Final answer:
According to legends, the estimated number of deaths caused by Plains Indians is in the range of several thousand. However, historical records and scholarly estimates suggest that the actual number of deaths at the hands of Plains Indians is much lower, numbering only in the hundreds due to the spread of diseases brought by Europeans.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to legends, the estimated number of deaths caused by Plains Indians is in the range of several thousands. However, the historical records and scholarly estimates suggest that the actual number of deaths at the hands of Plains Indians is much lower, numbering only in the hundreds. The decline of the Native American population was largely due to the spread of contagious diseases brought by Europeans, not intentional killings by Plains Indians.