Effects of the Columbian Exchange in the Americas The Columbian Exchange was the transfer of resources and the migration of people between the New World and the Old World. It began when the Spaniards colonized the Americas in search of valuable resources after Columbus encountered the land in 1492. As a result of the interactions between the Americas, Europe, and Africa, the economy, demographics, and resources within the Americas improved. These interactions sparked innovation, as new resources were utilized to improve socioeconomics in the Americas, leading to advanced agriculture and experienced industries. The Columbian Exchange greatly reshaped the demography and economy of the Americas because it caused an increase in population and change …show more content…
Europeans, Africans, and remaining Indigenous people also came together, creating new mixed peoples. Rather than Indigenous people solely making up the Americas, the migration of Europeans and Africans into the Americas enriched the diversity. Europeans established ownership and forced Africans to migrate, causing a demographic shift in the Americas from Indigenous population to European, African, and mixed heritages. The Columbian Exchange not only changed the type of people living in the Americas, but also brought resources that resulted in longer life expectancies. As the Columbian Exchange continued, the Americas produced more crops, specifically staple crops, that contained vital nutrients to help increase European, African, and mixed population sizes. For example, potatoes and maize were extremely critical to American agriculture. Subsequently, the staple crops were able to grow in harsh conditions, making them more convenient to grow than other crops like rice and wheat. The Columbian Exchange enabled people between the New and Old World to trade staple crops, which provided more nutrition to a larger