The Destruction of the Bison: An Environmental History, 1750 1920

by Andrew C. Isenberg

Book Overview

The Destruction of the Bison explains the decline of the North American bison population from an estimated 30 million in 1800 to fewer than 1000 a century later. In this wide-ranging,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521003482
• ISBN13: 9780521003483
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A new view on the bison's demise

Andrew Isenberg, professor of History at Princeton University, has produced a brilliant monograph documenting the relationship between the Plains Indians, whites and the bison that once thrived on the Great Plains. Isenberg carefully presents the ecology of the Great Plaines, demonstrating how tenuous the environment is to begin with: drought and fires can easily destroy the short grass that the bison depend on, causing sudden fluctuations in the herds. Given the already sensitive nature of the bison population, Isenberg then discusses the effect of human hunting.Many readers, accostomed to thinking of the Plains Indians as ancient cultures, practicing a lifestyle as old as time, will be surprised to learn that the tribes of the great plains were largly recent developments. The introduction of the horse in the late 17th century dramatically altered the lifesyles of the plains tribes. Now that horses could be used to follow the bison herds year round, many groups abandoned agriculture and became full time bison hunters.Isenberg documents the rise of trade networks, and the material wealth that Indians were able to accumulate in the beaver and bison pelt trade. Isenberg argues that Indians increasingly exploited the bison in a non-substainable fashion, thus dramatically weakening the bison population by the mid 19th century. Thus white hunting, which escalated in the 1870s to fill the demand for bison leather machine belts, was merely a coup de grace for the already decimated herds.Isenberg's thesis rather explodes the old myth that Indians were always ecologically sensitive people who cared meticulously for their rescources. Yet in the end, his message is one of environmental responsibility, as he narrates a tragic case study of unsubstainable environmental exploitation. The book is well crafted and highly readable, and recommended for all interested in the American West.

Important contribution to the field of environmental history

Andrew Isenberg's "The Destruction of the Bison" shows that the interaction between ecology, culture and economy contributes the the destruction of bison. Unlike most historians who contributes the environmental degradation to Euro-Americans, Isenberg shows that Native Americans also play a role in modifying the ecology. He is able to show how introduction of horses, made Native Americans became more mobile and therefore were able to hunt the bison while riding their horses.Initially, the Natives hunted for subsistence but later were drawn into the market-oriented economic system and were trading the bison's skin for other European products. Gradually, bison became nearly decimated. This is an incredible book in this survey of the history of the North American bison population and is very well-written. He organizes this book well and is very readable. Even if readers who do not have prior knowledge of bison or is unfamiliar with the field of environmental history, this book will not pose any difficulty for understanding the complex relationship between human and the environment around them.

The Big Picture

So often, we tend to think of the near-extinction of the Bison as having been solely caused by overhunting by the fur trade. This book shows the intensely interwoven cause and effect relationships that led to massive changes, not only for the Bison, but for the Native Americans as well. The scope of this book is so much larger than just the destruction of the Bison - it addresses the full range of effects that Westward Expansion had on the plains. To gain a better understanding of the ecological dynamics at play between the Bison, the indigenous tribes, the settlers and the environment - this book is a must.

Breadth and Insight

Andrew Isenberg presents an array of complex and systemic causes that brought about the near extinction of the North American bison. The author's breadth of knowledge related to the bison demise is incredible. The reader is not bored with endless details behind these knowledge blocks, however. Rather, in fairly short order, the reader understands how climatology, geography, economics, sociology, migration and immigration, policy, and anthropology all played a role in the bison's destruction. And while the author presents an incredibily well researched description of the bison's destruction, along the way, the reader learns volumes about how Native Americans lived, changed their lifestyles, and were linked to the bison. The reference listings are impressive for those needing further information and authentication. Anyone interested in how the American plains were settled and shaped, this is an enjoyable read. For the researcher, this book is a gold mine.

A Complete Overview of the Bison's Near Demise.

Andrew Isenberg provides a complete overview of the near demise of the American Bison in late 19th century. The author's principle theme is an explanation of the causes for the near extinction of the largest North American mammal in the largest North American biome. Isenberg provides an extensive description of how the reintroduction of horses to North America uprooted many Native American peoples of the plains and exaggerated their dependence on the bison. This increased dependence on bison was further fueled by the fur/hide trade of the early 19th century. The near death note to the American bison was provided by the east's increased need of leather component's for it's expanding industry and desire by the Euro-American populace to displace bison dependent Native Americans. If you are interested in complex cause/effect senarios in American history this book is a must. The book has been extensively researched and provides an awesome reference list.