Biological and Cultural Consequences of European Contact with the Native Americans

The consequences of European contact with the Native Americans had grave consequences surpassing the expectations of both sides. However, while the Europeans were able to overcome most of the initial problems surrounding the contact, the Native Americans endured the effects for much longer which led to the decline of Native American power in North America. Both biological effects such as the impact of diseases, and cultural effects including the formation of new societies and the European influence, had devastating effects on the lives the Native Americans had formerly known. While some of the effects of contact could be seen as positive, overall the negative effects from Native American contact with the Europeans proved to outweigh the benefits.

While many of the new things introduced by Europeans had negative effects for the Native Americans, this was not true for everything that they brought. The Europeans brought goods that would revolutionize the cultures of many Native Americans. Probably the most prominent example of this is with the mighty Sioux. The introduction of the horse into Native American culture completely changed the way that the Sioux hunted and fought during warfare. They also were changed by the guns that entered into their societies. With these new means, the Sioux could hunt the buffalos on the plains more quickly and effectively than previously done. The arrival of the horse had a positive effect on the Native American economy. Because of this newfound ease in hunting the buffalos, the Sioux were able to achieve a surplus of food. They also now had an animal that could assume the burden of hard manual labor in the fields. In times of starvation, the Sioux were also able to use horses as a source of food...

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...hey suffered both population losses and losses in cultural identity because of the contact. What now remains of Native American culture is but a glimpse of what was once a mighty force. The positive effects of European contact proved to be short-lived, while the negative effects had lasting effects on Native American life.

Works Cited

Calloway, Colin G. New Worlds for All: Indians, Europeans, and the Remaking of Early America (Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997).

Fisher, Robin. Contact and Conflict: Indian-European Relations in British Columbia, 1774-1890 (Vancouver, British Columbia: UBC Press, 1977).

Hassrick, Royal B. The Sioux: Life and Customs of a Warrior Society (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1964).

Taylor, Alan. American Colonies: The Settling of North America (New York, New York: Penguin Books).