Question

What was the main cause of death for most of the indigenous people in Hispaniola?

Select the best answer from the choices provided.
A.
war with Europeans
B.
disease from Europeans
C.
enslavement at the hands of Europeans
D.
drought caused by over farming by Europeans

Answer 1

The main cause of death for most indigenous people in Hispaniola was disease from Europeans, especially smallpox, which decimated populations due to the natives' lack of immunity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Main Cause of Death for Indigenous People in Hispaniola

The main cause of death for most of the indigenous people in Hispaniola was disease from Europeans. Diseases such as smallpox, typhus, and measles were brought to the Americas by the European colonizers. These diseases had catastrophic effects because the Native Americans had no immunity. This lack of immunity against European diseases was far more deadly than the impact of warfare or enslavement. The Eurasian diseases spread quickly and lethally through the native populations, with smallpox being particularly devastating. It is estimated that diseases wiped out roughly 80 percent of the indigenous population across the Americas, leading to tens of millions of deaths.

The high mortality rate due to diseases was further exacerbated by other factors. For example, fear of being captured by Europeans led many Indigenous people to abandon farming and hide, causing widespread malnutrition which weakened their immune systems. This made them even more susceptible to infections.