key term - Ghost Dance Movement

Definition

The Ghost Dance Movement was a religious revivalist movement among Native Americans in the late 19th century that sought to restore their way of life through spiritual ceremonies and dances. It emerged as a response to the profound social, economic, and cultural disruptions caused by westward expansion and U.S. government policies that marginalized Native peoples. The movement symbolized hope for many tribes, envisioning a future where they could reclaim their lands and ancestors while rejecting the oppression they faced.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Ghost Dance Movement began in the late 1880s, popularized by the Paiute prophet Wovoka, who claimed to have received visions of a peaceful future for Native Americans.
2. The movement emphasized the belief that through dance and spiritual rituals, Native Americans could bring about the return of deceased ancestors and the restoration of their lands.
3. Many tribes, including the Lakota Sioux, adopted the Ghost Dance as a form of cultural resistance against U.S. assimilation policies and westward expansion.
4. The U.S. government viewed the Ghost Dance Movement as a threat, leading to increased military presence and eventual violent confrontations with Native peoples.
5. The Wounded Knee Massacre is considered a tragic culmination of the tensions surrounding the Ghost Dance Movement, resulting in significant loss of life and marking a decisive end to Native American resistance.

Review Questions

• What were the main beliefs and goals associated with the Ghost Dance Movement among Native Americans?
  • The main beliefs of the Ghost Dance Movement centered around spiritual renewal and hope for a return to traditional ways of life. Followers believed that through participating in ceremonial dances, they could invoke the spirits of their ancestors to help restore their lands and heal their communities. This movement provided a sense of unity and purpose for many tribes facing cultural erasure due to U.S. policies.
• Discuss the impact of U.S. government responses to the Ghost Dance Movement on Native American communities.
  • U.S. government responses to the Ghost Dance Movement included increased military presence in Native territories and an effort to suppress the movement as a potential uprising. This culminated in events like the Wounded Knee Massacre, which had devastating effects on Native communities, resulting in loss of life and further entrenching mistrust between Native Americans and the federal government. The violent crackdown effectively dismantled the movement and left lasting scars on tribal societies.
• Evaluate how the Ghost Dance Movement reflects broader themes of resistance and cultural survival among Native Americans during westward expansion.
  • The Ghost Dance Movement exemplifies broader themes of resistance and cultural survival as it represented a response to systemic oppression faced by Native Americans during westward expansion. It illustrates how indigenous groups sought to reclaim agency over their identities and spiritual practices amidst violent encroachment on their lands. The movement served not only as a form of protest but also as an effort to foster hope among tribes that they could maintain their cultural heritage despite ongoing efforts to erase it.

Related terms

Wounded Knee Massacre:

The tragic event in 1890 where U.S. troops killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota, marking the end of armed Native resistance and the Ghost Dance Movement.

Reservation System: A policy that forced Native American tribes onto designated lands, leading to significant loss of traditional territories and cultural practices.

Sitting Bull:

A Lakota leader who played a significant role in the Ghost Dance Movement and was a key figure in resisting U.S. government policies against Native Americans.