In The Historian Volume 72 of Fall 2010, Adam R. Hodge notes how the smallpox epidemic of 1780-82 profoundly influenced the northern Great Plains. The author attempts to explain how as the native population diminished, the monetary, political, and social exercises were troubled. This brought much chaos between Native groups.
It was said that the most terrible plague was the smallpox. It reduced the Great Plains Native populations to about half of what it used to be. This epidemic was carried by the Europeans and spread rapidly throughout the northern Great Plains. If it weren’t for this virus, the balances of power between Natives wouldn’t have had to endure such great alterations. This indicated a defining moment in the battles between Sioux groups and the semi-sedentary tribes that existed along the upper Missouri. Besides this change, it’s also noted how Sioux groups became the most influential Native power on the northeastern Plains by 1803. This is due to a greater loss of semi-sedentary tribes than Sioux people when the deadly disease hit. It’s evident to see that the 1780-82 epidemic helped shape the northern Plains.
While Historians consider the effects of smallpox, they tend to make a more noteworthy accentuation on the impact of two other items, the horse and gun. It was specified that these improved Native combat. Adam R. Hodge…show more content… The virus was contracted by attacks placed on infected Mexican settlements. It was then passed to trading partners and to enemies in war. Because symptoms weren’t noticeable for a couple weeks, those infected could spread the illness to others without knowing it. As a result, smallpox rapidly overwhelmed Indian tribes who lacked immunity. Most Native groups were decreased by more than two-thirds of their original population. It was impossible for anyone to escape the deadly outbreak
