Soon after contact with

Question

Europeans, millions of people in
the Americas died. Which factor
was most responsible?
diseases from Europe such
as influenza and smallpox
extended droughts that
caused food shortages
horse-mounted European
soldiers
superior European armor
and weapons

Answer 1

The factor that was most responsible for the deaths of millions of people in the Americas soon after contact with Europeans was diseases from Europe such as influenza and smallpox. These diseases devastated indigenous populations, who had no prior exposure or immunity to them, leading to widespread mortality. While other factors like military conflict and the introduction of new technologies played a role in the impact of European contact, the spread of infectious diseases was the primary cause of the dramatic decline in native populations.