Massacre of Wounded Knee

The Massacre of Wounded Knee occurred in 1890 when U.S. soldiers killed approximately 150 Native Americans, mainly Lakota Sioux, at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. It marked a tragic end to conflicts over Native lands and traditions, symbolizing the suppression of Native culture. The event was sparked by tensions over the Ghost Dance movement, which many Native Americans believed would restore their way of life. The massacre resulted in significant loss of life and became a somber symbol of the injustices Native Americans faced during U.S. expansion and colonization.