Monica Johnson Ms. Robinet APUSH - 6th hr.

12/21/11 Analysis #2 During the winter of 1890, the Sioux on The western Indian agencies were freezing, starving, and quite downcast with the white tyranny. In this state of despair many found comfort in the Ghost Dance, a symbolic dance of imminent salvation of the old way of life. The new white settlers perceived this cult as a threat, and the President, Benjamin Harrison, yielded to their fear. On December 29th of that year, U.S. forces charged with keeping the peace surrounded the encampment of the Sioux Chief, Big Foot, at Wounded Knee Creek. As the Massacre at Wounded Knee, 1890 document said, the troops were charged with the responsibility of arresting Big Foot and disarming his warriors. According to Spotted Horse in the Lakota Accounts of the Massacre at Wounded Knee, the first shot killed an officer, this shot from a young Lakota set off the volleys of shots by the U.S. troops. The ensuing battle spun out of hand, as troops began the, indiscriminate killing, (Accounts of the Massacre at Wounded Knee: Turning Hawk) of the Lakota. These troops, while technically not being at fault for the start of this battle, took the assault past the point of decency, massacring the male hostiles, as well as innocent men, women, and children in the camp. The Massacre at Wounded Knee, 1890 document gives the impression that the Indians provoked the attack, whether, or not, the Lakota were aware and mindful that they were doing so. The new mysticism of the Ghost Dance was passive, practiced simply to hasten the coming of the prophecy which stated that the dead would soon join the living in a world in which the

Indians could live in the old way. And restore the prairie. The white settlers got another impression however. For an Indian Agent at Pine Ridge (the agency where Big Foots camp was mainly from) said, Indians are dancing in the snow and are wild and crazy We need protection and we need it now. The army impeded Big Foots camp on their way to seek refuge at the Pine Ridge reservation, from the very soldiers who stopped them now. In an Interpreter, Philip Wells account, he noted that, During this time a medicine man ... executed the maneuvers of the ghost dance, and spoke to the warriors on the hill entreating them to revolt. H would not listen to the order to, sit down and keep quiet. At the end of his dance a young warriors shot into the soldiers, thus beginning the violence. In the Lakota Accounts of the Massacre at Wounded Knee, the Indians recounted that while the soldiers initially separated the men, and thats where the fighting began, however the firing that followed turned to merciless, indiscriminate killing. Turning Hawk stated, there was a crazy man, a young man of very bad influence and in fact a nobody, among that bunch of Indians fired his gun, and he is left to assume that must have been breaking of a military rule. Indians then began drawing their knives, and were told to desist, but they refused to obey, and firing began immediately. When Indians fled the scene, Turning Hawk noted that women fared the same fate as the men. American Horse saw that tragically, women and children of course were strewn all along the circular village. He described, the killing of young boys and girls, as the, saddest part of the whole affair, and, believing so much in the government and being so loyal to it, my disappointment was very strong. There had been no digression in regards to preserving women and children, which was proper, as they were wholly innocent in this affair, the onslaught also made upon the women and children, and they were treated as roughly and indiscriminately as the men and boys were. Indians remaining at the agency and

returning all had to deliver up their guns whether they were hostile or loyal; the entire Indian community was completely defenseless. Finally, the Accounts of Wounded Knee Massacre (1890s) document, gives the impression that the government had been unjust to Native Americans, failing to provide adequate sustenance and necessities as they had promised, and taking away over 20 million acres of land, oppressing them and throwing the Native Americans into despair. Further, the killing of warrior who were in such suffering, and opening fire and killing innocent men women and children, were a tragedy. The Accounts of Wounded Knee Massacre (1890s) document; Benjamin Harrisons report, admits, That these Indians had some just complaints, especially in the matter of the reduction of the appropriation, and in the delays .to perform the engagements entered into with them. In addition millions of acres had been separated from their reservations. Black Elk noted the difference in the conditions for the Indian bands, all starving and freezing, and the soldiers who, had everything and were not freezing and starving. Clearly, the soldiers had an immense advantage not only outnumbering the Lakota warriors, but that of their opponents being physically sick and weak. Ethic would have one view this as an utter massacre. While the government soldiers, strictly speaking, are not to blame for this battle, they were merciless in indiscriminately slaughtering all Indians who came in their sight. Its true that he Indians had frightened the white settlers (with the Ghost Dance), the Medicine Man practiced that frightening Ghost Dance, an Indian man fired the first shot, and, , the Indian warriors on the hill did not cooperate, however, that does not give soldiers a free pass to gun down the entire encampment. Not only that injustice, but the government kept them in oppressing conditions on their Reservations, or agencies, and especially in their weakened state it seemed a great injustice. In the Lakota Accounts of the Massacre at Wounded Knee Turning Hawk remarked, This affair

brought a great deal of distress upon all the people but especially upon the minds of those who stood loyal to the government.