Question

Why was mercantilism bad for Native American

Answer 1

Mercantilism was detrimental to Native Americans due to the exploitation of their resources, alteration of their traditional lifestyles, and the forced labor systems imposed by European colonists which disrupted their societies and economies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Impact of Mercantilism on Native Americans

Mercantilism, the economic system that governed European colonial policy, had detrimental impacts on Native American societies. Under mercantilism, European powers sought to increase their wealth through the exploitation of new world colonies, which involved the extraction of natural resources and establishment of a triangular trade that included the transatlantic slave trade. For the Native Americans, this led to significant disruptions in their traditional ways of life.

The introduction of European goods, technologies, and weapons, like guns, altered Native American lifestyles and warfare, often to their detriment. For example, the commodification of animal pelts spurred by European demand resulted in environmental consequences due to overhunting, while European-manufactured goods led to dependency and sometimes debt. Further, the spread of diseases to which Native Americans had no immunity resulted in high fatality rates, exacerbating the negative consequences of European colonization.

Additionally, the imposition of systems such as the encomienda and repartimiento by the Spanish crown led to the forced labor and exploitation of Indigenous peoples, disrupting their traditional economies and social structures. Between the environmental damage, depletion of resources, and the invasive economic policies, mercantilism profoundly harmed Native American societies.

Answer 2

Mercantilism was bad for Native Americans because it led to the exploitation of their resources and labor for the benefit of European colonizers. The goal of mercantilism was to increase the wealth of the colonizing nation, and Native Americans were seen as a means to that end. European powers established trade monopolies and imposed tariffs and taxes on Native American goods, which reduced their economic power and undermined their independence. The forced labor of Native Americans on European farms and in mines further depleted their resources and led to their displacement from their ancestral lands. Additionally, the spread of European diseases devastated Native American populations, leading to the loss of entire communities and cultures. Overall, mercantilism reinforced the subjugation and exploitation of Native Americans by European powers.