Question

Which animal was central to the Plains Indian's way of life but was hunted almost to extinction by white settlers?

A. The turkey
B. The eagle
C. The bear
D. The bison

Answer 1

The bison was central to the Plains Indians' way of life; it was hunted nearly to extinction by white settlers, leading to major cultural and lifestyle changes among the tribes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The animal that was central to the Plains Indians' way of life but was hunted almost to extinction by white settlers is the bison. The bison was a keystone species for the Plains Indians, providing them with food, shelter, clothing, and tools. With the introduction of the horse by Spanish settlers, many Plains groups transformed from agriculturalists into nomadic hunter-gatherers, following the great bison herds. However, white traders and sport hunters decimated these herds, leading to a drastic change within the Plains Indian way of life and ultimately forcing their migration onto government-run reservations.