What disease caused the death of many First Nations people during Cartier's expeditions?

• A. Smallpox
• B. Influenza
• C. Measles
• D. Cholera

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how European diseases carried during early exploration devastated Indigenous communities that had no prior exposure or immunity. Smallpox is the disease most strongly linked to the widespread deaths among First Nations during Cartier’s voyages. When Europeans first encountered these populations, smallpox spread rapidly and often with a very high fatality rate, leaving a stark toll on communities along the St. Lawrence as Cartier and other explorers pushed through the region. While other illnesses such as measles or influenza did occur after contact, smallpox stands out as the outbreak most commonly associated with the severe mortality seen in that era. Cholera, on the other hand, was not a concern in this time and place.