Henry Hudson's Impact
Not only did Henry Hudson affect European societies, but he also had a huge impact on the Native Americans. Many of Hudson’s impacts were positive and ultimately helped civilizations. However, with these positive changes, there were also negative impacts.
Impact on European Society |
Impact on Native American Society |
Henry Hudson greatly impacted European societies. His exploration of New York and his discovery of the Hudson River in 1609 led to the Dutch colonization in these areas. In 1625, the Dutch claimed their first colony, New Amsterdam, around this area. From there, the Netherlands continued to have an interest in colonizing North America. Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson Bay in Canada also helped spark Europeans’ increased interests in colonization in North America. Not only did Hudson’s discovery lead to an increased interest in European colonization, but they also led to an increased interest in trade with Native Americans. Hudson traded with the Mohican Indians, and he was able to bring back corn, tobacco, and valuable furs to the Netherlands. Tobacco became a huge industry, as did the fur trade.
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Henry Hudson also affected Native Americans, especially the Mohicans. By trading his tools for their furs, he helped them advance. They now had new technology and better weapons that they had never had before. However, in this case, Hudson had more negative impacts. By visiting the Native Americans, Hudson brought along European diseases, such as smallpox and influenza. The Native Americans did not have immunity to these diseases, so when they contracted them, many Natives died. Not only did Hudson bring diseases, but he also brought more Europeans. His successful fur trading with the Mohicans led to more Europeans wanting to come and trade as well. However, when they came, they were not as friendly. Many fought with the Natives and took over their lands. This led to the fall of many Native American tribes.
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Columbian Exchange
Henry Hudson played a huge role in the Columbian Exchange. The Columbian Exchange was the trading of New World and Old World crops, animals, and diseases. Henry Hudson brought tools, grains, and livestock from the Old World. He also brought diseases, such as smallpox, typhus, and measles, which ended up killing many Native Americans. The Mohicans traded tobacco, maize, and furs from deer and squirrels from the New World. The transfer of these items are a big part of why we have many of the products we consider common all over the world.
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