Texas A&M University (TAMU) HIST226 History of Texas Exam 1 Practice Exam

The impact of Spanish exploration on Native American populations was profoundly negative, most notably through the introduction of diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and measles, to which Native Americans had no immunity. This led to catastrophic mortality rates among indigenous peoples across the Americas. Additionally, as Spanish explorers and colonizers pushed into new territories, they often encountered resistance from local tribes. This retaliation, combined with the effects of disease, resulted in significant population declines and destabilization of existing tribal structures.

In contrast, the notions of increased trade relationships and peaceful coexistence were often limited or overshadowed by conflicts and the prioritization of colonial expansion over mutual understanding. While some tribes did engage in trade with Spanish explorers, the overarching narrative of Spanish colonization is marked more by violence and disease than by collaborative growth. The formation of new tribes, while it may have occurred in some contexts due to various factors, does not encapsulate the widespread devastation faced by many existing tribes as a direct consequence of Spanish exploration.