The cause of the Wounded Knee Massacre is still unclear, but there are definite factors that added to the tension leading up to the Massacre. When the Indians were moved to the reservations, they were promised a certain amount of rations. In 1868 a treaty provided an allowance of seeds and other necessary items for farming to those who farmed, but that allowance was not met. And again in 1876 the U.S. government failed to meet the amount of beef, corn, coffee, flour, sugar, and beans that they owed to the Indians according to another treaty. The Indians became sick and malnourished.
In the beginning of 1890 a new religious craze began called the Ghost Dance. The Indians prophesized that their ancestors would come back to kill the whites. The Indians would dance around a fire singing the future of the white man, of his death. The soldiers were frightened by this and called in reinforcements.
A week before December 29th, 1890 Sitting Bull was shot during a skirmish between Sitting Bull's band and the soldiers that came to arrest him. During an attempt to arrest Sitting Bull, an unknown Indian shot at a white officer and killed him. The rest of his band fled and were shot down. The people who survived fled to Big River. A week later soldiers at attempted to disarm Big Foot's band. The band resisted and shots were fired. Women and children fled toward the ravines and were shot down. The majority of the Indians there, were killed.
In the beginning of 1890 a new religious craze began called the Ghost Dance. The Indians prophesized that their ancestors would come back to kill the whites. The Indians would dance around a fire singing the future of the white man, of his death. The soldiers were frightened by this and called in reinforcements.
A week before December 29th, 1890 Sitting Bull was shot during a skirmish between Sitting Bull's band and the soldiers that came to arrest him. During an attempt to arrest Sitting Bull, an unknown Indian shot at a white officer and killed him. The rest of his band fled and were shot down. The people who survived fled to Big River. A week later soldiers at attempted to disarm Big Foot's band. The band resisted and shots were fired. Women and children fled toward the ravines and were shot down. The majority of the Indians there, were killed.