The Ghost Dance Movement - Quiz
  • 1. The Ghost Dance Movement was a spiritual and religious movement among Native American tribes in the late 19th century, particularly flourishing among the Plains Indians in the United States. It originated in the wake of devastating impacts from westward expansion, including the loss of lands, the decimation of buffalo herds, and the spread of diseases brought by European settlers. Spearheaded by the Northern Paiute prophet Wovoka, who claimed to have received a vision during a solar eclipse in 1889, the movement promised the restoration of Native American ancestral lands and the resurrection of deceased loved ones, alongside a promised day of peace when while living Native Americans would reunite with those who had died, effectively creating a paradise on earth. This vision provided a sense of hope and empowerment to many tribes struggling against the oppression and marginalization experienced in the wake of U.S. government policies. The movement included ritualistic dances and songs, known as the Ghost Dance, which were believed to bring about these transformative spiritual changes. However, the increasing adoption of the Ghost Dance by various tribes, notably the Lakota Sioux, alarmed U.S. authorities, leading to tragic events such as the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, where hundreds of Lakota were killed. As a result, the Ghost Dance Movement symbolized both cultural resistance against colonial forces and the broader struggle for Native American rights and identity during a time of significant upheaval.

    Who was the primary leader associated with the Ghost Dance Movement?
A) Crazy Horse
B) Geronimo
C) Wovoka
D) Sitting Bull
  • 2. In what year did Wovoka have his vision that led to the Ghost Dance Movement?
A) 1895
B) 1901
C) 1889
D) 1876
  • 3. Which Native American tribe is most closely associated with the Ghost Dance?
A) Navajo
B) Cherokee
C) Pueblo
D) Lakota Sioux
  • 4. What did participants in the Ghost Dance believe would happen?
A) They would form an alliance with white settlers
B) The dead would return and restore the land
C) They would gain military power
D) They would become immortal
  • 5. Where did the Ghost Dance Movement originate?
A) Arizona
B) South Dakota
C) California
D) Nevada
  • 6. What significant event occurred in 1890 related to the Ghost Dance Movement?
A) Battle of Little Bighorn
B) Battle of the Washita
C) Sand Creek Massacre
D) Wounded Knee Massacre
  • 7. What was the reaction of U.S. government officials to the Ghost Dance Movement?
A) Support and funding
B) Indifference
C) Encouragement to continue
D) Fear and repression
  • 8. In which year did the Wounded Knee Massacre occur?
A) 1890
B) 1901
C) 1880
D) 1885
  • 9. What was Wovoka's other name?
A) Jack Wilson
B) Chief Joseph
C) Red Cloud
D) Sitting Bull
  • 10. Which state was a central location for the Ghost Dance Movement?
A) California
B) South Dakota
C) Oregon
D) Texas
  • 11. In which region of the U.S. did the Ghost Dance Movement primarily take place?
A) The Midwestern United States
B) The Western United States
C) The Northeastern United States
D) The Southeastern United States
  • 12. Which historical context contributed to the rise of the Ghost Dance Movement?
A) Military dominance over settlers
B) Loss of land and traditional lifestyle
C) Increased prosperity among tribes
D) Successful treaties with the U.S.
  • 13. What was a common practice during the Ghost Dance ceremony?
A) Dancing in a circle
B) Playing musical instruments
C) Singing hymns
D) Fast and pray
  • 14. Who conducted research and published work on the Ghost Dance Movement?
A) James Mooney
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Margaret Mead
D) Carl Jung
  • 15. What did the Native Americans hope the Ghost Dance would achieve?
A) The return of buffalo herds and land
B) Complete assimilation
C) Revenge against settlers
D) New treaties with the U.S. government
  • 16. What did the phrase 'Ghost Dance' refer to?
A) A celebration of victory
B) A dance to solicit rain
C) A physical battle dance
D) A spiritual ceremony to connect with ancestors
  • 17. How were the Ghost Dance gatherings often viewed by non-Native people?
A) As a threat
B) As a form of entertainment
C) As a cultural celebration
D) As inconsequential
  • 18. When did the Ghost Dance Movement begin?
A) Late 1700s
B) Mid 1900s
C) Late 1880s
D) Early 1800s
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