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US History Essay

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US History Essay

Interaction between indigenous people and Europeans began in the sixteenth century. The

natives way of life was disrupted prompting them to blend old and new ways of living to help

them survive without forsaking their past. Natives lived in villages thus when disease epidermic

struck it almost made them extinct. This caused many of them to migrate to avoid the epidemic.

According to (Merrel,1922, p.19) the collected wisdom of generations could disappear in a

matter of days if sickness struck older members of the community who kept sacred traditions and

taught special skills. There was massive decrease in population leading to a loss of

independence. (Merrel,1922, p.19) states that colonists reported that the outbreak of smallpox in

1759 wiped out 60% of the natives. This caused different groups to band together to a single

village. New societies were formed due to migrations which also caused loss of identity and

livelihood. The Europeans were victims of the diseases too causing them to change their norms

they brought from their motherland. The swamps and lowlands of Chesapeake were deathtrap to

Europeans (Merrel,1922, p. 19).

Europeans brought technology, efficient tools, weapons and clothing from their cultures

therefore diversifying the local economy which before that had been self-sufficient. Indians

would later become producers of raw materials for foreign markets. Conflict between the

indigenous people increased due to the demand of products and slaves. Relying on foreign

supplies caused loss of destiny to the Indians thus making Europeans masters over the Indians.

The Europeans ended up settling in the country. Indigenous people ended up losing their native

signature and personal independence.

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Us History Essay

Interaction between the natives and the Europeans brought about a new social order. The

new order sealed social, political and religious relationship because they intersected one another.

There was conversion to Christianity by indigenous people and the Europeans ended up inserting

themselves as regional powers thus ended up colonizing the natives. The establishment of lasting

Europeans colonies (Merrel,1922, p. 31).

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References

Mason, J. (1922). A Brief History of the Pequot War: Especially of the Memorable Taking of

Their Fort at Mistick in Connecticut in 1637.

Merrell, J. H. (1989). The Indians' New World: Catawbas and their neighbors from European

contact through the era of removal. University of North Carolina Press.

Jesuits. (1899). The jesuit relations and Allied documents: Travels and explorations of the jesuit

missionaries in New France, 1610-1791 ; the original French, Latin, and Italian texts,

with English translations and notes.