key term - Ghost Dance

Definition

The Ghost Dance was a religious movement that spread among Native American tribes in the late 19th century. It was a spiritual revitalization movement that aimed to unite Native American people, reject Western culture, and restore traditional ways of life through a series of ritualistic dances.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Ghost Dance was a religious movement that spread rapidly among various Native American tribes in the late 19th century, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and others.
2. The movement was based on the teachings of the Paiute spiritual leader Wovoka, who claimed to have received a vision from the spirits instructing him to teach the Ghost Dance as a way for Native Americans to regain their traditional way of life.
3. The Ghost Dance emphasized the rejection of Western culture and a return to traditional Native American beliefs, practices, and ways of life, including the restoration of the buffalo and the disappearance of white settlers.
4. The Ghost Dance movement was met with fear and hostility by the U.S. government, which saw it as a threat to their control and authority over Native American tribes.
5. The Wounded Knee Massacre, in which the U.S. military violently suppressed a group of Lakota Sioux followers of the Ghost Dance, was a tragic and devastating event that effectively ended the Ghost Dance movement.

Review Questions

• Describe the key beliefs and practices of the Ghost Dance movement.
  • The Ghost Dance was a religious and spiritual movement that aimed to unite Native American tribes and restore their traditional ways of life. The movement was based on the teachings of the Paiute spiritual leader Wovoka, who claimed to have received a vision from the spirits instructing him to teach the Ghost Dance. The Ghost Dance emphasized the rejection of Western culture and a return to traditional Native American beliefs, practices, and ways of life, including the restoration of the buffalo and the disappearance of white settlers. The movement involved a series of ritualistic dances that were believed to have the power to bring about these changes and reunite the Native American people.
• Explain how the Ghost Dance movement was perceived and responded to by the U.S. government.
  • The Ghost Dance movement was met with fear and hostility by the U.S. government, which saw it as a threat to their control and authority over Native American tribes. The government viewed the Ghost Dance as a potential catalyst for resistance and rebellion against the encroachment of Western culture and the government's policies of assimilation and subjugation. This led to the violent suppression of the movement, culminating in the Wounded Knee Massacre, where the U.S. military attacked and killed at least 150 Lakota Sioux followers of the Ghost Dance. The government's harsh response effectively ended the Ghost Dance movement and further eroded the already fragile relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. government.
• Analyze the significance of the Ghost Dance movement within the broader context of messianic movements among Native American tribes.
  • The Ghost Dance movement was part of a broader trend of messianic movements among Native American tribes in the late 19th century, which sought to restore traditional ways of life and reject the encroachment of Western culture and colonization. These movements were often led by charismatic spiritual leaders who claimed to have received visions or messages from the spirits, and they promised the return of traditional ways of life, the restoration of the land and resources, and the disappearance of white settlers. The Ghost Dance, in particular, was significant in its widespread adoption and the government's violent suppression of the movement, which further eroded the already fragile relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. government. These messianic movements, including the Ghost Dance, were a testament to the resilience and determination of Native American tribes to preserve their cultural identity and way of life in the face of overwhelming social, political, and economic pressures.

Related terms

Wovoka: The Paiute spiritual leader who originated the Ghost Dance movement, claiming to have received a vision from the spirits instructing him to teach the Ghost Dance as a way for Native Americans to regain their traditional way of life.

Wounded Knee Massacre: The violent clash between the U.S. military and Lakota Sioux followers of the Ghost Dance movement, which resulted in the deaths of at least 150 Lakota people, including many women and children.

Messianic Movement: The Ghost Dance was part of a broader trend of messianic movements among Native American tribes, which sought to restore traditional ways of life and reject the encroachment of Western culture and colonization.