which factor had the most negative impact American Indian populations?
a. exposure to European disease
b. introduction to crops such as tobacco
c. the French sales of guns to American Indians
help now pls
It's c
The factor that had the most negative impact on American Indian populations was a. exposure to European diseases.
To understand why exposure to European diseases had such a devastating effect on American Indian populations, we need to consider the historical context. When Europeans arrived in the Americas, they unintentionally brought with them diseases that the Native American populations had never been exposed to before. These diseases, including smallpox, measles, and influenza, were often carried by the Europeans themselves and their livestock.
The Native American populations, having no previous exposure to these diseases, had no immunity built up against them. As a result, when they came into contact with Europeans, often through trade or conflict, the diseases quickly spread among American Indian communities. These diseases caused widespread illness, weakened immune systems, and high mortality rates.
The impact of European diseases on American Indian populations was devastating. Estimates suggest that, in some cases, Native American populations experienced mortality rates of up to 90% due to the introduction of these diseases. These epidemics led to the decline and even the extinction of some tribal groups.
It is important to note that while the other factors mentioned in the options (introduction to crops such as tobacco and French sales of guns to American Indians) had significant impacts on American Indian populations, they were not as widespread or universally devastating as the introduction of European diseases.