Chapter 2: Document Based Questions
Evaluate the social and economic impact of contacts between Native American peoples and the early explorers
and settlers of Spain, France, and England. Extrapolate how those contacts altered the lives of individuals within
each society involved in the experience.
DOCUMENT A:
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How did this problem of epidemics affect the abilities of Native Americans to resist invasions by
Europeans? Was the pattern any different in North, South or Central America?
 The Native Americans were dying in mass quantities from diseases, so obviously they
could not defend off the Europeans. It was indeed the same for all, Central, North, and
South America.
How did the disease spread so quickly ahead of the Europeans?
 The diseases spread to all the Native Americans, however the Europeans were all
immune to it, and it did not impact them negatively, only positively because it assured
more power over the Natives. That is until it wiped out majority of the Native
population.
Was the population story in the Americas one of simple replacement of Native Americans by
Europeans, or was the story more complex.
 It was more complex because no one is really sure how many Native Americans there
were to begin with. Some said 500,000 others said 16 billion. However, the Europeans
could not replace the Native Americans.
How do you account for the Mestizos population?
 When the Spanish came with Columbus’s second expedition, it was only 10% women. So
the males married the Indian women. The Mestizos population is those descended or
the offspring of the Spanish male and Indian female.
How did contact with the Native American population change those Europeans who settled in the
Americas?
 The Spanish constructed the world’s most powerful empire with the help of the Indian
labor (and African). The opened the way for colonization of the American of course too.
How did contact with the Europeans alter the social structure of Native Americas?
 There really wasn’t a solid social structure coming from the Native Americans. So when
the Europeans came and attempted to establish their social structure, they put
themselves on top.
DOCUMENT B:
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What social and economical exchanges occurred between English settlers and the Native Americans in
North America? Compare this against the Spanish mission shown on page 136 and the discussion of
mission life for Native Americans.
 They traded a lot of different goods and weapons, which was also was the missions
were all about on page 136. The Indians had the choice to join or not, but once they
joined there was no getting out of it.
What happened to Native Americans in contact with Spanish explorers and settlers? In the cast of the
Spanish, don’t forget the Mestizos population.
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They were becoming mixed cultures, (Spanish and Native American). There was a
shortage of Spanish women, which was why the Spanish men married Indian Women,
thus making a shortage of Indian women for the Indian men. The Spanish were looking
for gold, and created the most powerful empire with help of the Natives.
What differences are evident in how each European society related to the Native American societies
with which they came into contact?
 Spanish, French and English went there all at different times. And the Spanish were
looking for gold and to create an empire. The French went for trade, especially with fur
trade. And the English went there for conquering land and domination.
DOCUMENT C:
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Did Social and economical changes occur between the French and Native Americans? What kind of
exchanges?
 Europeans - French exchanged their glass, copper, and other materials like textiles, for
fur. Then the French sold that fur back in Europe because they had a shortage and it
cost a lot more money. However, the French only paid how much it costs in America,
because the Natives were blind sighted by what was happening.
Was there a Mestizos population in this exchange?
 They were included in the dealing with the fur trade, and missions.