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U.S. History I - The New World

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    Study Guide U.S. History I – The “New World” 1. European Contact When Europeans arrived in North America, the experience for Native peoples was different from — but still devastating compared to — the Spanish conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires . While the changes were not always immediate or dramatic everywhere, European contact left three major legacies for Native American tribes: 1. Disease 2. Horses and other domesticated animals 3. Metal tools and firearms Together, these changes reshaped Native societies in lasting ways. 1.1 Disease: The Greatest Impact The most serious threat Native peoples faced was not European weapons — it was disease . Before European contact, the Western Hemisphere had very few infectious diseases. Native populations had no natural immunity to illnesses common in Europe. Diseases such as: • Smallpox • Measles • Mumps • Diphtheria spread rapidly and killed large numbers of people. Smallpox was the deadliest , and it often spread far beyond the first European contacts. Trade between tribes helped carry disease from village to village. In some regions, up to 90 percent of the Native population died from 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 Spanish explorers traveling the Gulf Coast.

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    Study Guide • The Mandan tribe, which welcomed Lewis and Clark in 1804 and numbered about 2,000 people, was reduced to about 150 after a smallpox epidemic in 1837. The effects of disease were long - lasting , continuing well after the first encounters. 1.2 Horses and Other Domesticated Animals While disease brought devastation, European contact also introduced new animals that changed daily life for many tribes. The Horse The horse had the greatest impact. Horses likely arrived in North America with Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s expedition in 1540 . Over time, horses spread through trade, theft, and escape. For Plains tribes such as the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Kiowa , horses became essential: • They allowed faster and more efficient bison hunting • They made travel easier • They helped pull heavy loads using simple pole structures • They allowed tipis to be larger and more comfortable Within one generation, horses became a central part of Plains culture . By the 1700s, Europeans encountered Native Americans on horseback, often unaware that this way of life was less than 200 years old . Other Animals Europeans also introduced: • Cattle • Sheep • Goats • Hogs These animals provided food and materials for clothing, blankets, and shelters. However, there was a hidden cost. European livestock were fed European grains , such as wheat and rye. These plants spread quickly and gradually replaced native grasses, changing the environment in ways that were not fully understood until the late 20th century .

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    Study Guide 1.3 Metal Tools and Firearms Before European contact, Native Americans did not have metalworking technology. Their tools — made from stone, bone, clay, and wood — were well crafted but limited. Metal Tools European metal items such as: • Knives • Needles • Hatchets • Fishhooks • Pots were immediately valued because they were stronger and more efficient than traditional tools. Firearms Early European guns did not immediately give Europeans an advantage . Muskets and pistols: • Were inaccurate at long distances • Took time to reload • Were hard to repair Native bows and arrows were still effective, and even European settlers recognized firearm limitations. However, by the late 1700s and 1800s: • Rifles became more accurate • Repeating rifles and revolvers appeared Native Americans adopted firearms and learned to make bullets, but they became dependent on Europeans for guns, ammunition, and metal goods. They could not manufacture complex weapons or cartridges on their own. By the late 19th century, European technology had fully overwhelmed Native military power .

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