Wounded Knee Massacre

Setting the scene

The Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on December 29, 1890, at Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the last major confrontation of the American Indian Wars. The U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry, Custer's former regiment, attempted to disarm a band of Lakota Sioux led by Chief Spotted Elk (Big Foot). The Lakota were practicing the Ghost Dance, a religious movement promising the return of buffalo and ancestors and the disappearance of whites, which alarmed authorities who feared an uprising.

What happened

As soldiers disarmed the Lakota, a deaf man named Black Coyote resisted surrendering his rifle, and it discharged. Soldiers opened fire with rifles and four Hotchkiss rapid-fire cannons. The Lakota, mostly unarmed, were cut down—approximately 250-300 Lakota were killed, including 200 women and children, and 25 soldiers died, many from friendly fire. The wounded were left in a blizzard; some froze to death. The Army awarded 20 Medals of Honor, the most for any single battle, a decision still controversial.

Why it still matters

Wounded Knee marked the end of armed Native resistance to U.S. expansion and the closing of the frontier. It symbolized the tragic consequences of American Indian policy—broken treaties, cultural suppression, and violence. The site became a symbol of Native suffering and resilience. In 1973, the American Indian Movement occupied Wounded Knee for 71 days to protest conditions on reservations. In 1990, Congress expressed regret for the massacre. Wounded Knee remains a powerful reminder of the cost of Manifest Destiny and the enduring trauma of colonialism.

Background

It symbolized the end of armed Lakota resistance.