European Interaction and Its Effect on American Indians

European Interaction and Its Effect on American Indians

In 1500, over five hundred societies dominated Indian North America, where the ancestors had inhabited the region for approximately 25,000 years. Initially, the dominant community indulged in hunting and gathering and shifted cultivation to sustain themselves. In the contemporary era, there is much debate concerning the size of the population at the time despite inadequate measures to quantify the same. The region was stipulated to have around 18 million people, although they were societies that seldom had over 30 000 individuals (“An Introduction to Native North America — Pearson eText – Mark Q. Sutton – Google Books,” n.d.). However, during the European invasion era, alien diseases started to affect the community, and it spread rapidly, leading to a lot of mortality. The rising European did not only raise a lot with the devastating calamity, but also the total population of the region reduced significantly in the 1700s. It is pertinent to note that natural immunity takes time to be inhabited in the human body, thus making the diseases deadly (Jones et al., 2015). It is crucial to note that the disease outrage came to be only after interaction with the European states that proved to be futile to the community. Surprisingly, endemic malaria did not spare the Europeans immigrants to the Southeast. Moreover, the extent to which more endemic problem faced the American Indians like cholera, influence, smallpox, and yellow fever, changed their social organization throughout the territory. The invention of alien medicine came in handy to help only a few of the many thousand people affected (Maldonado et al., 2016). Notably, research indicated that the problem hit the most populated societies like Huron, Iroquois, and Massachuset.

Economies Changes

In the 1500s, Indian America mainly handled shift cultivation and hunting and gathering. The sprawling of the epidemic was a big blow to the communities and their culture. The repeated devastating conditions were a significant blow to the traders, migrants, and armies who are seen to dominate much of the economy in the time. The epidemics created a new world for the American Indians for the flora and fauna that surpassed the calamity. Notably, the regions having a low population gave rise to revolution and wars, and new communities like Powhatan, Creek, Choctaw confederacies emerged (“An Introduction to Native North America — Pearson eText – Mark Q. Sutton – Google Books,” n.d.). More European communities intruded regions like Massachusetts and Plymouth. Over time, their lifestyle has changed, encompassing the environmental changes. One interesting fact about the American Indians is that they were creative. Therefore, they found their way through the grass prairies, forests, deserts, and oceans. They were great hunters and productive farmers, thus utilizing all the new zones presented after the endemic period. New trade towns were launched catering for long and distant individuals. Notably, these were the first individuals that the European Explorer first met upon landing in America (Miller & Robert J, 2019). As the new visitors like the Spanish, English, and French came to the region, they brought along new changes. The Europeans came along with the worst enemy, which is the new diseases. The creativity in the American Indians prone them into making botanical medicine that would manage the rising cases of mortality. The germ was horrible, which lead to a whole village perishing in no time.

Traditional Practices That Are Still Practiced

The American Indians changed much of their norm; however, much is still being practiced in the contemporary era. The greatest epidemic to the native population of American is a significant part of the story to European exploration. Experts believe that approximately 90 percent of the American Indian population may have succumbed to the illness that was introduced to America by the Europeans (Henson, Sabo, Trujillo, & Teufel-Shone, 2017). Therefore, only ten percent of the natives survived the problem. The treatment plan, as used in the tradition, has continuously been used up to date. Significant changes made in the contemporary era is the use of technology to manufacture even generic medicine and other cultured in the laboratory (Jones et al., 2015). However, the main idea emanates from the treatment plan made by the communities to solve the problem then. Additionally, the new trade channels is a milestone for the cities and colonies brought about by the American Indians. The American Indians were willing to perform trade with the Europeans despite the disparities created. In a few moments, the American Indian was ready to put aside the bows and arrows initially used for hunting and embraced the use of firearms and other sophisticated weapons. Notably, this method of hunting originates from previous ideas, which boosted the trade. Later on, the rapport created between Europeans and the Indians gave rise to more trade fairs primarily via the Indian Ocean.

Traditional Practices That Have Been Lost or Changed

On the contrary, it is pertinent that despite the technological improvement and the dynamic changes created, much has been lost. This problem mainly emanates from the culture and norms that had been bestowed in the people. Notably, culture is what defines a particular religion, and once it is lost, they lose their identity. The majority of the people have conformed to the living styles of the American and the Europeans. This method is done by doing away with the traditional forms of hunting and shifts agriculture to more improved methods (“An Introduction to Native North America — Pearson eText – Mark Q. Sutton – Google Books,” n.d.). However, the Americans needed individuals to help in construction and other developmental projects. The next vulnerable group was the American Indian group’s which was taken in as slaves. Indians were transported into the country, and in return, they obtained more forearms. The sense of ownership and togetherness was also destroyed where the women and children suffered most. More American Indian tribes have increased despite having a massive shift in the culture and surviving pandemics.

Main Issues and Problems Chosen By the Group and Has To Deal with Today

The American Indians chose to liaise with the American countries, which was noted o increase the slave trade. The increase rate of unemployment is a result of the slave trade. Notably, the problem has extended up to date where unemployment is as high as 90 percent of the natives. On the other hand, Indian American is susceptible to most infectious diseases and fatal illnesses. This problem can be carried down in the genes, thus affecting the present population. The poverty level and violence have increased due to interdependence on hunting and gathering. With the current developmental changes, riparian land has been transformed for other uses that have led to the population reaching a bottleneck with the resources required. However, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed to preserve and protect the rights of all people and also the freedom to pursue their traditional spiritual path (Miller & Robert J, 2019). However, the rule has no strict enforcement due to the increased disputes between the two governments. Much of the issues that the American Indians face today can be backdated to time in memorial. Much of the historical activities have shaped their present mode of lifestyle.