Native Americans

Native American History

When Europeans first arrived on the North American continent, they were met by Native Americans. It is estimated that there were 10 million Native Americans inhabiting America at that time. The arrival of the first Europeans was seen as a good thing by the tribes. Even though the Europeans dressed and looked different, they brought advanced technologies to America. For example, steel tools such as knives and agricultural implements, cookware made of copper and brass, glass items such as mirrors and beads, and weapons that included guns and metal swords were nonexistent in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans. In fact, a number of animals—for example horses, cattle, and sheep— and numerous agricultural products were unknown to Native Americans.

The Native Americans soon began to realize that the Europeans also brought some things that were not compatible with Native American ideals and attitudes. Europeans realized the wealth that could be gained from the vast natural resources that were available in the Americas. Native Americans were content to live in the forest and take what they needed to survive, whereas Europeans saw the forest as lumber and not trees. They viewed the forest animals as products to be harvested and sold for a profit. Soon Europeans saw the Native American as a nuisance and something that should be removed or obliterated.

Europeans also introduced European diseases to Native Americans. For example, Europeans brought with them diseases such as cholera, measles, chicken pox, and smallpox. Native Americans had no natural immunities for these diseases. Measles and chicken pox were common in Europe and seldom deadly; however, they proved devastating to the Native American population. It was common for Native American tribes, infected with these diseases, to suffer mortality rates between 80% and 90%.

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