3.2 and 3.3 Notes

Disease spread is probably the ​most devastating change to the way of life for Native Americans after the arrival of the Europeans

Because the Native Americans ​lacked vital immunities, diseases spread rapidly and led to many deaths.

​In addition to disease, violence by the Europeans toward the Native Americans, including making them slaves, contributed to many deaths.

​Explorers from France also made major progress in Arkansas during the time period.

About 130 years after De Soto, French explorers encountered the Mississippi River.​

​Later, a different French expedition led to eventually creating Arkansas Post, near current day Gillett.

​Arkansas Post is a present day national memorial for its importance as a trading post in the region during the time period.

​During colonial times in Arkansas, European nations practiced the economic theory of mercantilism.

​Items such as bear oil, buffalo meat, and buffalo tallow were some of the first goods traded in Arkansas.

​After fighting in Europe forever and smaller battles throughout the world, the British and the French began fighting over lands in North America in 1754

​This fighting eventually became known as the French and Indian War because from the British perspective, that is who they were fighting

​Although they were the first country to “control” Arkansas, the French were ultimately defeated, and Arkansas became a territory of the Spanish.

​Not long after the conclusion of the French and Indian War, the American Revolutionary War began.

​While Arkansas was never involved directly with the American Revolution, it did change the outlook for the Arkansas territory.