When Europeans first came to North America, one of the most disastrous impacts on native populations was the introduction of "Old World diseases." These diseases, such as smallpox, influenza, and plague, devastated the Native American population as the number of settlers grew steadily. One author has called this "the greatest human catastrophe in history, far exceeding ... the Black Death of Medieval Europe." Based on this scenario and what you know about the immune system, what can you conclude about the Native American and European populations?

Question

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The introduction of Old World diseases had a devastating impact on the Native American population because their immune systems had not evolved in the presence of these novel microbes and were at a great disadvantage when exposed to them over a relatively short period of time. This is supported by the fact that the European settlers had also been susceptible to these diseases before developing immunity to them over time. There is no evidence to suggest that Native American immune systems were inherently inferior or genetically vulnerable to these diseases. The option about Europeans being vaccinated against all of these diseases is also not accurate, as vaccines did not exist at the time of their arrival in North America.

When Europeans First Came to North America, One of the Most