resulted in the deaths of approximately a third of the Native American Population during de Soto’s exploration

Answer 1

Hernando de Soto’s exploration of the southeastern United States in the 1530s and 1540s had devastating effects on Native American populations. His expeditions led to violent encounters, and more significantly, the introduction of European diseases, such as smallpox and influenza, which decimated indigenous communities that had no immunity to these illnesses. It is estimated that these factors, compounded by warfare and displacement, resulted in the deaths of a significant portion of the Native American population, with some estimates suggesting that up to a third or more of the population was affected. This tragic decline illustrates the profound impact of European colonization on Native American societies.