The buffalo herds on the Great Plains were decimated by?

The buffalo herds on the Great Plains were decimated by a combination of factors, but the most significant was hunting by settlers and the U.S. government.

Here's a breakdown:

* Commercial Hunting: In the mid-1800s, the demand for buffalo hides and tongues fueled a massive commercial hunting industry. Hunters, often using advanced weaponry like repeating rifles, slaughtered millions of buffalo for profit.

* Government Policies: The U.S. government actively encouraged buffalo hunting, sometimes even providing incentives to kill them. The goal was to eliminate a food source and resource for Native American tribes, making it easier to force them onto reservations.

* Railroad Expansion: The construction of railroads across the Great Plains opened up the region to easier access for hunters and provided a way to transport hides and meat.

* Disease: While not the primary factor, disease, particularly from cattle, contributed to the decline of the buffalo population.

The impact of this decimation was devastating. The buffalo herds, once numbering in the millions, were reduced to a few thousand by the late 19th century. This had a profound impact on the ecology of the Great Plains and the lives of Native American tribes who depended on buffalo for food, shelter, and clothing.