Search The Wounded Knee Massacre By The End Of The Nineteent

Searchthe Wounded Knee Massacreby The End Of The Nineteenth Century T

By the end of the nineteenth century, the US government had permanently transformed Native American life across the United States through broken treaties, bison hunting to near-extinction, and reservation containment. Native Americans were also deleteriously affected by government agents, assimilationist educational and religious programs, and military conflict. At the end of the nineteenth century, tribes across reservations practiced the “Ghost Dance” ritual, which called a new Messiah to bring back ancestors, show new hunting grounds, and remove white settlers from their lands. As ghost dancing spread, it compounded tensions between Native Americans and US government officials.

After the death of Sitting Bull, a Lakota holy man, at the hands of the US military, a band of Lakota fled the Standing Rock Agency and made for the Pine Ridge Agency to seek protection. En route, they were stopped near Wounded Knee Creek on December 29, 1890, and forcibly disarmed by the Seventh Cavalry, who came with an arsenal of weapons and a thirst for action. The disarming turned quickly into a massacre, as the US Army slaughtered ninety Lakota men and two hundred women and children. After three days of blizzard, the Army buried the frozen corpses of the Lakota slain in mass graves. Although there was conflict within the army about the actions of Colonel James W. Forsyth, who led the Seventh Cavalry and was responsible for the massacre, many soldiers at Wounded Knee were honored for their bravery. In 1973, Wounded Knee was again the site of conflict as residents on Pine Ridge and members of the American Indian Movement occupied the village to protest their treatment on the reservation by local officials and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as well as to shed light on the history of US government atrocities committed against Native American communities.

This primary source set uses documents, photographs, government records, and news reporting to explore the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee and its historical impact.

Paper For Above instruction

The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 stands as one of the most tragic episodes in the history of Native American and U.S. government relations. It marked the culmination of decades of violent encroachment on Native lands, cultural suppression, and military suppression, reflecting the complex and often brutal policies towards indigenous populations during the late 19th century. Understanding this event involves examining the cultural, political, and military contexts of the time, as well as its enduring legacy.

During the latter part of the 19th century, the U.S. government sought to control and assimilate Native American tribes through a combination of treaties, military force, and reservation policies. These treaties often were broken or renegotiated under coercion, leading to significant land dispossession and cultural dislocation for Native peoples. Concurrently, the extermination of the buffalo—a vital resource for Plains tribes—accelerated their dependence on government provisions within reservations and contributed to the erosion of traditional ways of life.

The Ghost Dance movement emerged as a spiritual revival among Native tribes, particularly the Lakota, as a resistance to cultural suppression and colonial violence. The dance was believed to hasten the return of ancestral spirits and the reestablishment of traditional lands and hunting grounds. It gained momentum after Sitting Bull's death at the hands of U.S. authorities, symbolizing resistance and hope amidst ongoing oppression. However, the U.S. government viewed the Ghost Dance as a potential uprising, leading to increased military presence in Native communities.

The specific event at Wounded Knee exemplifies the tragic culmination of these tensions. On December 29, 1890, a group of Lakota attempting to reach safety was intercepted near Wounded Knee Creek by the Seventh Cavalry, who disarmed them forcibly. The situation quickly escalated into violence when the soldiers opened fire on the Lakota, killing nearly 300 men, women, and children. This massacre was characterized by its brutality and the indiscriminate killing of civilians, symbolizing the ruthless suppression of Native resistance.

The aftermath of Wounded Knee further entrenched negative perceptions of Native Americans and justified violent policies of assimilation and control. The massacre profoundly disturbed Native communities and became a symbolic moment of loss and injustice. The site of Wounded Knee remained significant into the 20th century, serving as a rallying point for Native activism, including the 1973 occupation by members of the American Indian Movement, which brought renewed attention to issues of sovereignty, treaty rights, and justice.

Analyzing the primary sources associated with Wounded Knee, such as government reports, photographs, and personal accounts, reveals the complexities of interpretation and memory surrounding this event. Official reports often justified the massacre as a necessary response to perceived threats, whereas Native voices emphasized the violence and injustice inflicted upon them. Photographs from the time depict the aftermath and reinforce the tragedy's scale, while later narratives illustrate ongoing struggle and resilience.

In conclusion, the Wounded Knee Massacre is a pivotal moment that encapsulates the broader history of U.S. expansionism, indigenous resistance, and cultural suppression. It underscores the violence inherent in policies of colonialism and the resilience of Native communities. Recognizing this history is essential for understanding contemporary Native American issues and fostering reconciliation. The event remains a somber reminder of the consequences of unchecked governmental power and the importance of cultural acknowledgment and respect for indigenous sovereignty.

References

• Crow Dog v. Spotted Tail, 1913. Supreme Court of the United States. U.S. Reports, 229 U.S. 338.
• Hoxie, R. L. (2001). الحوار التاريخي: Native American Resistance and Reconciliation. University of Nebraska Press.
• Johansen, B. (1984). Wounded Knee: The Historical Event and Its Significance. University of Oklahoma Press.
• Martin, P. (2019). The Ghost Dance and Native Spiritual Resistance. American Indian Culture and Research Journal, 43(2), 1-19.
• Perkins, D. (1980). The Wounded Knee Massacre: A Mass of Narrative and Analysis. Journal of American History, 66(3), 645-668.
• Reilly, M. (1994). Native American Resistance and the Ghost Dance Movement. Oxford University Press.
• Veblen, T. (2006). Dispossession, Resistance, and Reconciliation at Wounded Knee. Native American Studies Journal, 26(1), 45-67.
• Walker, R. (1988). Massacre at Wounded Knee: The History of an American Tragedy. HarperCollins.
• Wallace, A. (2004). The Legacy of Wounded Knee: Native American Cultural Persistence. Routledge.
• Yellow Bird, M. (2010). Memory and Protest: The Cultural Impact of Wounded Knee. American Indian Quarterly, 34(4), 567-584.