12/4/22, 3:56 PM U.S.

History

U.S. HISTORY : 01
RECONSTRUCTION : 01.07
WESTWARD EXPANSION

Reservation System
What Was Life Like On Reservations?

Many Native Americans found it hard to get used to life on reservations. They were
removed from their homes and often placed close to tribes that had been their traditional
enemies. Native Americans faced many economic and social obstacles. For example,
the
land in their new home was often not well-suited to farming. Native Americans
often lacked
the training to operate irrigation systems and farm machinery.

One of the greatest obstacles Native Americans faced while trying to adapt to reservation
life was the reduction in the number of buffalo. The buffalo was more than a food
source.
The difficulty
of life on Its skull was considered sacred and used in many rituals. Its horns were
carved into
reservations was further bowls and spoons. Buffalo bones were used to make tools, and the hide
was used to
complicated by the destruction of provide clothing and housing.

the Plains buffalo.

© hokkaido+ / Datacraft Co., Ltd / Universal In the late 19th century, the population of the Plains buffalo was destroyed by
tourists, the
Images Group / Image Quest 2015
railroad, fur traders, and sportsmen. George Custer and other military
leaders organized
buffalo hunts to help men practice riding and shooting at the
same time. Some scholars
suggest that military leaders were extremely aware of the
harm the destruction of the
buffalo caused Native Americans. The leaders encouraged
the destruction, both officially and unofficially. For example, U.S Secretary of
the Interior Delano, whose department was responsible for relations between the
U.S government and Native Americans, once reported to
Congress "the buffalo are
disappearing rapidly, but not faster than I desire."

The buffalo population disappeared with alarming speed. In 1800, the Great Plains
were populated with approximately 65 million buffalo. By
1890, there were fewer
than 1,000. The loss of this important source of food, clothing, and housing made
reservation life even more
difficult.

The environment on the reservations led to very poor social conditions. Reservations
had high rates for suicide, alcoholism, poverty, and
illiteracy. Some people questioned
whether reservations could work for Native Americans. They began to argue that assimilation
was a
better option.

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12/4/22, 3:56 PM U.S. History

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