Publication Date
12-15-2021
Document Type
Working Paper
Advisor
Professor John Hall
Journal of Economic Literature Classification Codes
D63, F54, Z13
Key Words
Colonialism, Genocidal Violence, Infectious Diseases, Native Americans, Systematic Relocation
Abstract
This inquiry seeks to establish that the Indigenous population of North America experienced a tragic fate as a result of British colonization and American dominance. Upon the arrival of the English colonists, infectious diseases spread rapidly, disrupting Native American’s way of life and also decimating their populations. This inquiry examines two geographic areas—Virginia’s Eastern Shore and the Midcontinent—in order to demonstrate how these diseases affected Native Americans differently. Aside from the negative effects of the introduction of new infectious diseases, Indigenous peoples endured genocide perpetrated by English settlers as a means to gain greater control of their lands. Lastly, Indigenous communities were also subjected to policies of systematic relocation, such as the Indian Removal Act and the Dawes Act, which took away the land base used by millions of Native Americans in North America.
Rights
© 2022 Maria Nicolas-Reyes
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/38040
Citation Details
Nicolas-Reyes, Maria. "The Plight of the Indigenous in British North America, Working Paper No. 57", Portland State University Economics Working Papers. 57. (15 December 2021) i + 16 pages.