European contact and settlement had significant impacts on Native Americans. Firstly, the arrival of Europeans led to the spread of diseases like smallpox, which decimated Native American populations who lacked immunity. Additionally, the Europeans' encroachment on Native American lands resulted in territorial conflicts and displacement, often leading to forced assimilation or relocation of Native American tribes. Lastly, European settlers brought different cultural, economic, and social systems that disrupted traditional Native American ways of life and eroded their autonomy. To learn more about this topic, one can consult historical records, scholarly articles, books, or documentaries that discuss the effects of European contact and settlement on Native Americans.
