Why did opening up the Santa Fe Trail to commerce ultimately lead to the destruction of the Comanche empire?
A) One of the Comanche's most crucial trading items, bison, was destroyed and greatly weakened the tribe economically.
B) Opening the trail made it easy for great numbers of Anglo-Americans to migrate, and they declared war on the Comanche.
C) Vast tracts of land were planted with corn and other vegetation that were used to feed travelers but were virtually worthless for trade.
D) Opening the trail facilitated the building of a coalition of competing tribes who ultimately defeated the Comanche.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The opening of the Santa Fe Trail to commerce led to increased hunting of bison by Anglo-Americans, which drastically reduced the bison populations. Since the Comanche economy was heavily dependent on bison for trade, food, and materials, this loss significantly weakened their empire.

Why Did Opening Up the Santa Fe Trail to Commerce