C: indigenous cultures faced the threat of Extinction.
The Columbian Exchange, which refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World (Europe, Africa, and Asia) following Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas in 1492, had significant long-term impacts on indigenous North American populations.
One of the major effects was the introduction of new diseases to which indigenous populations had little or no immunity. Diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza caused devastating epidemics, resulting in significant population decline among the indigenous communities. It is estimated that millions of Native Americans died due to these diseases, leading to the disruption, displacement, and decimation of their societies.
Additionally, the arrival of Europeans disrupted traditional indigenous lifeways, economies, and political structures. Indigenous populations often faced violent conflicts and forced removal from their ancestral lands as European settlers sought to expand their territories and exploit the resources of the Americas. This encroachment on indigenous lands and displacement from traditional territories further contributed to the cultural erosion and threatened the survival of indigenous cultures.
While there may have been some resistance to European invasion and occasional trade agreements formed, the overall long-term impact of the Columbian Exchange on indigenous North American populations was characterized by the threat of cultural extinction and the immense challenges faced by indigenous communities to maintain their identity, customs, and way of life in the face of foreign domination and devastating diseases.