Answer :
Final answer:
The buffalo herds of the West nearly went extinct by the late 1870s due to extensive hunting and land policies influenced by Manifest Destiny. This affected both the ecosystem and the native tribes who relied on the bison for sustenance. Efforts to save the bison have since resulted in a significant recovery of their population.
Explanation:
The buffalo herds of the West experienced drastic decline primarily due to intense hunting by settlers and ranch hands. The introduction of railroads, settlements, the government's decision to allocate Great Plains land to Anglo farmers, Manifest Destiny, and the suppression of native tribes all contributed to the bison's near extinction. By the late 1870s, the population had plummeted from millions to a mere few hundred. This loss not only affected the ecosystem but also struck a blow at the cultural and economic foundations of native tribes who depended on the bison.
The ideology of Manifest Destiny propelled white settlers across North America, encroaching upon indigenous lands and drastically impacting the traditional way of life. This led to significant habitat loss for the bison and the severing of native people from their primary food source. Moreover, bison hunting became a common occupation, and as a 'common property resource,' without individual stakes in conservation, the bison were hunted relentlessly.
Efforts to save the bison started in the late 1800s, and it wasn't until the early 2000s that their numbers began to recover, reaching half a million. The revitalization of bison populations is crucial not only for the ecological health of the Great Plains but also for restoring cultural practices and well-being of Indigenous communities.
