Technological developments aided the Native Americans in some ways, but it ultimately became a negative factor. In addition, government actions were astute in how they would mistreat and desolate the Plains Indians.With intention or no intention, both technology and government led to the ultimate downfall of Native American society and culture in the plains region. The Trans- Continental Railroad was a major technological advancement that was harmful to the Plains Indians.
The railroad was completed in 1869, uniting the east and the west. This was a good thing in terms of easier trade and communication. However, this was not good for the Native Americans. The railroad essentially changed the plains land.
The construction of the railroad required destruction of certain areas, the leveling of trees, and edifice of interfering tracks.This took over all the land and also led to the near extinction of the bison and entrapment of the buffalo. Since buffalos were a major food and material source for the Native Americans, it was not a good sign for their survival either. Along with all this, outsiders became an issue for the Indians as well.
Everyone would now have to ride on the train. This meant that even white settlers would ride on the train and eventually would intrude in the plains land. Not only will they occupy the location, but they will also bring diseases with them.They brought diseases, which the Native Americans had no immunity towards.
Therefore, the population decreased significantly. Technology was not completely a negative factor for the Native Americans in the plains. The introduction of the gun aided the Indians in their hunting skills. It was an effective replacement of the bow and arrow, which is hard to use on a moving target. They also used the gun for self defense.
Furthermore, they used new agricultural tools such as the metal plows and corn planters to replace their almost ancient tools. The government was completely against the existence of Native Americans.They passed a number of acts and laws to mistreat them and always found ways to discriminate them. The Homestead Act was one of these laws. It was a statement that favored the white settlers and it said that a citizen could claim 160 acres of land for free as long as they live there for five years and set up some facilities.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t free land just lying around. This was an indirect, but somehow direct attack on the Native Americans, who in turn would have to give up their lands so that the people who lived there for only five years can take over.Fortunately for the Indians, the law didn’t work as well as the government had hoped. Another act passed by the government as an attack on the Native Americans was the Dawes Act. This was the reverse of the Homestead Act. This time the government was allowing the Native Americans to take 160 acres of land as their own.
This seemed as though the government was finally taking sides with the Indians. However, that was not the case. The plan was deceitful enough that it worked perfectly. The main idea was to divide and conquer.
The government knew that the Indians were too strong when they were together.So they bribed them with great riches so that they would divide among themselves. The government was successful in their attempt. Although, occasionally the Plains Indians seemed to be at a greater benefit with some of the technological advancements and the government procedures, it was ultimately a source of remorse for them. It was a source of self destruction and despair. Inventions and laws that helped the white settlers and/or other non- Native Americans put the Indians at a greater disadvantage.
Ultimately, technological development and government actions destroyed the society and culture of the Plains Native Americans.
