Question

How did Columbus's discovery of the Americas directly affect the native populations that were living there?

a. It forced many of them into slave labor.
b. It led to widespread adoption of European cultural practices.
c. It resulted in improved trade relations between Europe and the Americas.
d. It had no significant impact on the native populations.

Answer 1

Columbus's discovery of the Americas directly affected the native populations by forcing them into slave labor, leading to depopulation due to diseases, and confiscation of their land and wealth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The discovery of the Americas by Columbus had a direct and significant impact on the native populations living there. The arrival of Europeans led to the forced enslavement of many indigenous people, who were used for labor in various industries, such as sugar plantations. Additionally, the introduction of European diseases, to which the native populations had no immunity, resulted in a significant depopulation of the Americas. The European colonization also led to the confiscation of land and wealth from the native populations.