A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What was the significance of the Ghost Dance Movement?

1. It was a tactic for military resistance against settlers

2. It served as a peaceful religious revival among Native Americans

3. It was a governmental program for land reform

4. It initiated treaties between tribes and the government

The correct answer is: It served as a peaceful religious revival among Native Americans

The Ghost Dance Movement was significant primarily as a peaceful religious revival among Native Americans. Emerging in the late 19th century, particularly following the traumatic experiences of Native American tribes due to westward expansion, this movement symbolized hope and spiritual renewal. It was rooted in the belief that through the practice of the Ghost Dance, Native Americans could bring about a restoration of their lands, the resurgence of their ancestors, and a return to their traditional way of life. The movement was a response to the cultural repression and loss of land that Native American peoples experienced as settlers encroached upon their territories. The rituals associated with the Ghost Dance served not just as a means of expressing faith, but also as a form of unifying the tribes in solidarity against the oppression they faced. This contrasts sharply with the idea of militaristic resistance, as the Ghost Dance was fundamentally about healing and a yearning for peace rather than direct confrontation. This revival became particularly notable in the context of the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, which highlighted its significance as a symbol of Native American identity and resistance to assimilation into Western culture. Ultimately, the Ghost Dance Movement was not about military tactics nor governmental land reform, nor did it directly initiate treaties, but rather it was a profound