高中二年级英语(人教版)下册 Unit 16 Integrating Skills 2

　　THE TRAIL OF TEARS

　　For thousands of years, Native Americans lived as hunters in North America. There were millions of people, with many different cultures, religions and languages. In 1492, Columbus arrived in America and soon after the first European settlers followed. Native Americans were either killed or driven off their land and many died of diseases that the newcomers brought to the continent. Over the next three hundred years, ninety percent of America's original population was killed by wars, diseases or starvation.

　　The white settlers wanted their land, and the Native Americans could not protect their homes and farms. From around 1790 to 1830, Native American tribes tried to solve the problem with the US government. Several agreements were reached, but the government broke its promises almost every time. Finally, by the 1830s, the government decided to remove the Native Americans from their own land to make room for European settlers. One by one, the Native American tribes were moved west. Indians who resisted were killed.

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