Question

Which of the following statements correctly describes the military strength of Native American tribes in the 17th century?

A) The tribes were weak and were always defeated by European forces.
B) The tribes outnumbered the colonists and easily massacred them.
C) It was a stalemate, and neither group was able to achieve victory.
D) The Native Americans sometimes achieved victories against the colonists but were steadily pushed back by European forces.

Answer 1

The statement that best describes the military strength of Native American tribes in the 17th century is that while they sometimes won battles, they were generally overwhelmed by European forces and pushed back, leading to significant loss of their lands and autonomy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement that describes the military strength of Native American tribes in the 17th century is D) The Native Americans sometimes achieved victories against the colonists but were steadily pushed back by European forces. During the first decades of European settlement, the Americas were largely under the control of native peoples. Over time, however, the conflicts increased as European colonization expanded, leading to various power shifts among tribes due to access to European weaponry, and notably, many tribes systematically lost control over their territories. It's worth noting that while some Native American tribes adopted European materials, which made warfare more lethal, and they sometimes achieved victories, they were eventually overwhelmed by the Europeans' superior weapons and military tactics. This process culminated in significant land losses and a decline in autonomy during and after the American Revolutionary War, where Revolutionary armies destroyed Native American towns and resources.