Native peoples of the Great Plains
Grade 7 Social Studies Worksheet
Circle the best answer.
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Horses and bison on the Plains
Topic What we know Horses a 2023 study with Lakota, Comanche and Pawnee scholars found that horses were part of Indigenous life by the early 1600s; older accounts said horses spread only after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 Bison before an estimated 30 to 60 million bison (estimates vary) Bison low point fewer than 1,000 bison by the 1890s Why bison almost vanished settlers moving west were the main cause; an Army directive to destroy bison as a way to control American Indians, cattle diseases and drought added to it Bison today more than 60 tribes are bringing bison back to their lands Below the chart: for thousands of years, Native peoples relied on bison for food, clothing, shelter, tools and jewelry. Data: National Park Service and National Science Foundation.
By the chart, how many bison were there before the decline, Bo asks?
- Exactly 60 million, each one counted by hand
- Exactly 45 million
- An estimated 30 to 60 million
- Fewer than 1,000
By the chart, when were there fewer than 1,000 bison, Esme asks?
- By 1680
- By the 1890s
- By the early 1600s
- By the 1990s
By the chart, who took part in the 2023 horse study, Jun asks?
- Pueblo leaders of 1680
- Army officers who wrote reports in the 1890s
- Spanish colonists of the 1600s
- Scholars including Lakota, Comanche and Pawnee people
By the chart, what was the main cause of the bison's near-loss, Kira asks?
- Cattle diseases alone
- A long drought alone
- Settlers moving west
- Tribes bringing bison back
By the chart, which government action added to the bison's near-loss, Luz asks?
- Tribes bringing bison back to their lands
- A 2023 study of horses
- An Army directive to destroy bison
- A law that protected the herds
By the chart, what is happening with bison today, Milo asks?
- Horses are spreading after 1680
- Settlers are moving west again
- More than 60 tribes are bringing bison back
- Bison are back to an estimated 30 to 60 million
Which claim about bison numbers does the chart support, Pia asks?
- Bison fell from 60 million to exactly 1,000
- Bison numbers stayed steady through the 1800s
- Bison are back to 60 million today
- Bison fell from millions to fewer than 1,000
Which claim about the causes does the chart support, Ren asks?
- Several causes added to the bison's near-loss
- Cattle diseases were the one cause
- The chart names no causes
- Drought was the one cause
Which word in the chart shows that the 30 to 60 million figure is not exact, Zee asks?
- estimated
- million
- bison
- fewer
Which number in the chart counts tribes, not bison, Ari asks?
- 2023
- Fewer than 1,000
- 30 to 60 million
- More than 60