-Upon their arrival in Massachusetts, the Pilgrims encountered a relatively sparse Indian population resulting from .
A) an unwelcoming land that had never been thickly settled
B) conquest and expulsion by early Europeans in that region
C) difficulties associated with a series of difficult winters
D) diseases which had been contracted from European traders

Question

-Upon their arrival in Massachusetts, the Pilgrims encountered a relatively sparse Indian population resulting from .
A) an unwelcoming land that had never been thickly settled 
B) conquest and expulsion by early Europeans in that region 
C) difficulties associated with a series of difficult winters 
D) diseases which had been contracted from European traders

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sparse Indian population encountered by the Pilgrims in Massachusetts was largely due to diseases brought by European traders prior to the Pilgrims' arrival. These diseases, to which the Native American populations had no immunity, caused devastating epidemics that significantly reduced their numbers.

-Upon Their Arrival in Massachusetts, the Pilgrims Encountered a Relatively