Extermination of the Buffalo 1860+ Flashcards
Why did the US government begin the extermination of the buffalo?
They strategised to try and bring the Native Americans under control.
How many buffalo were exterminated in just 25 years from 1860?
Originally there were 25 million buffalos , but by 1885 their numbers decreased to 200.
What does the term Nomadic lifestyle mean?
Constantly moving from once place to another.
How did this plan impact the Indians way of life?
It ended their nomadic lifestyle and culture.
Why were the buffalos essential to the Indians?
They used almost all parts of the buffalo.
What examples of parts of the buffalo did they use?
They used:
- hide for tipis.
- dung for fuel.
- bones for weapons.
Without this, they lost their means to survive.
How did this impact their tradition?
Without buffalo, they couldn’t do their ‘spiritual buffalo hunt’ anymore, warriors couldn’t go on the hunt to become men or improve their skills.
How did this extermination increase US government control over the Indians? What did it remove in their life?
They wanted to force the Indians onto reservations. By removing the buffalo, it removed:
- Their main source of food.
- Hunts.
This meant that the Indians had to now rely on the government to survive, thus being forced to:
- Learn to farm.
- Rely on government handouts.
- Civilise.
What’s the impact of government control on the Indians?
This would force them to be less independent, more reliant. Thus giving the government more control and power to stop resistances.
