Reconstruction Period Vocab - Ashley Matherne Stephens Unit...

Ashley Matherne
Stephens
Unit 13 Vocab
January 30, 2010
Sand Creek Massacre : John Chivington in 1864 led a force of about 700 men into Fort Lyon, Colorado
and gave the garrison notice of his plans for an attack on the Indian encampment. Although he was
informed that Black Kettle has already surrendered, Chivington pressed on with what he considered the
perfect opportunity to further the cause for Indian extinction. In response, Indians of the southern and
northern plains stiffened in their resolve to resist white encroachment. An avenging wildfire swept the land
and peace returned only after a quarter of a century.
Wovoka , a member of the Paiute tribe, was born in about 1856. He was the son of Tavibo, a medicine
man and mystic. After the death of his father Wovoka was employed by the farmer, David Wilson. Later
he took the name Jack Wilson. In 1887, Wovoka, had a vision where he met God. Wovoka was told that
he must teach his people that they must love each other, live in peace with the white people, and must
work hard and not lie or steal. Wovoka was given a dance by God that had to be performed for five
consecutive days. Wovoka performed what became known as the Ghost Dance. This involved the men
holding hands in a circle and shuffling slowly to the left while singing special songs about how Native
American life would be restored to its former order and balance. Wovoka claimed that performing this
dance would result in the return of the buffalo . News about Wovoka's teachings spread to other Native
American tribes. The most enthusiastic supporters of this new cult was the Sioux . This alarmed white
settlers in the area who thought it was a preparation for further hostilities. They called for help and by
1890 nearly 3,000 members of the 7th Cavalry arrived to protect the settlers. This resulted in the
Wounded Knee Massacre and this brought an end to the Ghost Dance cult.