Final answer:
The construction of railroads in the Great Plains significantly impacted Native Americans, particularly their economy and way of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The construction of railroads in the Great Plains had a significant impact on Native Americans. One major impact was the depletion of the bison population, which was a staple of the Indians' diet. The railroads encouraged the killing of bison to clear land for agriculture and to create a national market economy that was incompatible with roving bison herds and the natives who depended on them.
This depletion of the bison herds was seen as an act of extermination by the native tribes, who relied on the bison for their economy. The government, motivated by its desire to divide and distribute the land to Anglo farmers, considered the destruction of bison as necessary. As a result of these actions and the introduction of railroads, settlers, and new species onto the plains, the bison population dwindled from millions to a few hundred by the late 1870s.
In addition to the impact on their economy, Native Americans also faced further destruction of their way of life due to the expansion of white settlers and the loss of their homeland.