Ghost Dance,1890, photographer unknown.
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Sioux Ghost Dance was filmed by Edison in 1894 in his studio.
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Conflicts between Native American Indians and the US Govrnment
Ghost Dance War - click here to learn about the Ghost Dance and its purpose, then read further about the response of the U.S. Government.
Massacres
Wounded Knee and Little Bighorn are two significant and tragic events in the history of Native American interactions with the United States government and military.
Throughout history, there have been several tragic massacres of Native American tribes, often resulting from conflicts, broken treaties, and tensions with settlers or the U.S. government. Some notable incidents include:
Massacres
Wounded Knee and Little Bighorn are two significant and tragic events in the history of Native American interactions with the United States government and military.
- Wounded Knee (1890): The Wounded Knee Massacre was a tragic event that occurred on December 29, 1890, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The U.S. Army confronted the Lakota Sioux, attempting to disarm them in the wake of the Ghost Dance movement, which the government perceived as a threat. Tensions escalated, and a shot was fired (it's uncertain who fired first), leading to a massacre. Hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children were killed, marking a brutal end to the Ghost Dance movement and the armed resistance of the Native tribes.
- Little Bighorn (1876): The Battle of the Little Bighorn, often referred to as Custer's Last Stand, took place on June 25–26, 1876, near the Little Bighorn River in Montana. It was a significant battle between the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes against the U.S. Army, specifically the 7th Cavalry Regiment led by General George Armstrong Custer. Custer and his men were defeated by the Native American forces in a battle that resulted in the death of Custer and roughly 268 of his men. The Native coalition, led by leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, successfully defended their territory but faced intensified military actions following the battle.
Throughout history, there have been several tragic massacres of Native American tribes, often resulting from conflicts, broken treaties, and tensions with settlers or the U.S. government. Some notable incidents include:
- Sand Creek Massacre (1864): In Colorado, a U.S. volunteer cavalry attacked a Cheyenne and Arapaho village at Sand Creek. Led by Colonel John Chivington, this unprovoked assault resulted in the deaths of around 150 to 200 Native Americans, many of whom were women, children, and the elderly. This event was highly controversial and led to inquiries and congressional hearings.
- Bear River Massacre (1863): The U.S. Army attacked a Northwestern Shoshone winter village in what is now Idaho. Nearly 250 Shoshone men, women, and children were killed in this brutal encounter.
- Yazoo Pass Expedition (1863): During the American Civil War, Union forces clashed with the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes in Mississippi. This led to significant casualties among the tribes and destruction of their lands.
- Washita Massacre (1868): Led by General George Armstrong Custer, the 7th U.S. Cavalry attacked a peaceful Cheyenne encampment on the Washita River in present-day Oklahoma. The attack resulted in the deaths of numerous Cheyenne, including women and children.
- Marias Massacre (1870): The U.S. Army, under the command of Colonel Eugene Baker, attacked a peaceful village of Blackfeet in Montana. Approximately 200 Blackfeet, primarily women, children, and elderly, were killed.
