What led to the decline of the Native American population during European colonization?

The decline of the Native American population during European colonization can predominantly be attributed to disease, war, and displacement. Europeans brought various infectious diseases, such as smallpox and influenza, to which Native Americans had no immunity. These diseases spread rapidly and decimated entire communities, leading to massive population reductions before many direct conflicts even began.

In addition to the impact of disease, violent conflicts between Indigenous peoples and European settlers contributed to the decline. Wars over land and resources, as well as violent confrontations fueled by cultural misunderstandings and colonial expansion, resulted in significant casualties for Native American groups.

Displacement also played a major role, as colonization efforts led to the forced removal of Native peoples from their ancestral lands. This displacement disrupted traditional lifestyles, hunting, and agricultural practices while further exposing Indigenous populations to the adverse effects of European colonization.

Overall, these factors together created a catastrophic decline in the Native American population during this period, making the first choice the correct answer.