How the US government used the slaughter of bison to control Native American nations.
In short: In the 1800s, the US government orchestrated the near-extinction of the bison to force Plains nations onto reservations. This video examines the deliberate destruction of a species that was central to the survival and culture of these societies.
By the mid-1700s, bison were essential to the survival of many Plains nations. These communities relied on the animals for food, utilized their hides for winter clothing and blankets, and fashioned tools from their bones and horns. However, in the 1800s, millions of these mammals were systematically slaughtered.
This mass killing was not merely an environmental event but a strategic effort by the US government to undermine the independence of Plains societies. By eliminating the primary resource these nations depended on, the government aimed to coerce them into moving onto reservations, permanently altering the landscape and the future of indigenous populations.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Why was the US government obsessed with this animal? - Andrew C. Isenberg
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