During the 1800s, the Plains Indians were finally overcome by the white man. Several factors contributed to their downfall. In descending order, these included the near extinction of the buffalo, disease, tribal wars, and their naivete. The buffalo was the backbone of the Plains Indians because it was their main source for food, fuel, clothing, and shelter. When transcontinental railroad construction began, the buffalo was nearly exterminated. Whites hunted the buffalo for sport, their hides, …showed first 75 words of 314 total…

…showed last 75 words of 314 total…ve and kept acquiescing to the government’s demands. They kept believing that the government would never break their promise, a dire mistake. Washington gained more and more control over the Indians. In the end, the Native Americans lost their spirit after years of starving and fighting. The proud people of the plains were doomed to eke out a miserable existence on reservations, also known as “human zoos.” Never again would life be the same.