Wounded Knee Massacre Timeline

Indian Removal Act

1830

Allows U.S. to take Indian lands and relocate Indians west of the Mississippi

Fort Laramie Treaty

1851

Marked boundaries of Lakota Nation which included the Black Hills

Battle of Little Bighorn

Jun 25, 1876

7th Calvary defeated by Sioux Indians

Black Hills Act

1877

U.S. took back the Black Hills

Wovoka creates Ghost Dance

1889

After a vision during a solar eclipse, Wovoka created the Ghost Dance religion. He believed if Indians danced long enough and followed Indian rituals, white men would leave and buffalo would return

Rations cut to Sioux

1889

U.S. created famine and death for the Sioux by cutting rations to reservations

Ghost Dance gatherings

1890

Large crowds of Indians gathered which scared white people living near reservations. They believed there would be an Indian uprising.

Troops at Pine Ridge

Oct 20, 1890

Pine Ridge Agency requests 600-700 soldiers at the reservation

Sioux on Warpath

Nov 20, 1890

Report claims Sioux are on the warpath

Sitting Bull killed

Dec 15, 1890

Chief Sitting Bull killed during an arrest attempt

Wounded Knee Massacre

Dec 29, 1890

Many Indians killed by U.S. soldiers

Mass Grave

Jan 3, 1891

Without a ceremony, the dead Indians were buried in a mass grave