- European colonists often claimed Native American land through treaties, purchases, and military conquest, displacing Native peoples from their traditional territories.
Disease
- European colonists brought diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza to North America, which devastated Native populations. An estimated 90% of the native population died from disease alone.
Cultural Assimilation
- European colonists often sought to assimilate Native Americans into their own cultures by forcing them to adopt European languages, religions, and customs.
Loss of Traditional Livelihoods
- As European colonists expanded their settlements, they disrupted Native American hunting and gathering grounds and traditional trade networks, leading to economic hardship.
Conflict and Warfare
- Competition for land, resources, and trade often led to conflict and warfare between Native Americans and European colonists, as well as among different Native American groups.
Forced Labor
- European colonists often forced Native Americans to work in mines, on plantations, and as domestic servants, subjecting them to harsh and exploitative conditions.
Disruption of Social and Political Structures
- European colonization disrupted traditional Native American social and political structures, leading to the loss of cultural identity and autonomy.