The biggest part of that genocide was accidental, and accomplished before the first permanent European settlements were ever established in North America. The

The biggest part of that genocide was accidental, and accomplished before the first permanent European settlements were ever established in North America. The story of Amherst's "smallpox blankets" is widely known, and deplorable, but the worst of the epidemics had raged through and decimated native populations in the 250 years prior since first contact. It seems to be conveniently forgotten that many tribes were complicit in aiding and abetting Europeans in exterminating their rivals as well. Cortez conquered the Aztecs with 600 Spaniards... and 200,000 Tlaxcalans. The Iroquois confederation did most of the work of exterminating other native populations throughout the Great Lakes region.