The Wounded Knee Massacre, occurring on December 29, 1890, marked a tragic and brutal chapter in Native American history. Taking place near Wounded Knee Creek on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the massacre unfolded when U.S. Cavalry troops confronted a group of Lakota Sioux, who were adherents of the Ghost Dance movement. Tensions escalated, leading to a chaotic and violent confrontation. The U.S. troops opened fire on the Lakota, resulting in the deaths of approximately 150 men, women, and children. This brutal event symbolized the end of the Indian Wars in the late 19th century and highlighted the systemic mistreatment and displacement of Native American communities during a period of profound cultural and social upheaval in the United States. The Wounded Knee Massacre remains a haunting reminder of the tragic consequences of cultural misunderstandings, oppression, and the pursuit of territorial dominance in American history.
