Some of the Indians could understand English. This and other things alarmed the Indians and scuffle occurred between one warrior who had rifle in his hand and two soldiers. The rifle was discharged and a massacre occurred, not only the warriors but the sick Chief Big Foot, and a large number of women and children who tried to escape by running and scattering over the parry were hunted down and killed. The official reports make the number killed 90 warriors and approximately 200 women and children." (Miles, 1917)
Not all perspectives were aimed at accusing the soldiers of aggressively inciting the Indians. Philip Welles, interpreter of the Army of Sioux origin argued that he "saw five or six young warriors cast off their blankets and pull guns out from under them and brandish them in the air. One of the warriors shot into the soldiers, who were ordered to fire into the Indians… Troop 'K' was drawn up between the tents of the women and children and the main body of the Indians, who had been summoned to deliver their arms. The Indians began firing into 'Troop K' to gain the canyon of Wounded Knee creek. In doing so they exposed their women and children to their own fire." (Massacre at Wounded Knee. 1890)
The massacre that followed any of the two rather remote incidents presented above has had a tremendous significance in U.S. history and in the history of its dealings with the Indian populations. As this was the final official war between White troops and Indian ones, it marks a turning point in the development of the United States. As Alvin Josephy depicts, at Wounded Knee "died the last tortured hope of freedom among the Indian nation in North America. It was the end of a long story of dreams and drama and courage, one that had involved many different peoples of hundreds of Indian nations" (Josephy, 1994, p. 7). Besides the obvious differences in military technical advancements in most confrontations, the most significant tool that the colonists, miners of U.S. troops had was the ability to create long lasting destructive psychological effects on the Indian populations that resulted in their poor management of conflict situations.
Some of the most evident consequences...
Wounded Knee During December 29, 1890, about five hundred American troops went out near Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota to meet hundred of unarmed Lakota Sioux men, women, and children. Apart from the Sioux seemed outnumbered and demoralized, they also posed no threat to the solders and indicated no sign of resistance. However, the American went a head to open fire causing the death of about three hundred Sioux; the tragic
Heather Cox Richardson's "Wounded Knee: Party Politics and the Road to an American Massacre" The Wounded Knee Massacre took place on December 29, 1890, and it marked an important chapter in Native American -- U.S. relations. This event generated much controversy due to the high number of casualties involved and because American troops were believed to take advantage of their position with the purpose of murdering innocent natives. Heather Cox Richardson's
Wounded Knee II Describe the conditions that led up to Wounded Knee II and the trial of Leonard Peltier. Leonard Peltier has been in prison since 1979, after being convicted of the murder of two FBI agents at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation four years earlier. He was an activist with the American Indian Movement (AIM) and at least on the Left has been regarded as a political prisoner, convicted for a
And farther west on the Great Plains were the Teton Sioux, among them the Oglalas, whose chief was Red Cloud, and among the Hunkpapas, was Sitting Bull, who together with Crazy Horse of the Oglalas, would make history in 1876 at Little Big Horn (Brown 10). After years of broken promises, conflicts and massacres, came the Treaty of Fort Laramie, said to be the most important document in the history
Wounded Knee Massacre really caused by the Ghost Dance Religion? The Massacre termed as the Wounded Knee happened in 1890 was referred to have taken place by the army of the U.S. It was a terrific event that was really challenged by the American community, the Natives. It was popularly called as the last conflict of Indians with the Americans. During the year end, there came a full stop to
Cheyenne Indians and the Ghost Dance The Cheyenne people are Native Americans of the Algonquian language family. They are of the Great Plains culture area. The name Cheyenne means 'people of an alien speech,' and was given to them by the Sioux. The Cheyenne call themselves Tsetschestahase or Tsistsistas, which means 'beautiful people' or 'our people.' Originally farmers, hunters, and gatherers in the land that is now central Minnesota, however, during the late
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