During de Soto's search for gold in Georgia, his soldiers killed thousands of American Indians. Many more Indians died from diseases brought to the New World by the Spanish and other explorers. Some historians believe almost half the Native American population died from measles, smallpox, influenza, and whooping cough. De Soto's expedition into North America was a failure. He found no gold or treasure. Most of his army was lost to starvation and disease. De Soto himself died somewhere along the Mississippi River. However, his march through Georgia changed the lives and culture of the American Indians forever. De Soto was followed by many other European explorers, most of them from Spain, France, and England. These nations established settlements in Georgia and competed with each other and with the Native American tribes for control of the land. What effects of de Soto’s expedition does this passage describe? Check all that apply. the death of Hernando de Soto the starvation of Spanish soldiers the spread of European diseases the construction of a new settlement the deaths of many American Indians the discovery of gold and silver mines
