Give two reasons contact with the Spanish was bad for the Indigenous Americans.
1) Disease: One major reason contact with the Spanish was bad for Indigenous Americans was the introduction of diseases. The Spanish brought with them new diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, to which the Indigenous Americans had no immunity. These diseases caused epidemics that decimated the Indigenous populations, as they had no prior exposure and thus no natural defenses against these illnesses. The diseases spread quickly and resulted in massive death tolls, greatly reducing the Indigenous population and undermining their societies.
2) Invasion and Conquest: Another reason contact with the Spanish was detrimental for Indigenous Americans was the invasion and conquest of their lands. The Spanish arrived with the intention of colonization, seeking to claim territories, exploit resources, and establish dominance. As such, they engaged in acts of violence, warfare, and subjugation against the Indigenous communities. These indigenous groups were often displaced from their ancestral lands, subjected to slavery, forced labor, and harsh living conditions, eroding their traditional way of life and cultural practices. The Spanish conquest led to the loss of land, resources, and autonomy for Indigenous Americans, with severe and lasting consequences.