How did the American Indians and explorers work together?
They built towns and traded over large distances with other tribes. These were the people the European explorers met when their ships landed in America. Europeans were used to these diseases, but Indian people had no resistance to them. Sometimes the illnesses spread through direct contact with colonists.
How did settlers and American Indians help each other?
There were not many settlers and there was enough land for everyone to use and plant crops. It was easy to live together. The Indians helped the settlers by teaching them how to plant crops and survive on the land. But the Indians did not understand that the settlers were going to keep the land.
How did the American Indians and the Europeans coexist?
For a time, Indian nations and European settlers coexisted. Native peoples served as independent traders and mediators. European settlement brought the American Indian population a more diverse selection of food and introduced new tools for hunting and warfare. This coexistence was short-lived, however.
Why did the Europeans want to trade with the American Indians?
The desire to get European goods changed ancient trading patterns. The tradition of simple hunting for food began to become less important than getting animal hides to trade. Soon American Indians depended on European items for daily needs. Colonial traders also brought rum, and this drink caused many problems for some tribes.
What did the American Indians do for a living?
Over time, their lives changed as they adapted to different environments. American Indians were creative. They found ways to live in deserts, in forests, along the oceans, and on the grassy prairies. Native peoples were great hunters and productive farmers.
How did the Iroquois help the British explorers?
The Iroquois provided invaluable support and knowledge of native terrain to inform the British military strategy. This inquiry set is designed to provide students with an introduction to and a geographic overview of the ways in which different European explorers and settlers interacted with American Indians.