Westward Migration and North America's Indigenous Peoples

These westward migrations were devastating to the indigenous populations who lived in North America. In addition to the number of lives lost due to forced displacement, disease, and war, the European newcomers threatened their very culture.

The map in Figure 4.8 helps visualize this loss of culture by showing the myriad languages spoken in North America before the Europeans made contact during the 15th century. Today, the people who live in these regions struggle to retain this important cultural heritage.