Question

question 4 of 23
between the 15th and 18th centuries, how did european colonialism affect indigenous peoples of africa and the americas differently?
a. african laborers were initially paid for their work before being enslaved, while americans were never paid for their labor.
b. africans were subjected to widespread slavery in colonies, while americans were nearly wiped out by disease and war.
c. african populations banded together to fight against europeans, while americans put up almost no resistance to the colonists.
d. africans were forced to work mainly in american gold mines, while americans provided a majority of colonial farm labor.

Explanation:

• Option A: African laborers were not initially paid. Slavery was a long - standing institution in the context of European colonialism in Africa for labor in the Americas. Indigenous Americans were often used for forced labor (e.g., in encomiendas) but not paid either. So this option is incorrect.
• Option B: Europeans brought diseases (e.g., smallpox) to the Americas, and through wars and harsh treatment (such as in the encomienda system), the indigenous American population was decimated. In Africa, the trans - Atlantic slave trade resulted in widespread enslavement of Africans for labor in the Americas. This option is correct.
• Option C: Indigenous Americans did put up resistance (e.g., the Pueblo Revolt). African populations also had various forms of resistance (e.g., Maroon communities). So this option is incorrect.
• Option D: Africans were forced into a variety of labor (e.g., plantation labor in the Americas, not just gold mines). Indigenous Americans were used in encomiendas (which could involve mining and other forms of labor), but they were not the majority of colonial farm labor. African slaves became the majority of farm labor in many colonies. So this option is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Africans were subjected to widespread slavery in colonies, while Americans were nearly wiped out by disease and war.