How did the Little Ice Age affect Native American cultures in the upper Mississippi valley?

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Line graph showing estimated temperature variations from 1000 to 2000 CE for the Northern Hemisphere and central England, with three lines representing different data sources. The chart highlights the medieval warm period around 1100-1300 and the Little Ice Age from about 1500 to 1850, followed by a sharp temperature rise in the late 20th century. Temperature is shown as deviations from the 1961-1990 average. — Little Ice Age Estimates of temperature variations for the Northern Hemisphere and central England from 1000 to 2000 ce.

During the Little Ice Age, which spanned from the early 14th century to the mid-19th century, Native American cultures in the upper Mississippi valley and the western prairies experienced a period of general decline.1

As the climate shifted toward drier conditions between 1250 and 1500, these societies faced significant environmental stress. In response to these changes, these cultures underwent a transition away from their established agricultural practices, shifting instead toward a greater reliance on hunting.1