Wounded Knee

Definition

Wounded Knee was the site of a tragic massacre in 1890 where U.S. troops killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux, including many women and children, marking a devastating end to the American Indian Wars. This event is significant in the context of identity politics and the fractured relationship between the U.S. government and Native American communities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on December 29, 1890, when the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment opened fire on a group of Lakota Sioux who were performing the Ghost Dance.
2. The massacre was sparked by the U.S. government's attempts to suppress the growing Ghost Dance movement, which was seen as a threat to white American authority.
3. Estimates suggest that between 150 and 300 Lakota men, women, and children were killed in the massacre, making it one of the most tragic and infamous events in the history of the American Indian Wars.
4. The Wounded Knee Massacre was a devastating blow to the Lakota Sioux and other Native American communities, further eroding their trust in the U.S. government and exacerbating the fractured relationship between the two groups.
5. The Wounded Knee Massacre is widely regarded as the final major armed conflict of the American Indian Wars, marking the end of an era of violent confrontation between the U.S. and Native American tribes.

Review Questions

• Describe the historical context and significance of the Wounded Knee Massacre in the broader narrative of the American Indian Wars.
  • The Wounded Knee Massacre occurred in 1890, towards the end of the American Indian Wars, a series of conflicts between the U.S. government and various Native American tribes that lasted for centuries. The massacre was a tragic and devastating event that marked the final major armed confrontation of the wars, as the U.S. military brutally suppressed a peaceful gathering of Lakota Sioux people who were practicing the Ghost Dance, a spiritual movement that sought to restore traditional ways of life and end white American domination. The massacre further eroded the already fractured relationship between the U.S. government and Native American communities, and is widely regarded as a symbol of the government's oppressive policies and the tragic legacy of the American Indian Wars.
• Analyze how the Wounded Knee Massacre reflects the broader issues of identity politics and the fractured relationship between the U.S. government and Native American communities.
  • The Wounded Knee Massacre is a prime example of the complex and often contentious issues of identity politics that have historically characterized the relationship between the U.S. government and Native American communities. The massacre was a violent suppression of the Lakota Sioux's cultural and spiritual practices, which the government perceived as a threat to its authority and the dominant white American identity. This event highlights the government's attempts to forcibly assimilate and suppress the distinct cultural identities of Native American tribes, contributing to the ongoing fracture in the relationship between the two groups. The massacre also underscores the power imbalance and lack of political representation that Native Americans have faced, as the U.S. government wielded its military might to brutally quash a peaceful expression of their cultural identity. The legacy of Wounded Knee continues to shape the complex and often adversarial dynamics of identity politics between the government and Native American communities.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Wounded Knee Massacre on the identity and self-determination of Native American communities, particularly in the context of the broader American Indian Wars.
  • The Wounded Knee Massacre had a profound and lasting impact on the identity and self-determination of Native American communities, particularly the Lakota Sioux. The brutal suppression of their cultural and spiritual practices, and the massacre of hundreds of their people, including women and children, was a devastating blow that further eroded their trust in the U.S. government and its ability to protect their rights and autonomy. The event reinforced the government's policies of assimilation and the erasure of Native American identity, which had been a central goal of the American Indian Wars. The legacy of Wounded Knee continues to shape the struggle for Native American self-determination, as communities seek to reclaim their cultural heritage, assert their political sovereignty, and resist the ongoing effects of historical trauma and oppression. The massacre stands as a symbol of the government's attempts to undermine the distinct identities and autonomy of Native American tribes, and the ongoing efforts of these communities to preserve their cultural integrity and fight for their rightful place in American society.

Related terms

Wounded Knee Massacre:

The 1890 massacre of Lakota Sioux people by the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota, which resulted in the deaths of at least 150 Native Americans.

American Indian Wars: A series of wars and conflicts between the United States government and various Native American tribes, lasting from the 17th century to the late 19th century.

Ghost Dance Movement: A spiritual movement among Native Americans in the late 19th century that believed performing the Ghost Dance would restore traditional ways of life and bring the end of white American domination.