Why did many smaller Southeastern Indigenous groups join larger nations such as the Cherokee and Choctaw?

By the early 18th century, many smaller Indigenous groups in the American Southeast merged with larger nations, such as the Muscogee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Cherokee, primarily as a survival strategy in response to the devastating impacts of European colonization.12

The pressures of the era were multifaceted:
* Population Decline: European diseases, warfare, and the slave trade severely reduced Indigenous populations, weakening their political structures and leaving many communities without enough people to sustain basic activities like hunting and planting.2
* Refugee Status: As a result of these hardships, many smaller groups faced starvation or were forced into refugee status, necessitating integration into larger, more stable polities for protection and resources.2
* Political Organization: While Southeastern communities were traditionally autonomous, the spread of European settlements and the resulting international turmoil prompted the formation of larger confederacies to better navigate trade and diplomatic relations with competing European powers.123

By joining these larger nations, smaller groups sought to bolster their collective strength against the mounting threats of displacement and colonial expansion.1