Final answer:
The Great Plains tribes were nomadic, reliant on the bison, and used tipis, while the Pueblo and Southern tribes practiced agriculture, lived in permanent settlements, and had complex social structures. Both faced significant challenges due to European contact, which led to the loss of lands and culture and the forced relocation to reservations. Summarizing these experiences is challenging due to their diverse and complex nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cultures of the Great Plains tribes and the Pueblo and Southern tribes were notably different due to their environments and ways of life. The Plains tribes, such as the Cheyenne and Lakota Sioux, adopted a nomadic lifestyle that revolved around hunting bison and were known for their use of tipis as portable homes. They were highly dependent on the bison for their sustenance and materials for making clothing, tools, and shelter.
Conversely, tribes of the Southwest, like the Hopi and Zuni, lived in permanent settlements and practiced intensive agriculture. They built multistory pueblos and ceremonial centers, farming crops like corn and squash. These agricultural practices led to settled communities with complex social structures. Religious practices and customs between these groups also varied, with the Plains Indians often engaging in rituals tied directly to the bison hunt, whereas the Pueblo tribes had elaborate ceremonies related to agriculture and the seasons.
Despite these differences, both the Plains and Pueblo tribes faced significant challenges with the arrival of European settlers. The introduction of horses by the Spanish transformed the Plains tribes' way of life, while European diseases and warfare had a devastating impact on all native societies. Over time, both groups were forcibly moved to reservations, which deeply affected their traditional ways of life.
The long-term effects of treaties and Anglo expansion were the loss of native lands, cultures, and considerable changes to their way of life. Academics struggle to neatly summarize these experiences due to the diversity and complexity of Native American societies and the sweeping changes brought on during Western expansion.