The Ghost Dance Movement for AP World History

Jan 25

2 min read

The Ghost Dance Movement is an illustrative example for the Indigenous Responses to State Expansion topic in Unit 6 of AP World History. You could reference this example on your AP World History test.

Oglala at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, by Frederic Remington in 1890/public domain

The Ghost Dance Movement, a religious revitalization movement that emerged among Native American tribes in the late 19th century, represents a powerful expression of indigenous spirituality, cultural resilience, and resistance against colonial oppression. Rooted in prophetic visions and traditional beliefs, the Ghost Dance Movement sought to restore Native American autonomy, reclaim ancestral lands, and usher in an era of peace and renewal.

The Ghost Dance Movement originated with the teachings of the Northern Paiute prophet Wovoka (also known as Jack Wilson) in the late 1880s. Wovoka’s vision of a new world marked by the return of deceased ancestors, the restoration of indigenous sovereignty, and the expulsion of white settlers resonated deeply among Native American communities devastated by colonization, warfare, and displacement. Central to the movement was the belief in the “Ghost Dance,” a ceremonial ritual that participants believed would hasten the coming of this new age of spiritual and material abundance.

The Ghost Dance Movement quickly spread among various Native American tribes across the Great Plains and the American Southwest, transcending linguistic, cultural, and tribal boundaries. Tribal leaders and spiritual practitioners incorporated elements of the Ghost Dance into their religious ceremonies, drawing thousands of followers who sought solace, hope, and empowerment in the face of ongoing oppression and cultural disintegration. The movement provided a unifying force for indigenous resistance against encroaching Euro-American expansion and government policies aimed at assimilation and erasure of indigenous identity.

The growing popularity of the Ghost Dance Movement alarmed federal authorities and white settlers, who viewed it as a threat to their dominance and control over Native American lands and resources. In response, the United States government implemented repressive measures to suppress the movement, fearing the potential for armed uprisings and social unrest. The massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, where U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux, including women and children, marked a tragic climax of government efforts to quell Native American resistance and forcibly assimilate indigenous peoples into mainstream American society.

Although the Ghost Dance Movement was ultimately suppressed by government intervention and violence, its legacy endured as a symbol of indigenous resilience, spiritual revival, and cultural survival. The movement underscored the enduring strength of Native American spirituality and cultural traditions in the face of colonialism and oppression. The Ghost Dance continues to resonate within indigenous communities as a source of pride, identity, and spiritual connection, reminding future generations of the ongoing struggle for indigenous rights, sovereignty, and self-determination.