Colonization had devastating effects on indigenous populations in the Americas, leading to significant demographic, social, and cultural changes. European colonizers brought diseases like smallpox, for which indigenous people had no immunity, resulting in massive population declines. Additionally, colonization led to land dispossession, forced labor, cultural assimilation, and the disruption of traditional ways of life. Many indigenous groups faced violence and warfare as settlers expanded their territories. Overall, colonization contributed to the near extinction of several cultures while profoundly altering the social fabric of the Americas.