Columbian Exchange and Ecological Change · US History

How did the introduction of Old World livestock, such as cattle and pigs, affect the American environment?

  1. They often competed with native wildlife for food and damaged indigenous crops
  2. They improved soil quality by eating invasive weeds
  3. They were successfully domesticated by all Native American tribes within a decade
  4. They had no impact because they could not survive in the American climate
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Correct answer: They often competed with native wildlife for food and damaged indigenous crops

Free-ranging European livestock frequently trampled the unfenced gardens of Native American farmers. These animals also altered local ecosystems by overgrazing and displacing native species like deer.

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