U.S. History I - The New World | History

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Study GuideU.S. History I–The “New World”1. European ContactWhen Europeans arrived in North America, the experience for Native peoples wasdifferent from—but still devastating compared to—the Spanish conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires. Whilethe changes were not always immediate or dramatic everywhere, European contact leftthree majorlegaciesfor Native American tribes:1.Disease2.Horses and other domesticated animals3.Metal tools and firearmsTogether, these changes reshaped Native societies in lasting ways.1.1Disease: The Greatest ImpactThemost serious threatNative peoples faced was not European weapons—it wasdisease. BeforeEuropean contact, the Western Hemisphere had very few infectious diseases. Native populations hadno natural immunityto illnesses common in Europe.Diseases such as:•Smallpox•Measles•Mumps•Diphtheriaspread rapidly and killed large numbers of people.Smallpox was the deadliest, and it often spreadfar beyond the first European contacts. Trade between tribes helped carry disease from village tovillage.In some regions,up to 90 percent of the Native population diedfrom disease. In extreme cases,entire tribes disappeared so completely that their existence was forgotten for centuries. For example:•Tribes along the lower Mississippi River were wiped out by diseases brought by Spanishexplorers traveling the Gulf Coast.

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Study Guide•The Mandan tribe, which welcomed Lewis and Clark in 1804 and numbered about 2,000people, was reduced to about 150 after a smallpox epidemic in 1837.The effects of disease werelong-lasting, continuing well after the first encounters.1.2Horses and Other Domesticated AnimalsWhile disease brought devastation, European contact also introducednew animalsthat changeddaily life for many tribes.The HorseThehorsehad the greatest impact. Horses likely arrived in North America withFrancisco Vásquezde Coronado’s expedition in 1540. Over time, horses spread through trade, theft, and escape.For Plains tribes such as theSioux, Cheyenne, and Kiowa, horses became essential:•They allowed faster and more efficientbison hunting•They made travel easier•They helped pull heavy loads using simple pole structures•They allowed tipis to belarger and more comfortableWithin one generation, horses became acentral part of Plains culture. By the 1700s, Europeansencountered Native Americans on horseback, often unaware that this way of life wasless than 200years old.Other AnimalsEuropeans also introduced:•Cattle•Sheep•Goats•HogsThese animals provided food and materials for clothing, blankets, and shelters.However, there was a hidden cost. European livestock were fedEuropean grains, such as wheatand rye. These plants spread quickly and gradually replaced native grasses, changing theenvironment in ways that werenot fully understood until the late 20th century.

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Study Guide1.3Metal Tools and FirearmsBefore European contact, Native Americans did not have metalworking technology. Their tools—madefrom stone, bone, clay, and wood—were well crafted but limited.Metal ToolsEuropean metal items such as:•Knives•Needles•Hatchets•Fishhooks•Potswere immediately valued because they werestronger and more efficientthan traditional tools.FirearmsEarly European guns didnot immediately give Europeans an advantage. Muskets and pistols:•Were inaccurate at long distances•Took time to reload•Were hard to repairNative bows and arrows were still effective, and even European settlers recognized firearmlimitations.However, by the late 1700s and 1800s:•Rifles became more accurate•Repeating rifles and revolvers appearedNative Americans adopted firearms and learned to make bullets, but they becamedependent onEuropeansfor guns, ammunition, and metal goods. They could not manufacture complex weapons orcartridges on their own. By the late 19th century,European technology had fully overwhelmedNative military power.

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