Question

___ native american tribes were more susceptible to the disease introduced by white settlers.

Answer 1

Native American tribes were highly susceptible to European diseases due to a lack of prior exposure and immunity, leading to high mortality rates. Contributing factors included malnutrition and the rapid spread of infection in densely populated areas. Historians debate whether the introduction of these diseases was intentional or an unintended consequence of European settlement.

Step-by-step explanation:

Native American tribes were highly susceptible to diseases introduced by European settlers primarily because they had no immunity to these new illnesses. The diseases, such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, originated from Europeans and their domesticated animals, to which the native populations had never been exposed. The situation was exacerbated by factors such as malnutrition due to the destruction of crops by European livestock and social disruption, which weakened the indigenous peoples' immune systems. Furthermore, the dense populations in settled regions allowed infections to spread rapidly, leading to devastating mortality rates that could reach as high as 95 percent among native communities.

The introduction of diseases like smallpox was particularly catastrophic. This, combined with forced removals, slavery, and war, led to a historical decline in Native American populations. However, the extent to which the spread of diseases was planned by European colonizers remains a contentious issue among historians. Some diseases were so lethal that the Native American population on Hispaniola plummeted from over a million in 1492 to merely 500 by the year 1548.

Answer 2

Native American tribes were highly susceptible to European diseases due to a lack of immunity, coupled with malnutrition and the psychological stress from European oppression, leading to catastrophic population declines.

Step-by-step explanation:

Many Native American tribes were more susceptible to the diseases introduced by white settlers. A key reason is that Native Americans had no immunity to European diseases like smallpox, measles, and influenza, which were brought over by Europeans with their livestock. Moreover, the impact of European diseases on indigenous populations was compounded by factors such as malnutrition due to Europeans destroying their crops, the psychological stress of European exploitation and warfare, and the forced change in their way of life which led to poor health and reduced resistance to disease.

Smallpox was one of the most devastating diseases, resulting in incredibly high mortality rates among indigenous peoples. The Native American population on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola decreased from over a million to just 500 from 1492 to 1548. Moreover, even diseases familiar to the Natives became more lethal due to weakened immune systems caused by malnutrition and the stress of European oppression. It is crucial to understand that while the spread of disease from Europeans to Indigenous peoples was often not deliberate, it had catastrophic and lasting impacts on Native American tribes, leading to a significant reduction in their population.