European Invasion

The European invasion of the New World from the 15th century to the 18th century altered the lives of the Native Americans that lived in eastern North America in more ways than they could’ve ever imagined. The New World provided raw materials, such as metal as soil. The massive invasion all begun in 1492 which was then known as the massive “white” invasion and Columbus’s discovery marked the beginning of this invasion which overtook all of North America over the next four centuries. The lives of the Native Americans would never be the same.

European settlers introduced the Native American’s to new costumes but not all, if any, were good. Europeans brought Christianity into the New World and introduced the Native Americans to the religion. Europeans thought that Native Americans would be easy to convert into Christianity. “These people would be easy to convert to our holy faith” is famous quote by Jacques Cartier. Europeans didn’t consider the Native Americans opinions or beliefs and frankly they didn’t care. Europeans also introduced the Native Americans with diseases that they weren’t use to, for example malaria and infections to smallpox and measles.

Due to all of these diseases the population of North America decreased and continued to until about the 1700s. The Europeans were also armed with technology and the Native American cultures of their civilizations were lost. Europeans took over the New World between the 15th and 18th century, although that wasn’t their main objective. Their main objective was to settle and gain land in North America. With the arrival of the Europeans governments and laws were formed that didn’t benefit the Native Americans in anyway.

Europeans claimed lands and Native Americans were forced to accept that the Europeans were now in charge. Europeans had all the authority in the New World. Native Americans were experiencing New World imperialism. Native Americans became frightened and started living in fear. Decrease in population and war resulted in the creation of new communities for instance the Choctaw. To trade a faster pace and consume more money was what the Europeans dreamed of and they didn’t want anything or anyone to get in the way of their dream. Native Americans were dragged into the expanding economy.

Before the Europeans had invaded the New World, North America had a strong military force that began in the Mohawk Valley. They were known as the Iroquois and were merged by the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Cayugas, and the Senecas, which was five Indian nations. The Native Americans were such powerful individuals but then the Europeans came along and stripped them of all their pride and altered the way they once looked at life. All and all, right before the Native Americans eyes change was happening and the way they lived was never how it once was before.

The Native Americans had their land ripped from right underneath them without any warning or any sign. Though the Native Americans of eastern North America may have had questions to why their lives were being altered. The Europeans invaded the New World during the 15th-18th century without any answers to why they were doing so. The Europeans had expectations and a plan. They didn’t stop at any means and they were determined to follow through with the success of their invasion.