scholars estimate that Native American populations diminished by between 80 and 90% within the first centuries of contact with Europeans. The leading cause was disease. The continent was ravaged by epidemics of diseases such as smallpox, measles, and cholera, which were brought from Europe by the early explorers and spread quickly into new areas even before later explorers and colonists reached them. Native Americans suffered high mortality rates due to their lack of prior exposure to these diseases. The loss of lives was exacerbated by conflict between colonists and indigenous people. Colonists also frequently perpetrated massacres on the indigenous groups and enslaved them. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census (1894), the North American Indian Wars of the 19th century cost the lives of about 19,000 whites and 30,000 Native Americans. COUNT 5
QSN1 What did the European colonization forever change? ANS1 lives and cultures of the peoples of the continents QSN2 How much did the population of the Americas decrease after first contact with the Europeans? ANS2 between 80 and 90% QSN3 What was the leading cause of death for the native population after European contact? ANS3 disease QSN4 What triad of disease epidemics ravaged the American continent? ANS4 smallpox, measles, and cholera QSN5 Why did Native Americans suffer such high mortality rates to the diseases? ANS5 lack of prior exposure