What impact did the introduction of European diseases have on Native American populations?

The introduction of European diseases, such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, had catastrophic effects on Native American populations. Prior to European contact, Indigenous Americans had not been exposed to these diseases and therefore lacked any form of immunity. As a result, when these diseases spread across the continent following European colonization, they led to devastating declines in the populations of Native American communities.

Estimates suggest that some tribes lost as much as 90% of their population within a few generations due to these diseases. The mortality rates were alarmingly high, leading to significant disruptions in social structures, economies, and cultural practices among Native American societies. This demographic collapse not only affected individuals and families but also weakened entire communities, making them more vulnerable to further displacement and conquest by European settlers.

Understanding this impact is crucial to grasping the broader consequences of European colonization and the profound changes it wrought on the Indigenous peoples of North America.