Excerpt from "Indians in a Trap," Pittsburgh Dispatch (Pittsburgh, PA), January 8, 1891
Preparations for war are being pressed at Pine Ridge. The camp does not look so picturesque or so peaceful as it did four weeks ago. The great villages of the Sioux, which were pitched in a half circle about the agency buildings, have disappeared. They are now part of the hostile encampment There are not so many soldiers in sight either, but there is much comfort in the knowledge that over the snow-ribbed buttes in all directions there are pitched tents of the flower of the United States cavalry and infantry. Four weeks ago the post trader's stores were filled with bucks and squaws and the ridges and swarmed with Indians mounted on ponies. There are rifle pits and fortifications on the ridges now and the stores are deserted.
The Machine Guns Beady for Business. Grim looking Hotchkiss and Gatling guns, still powder burned from their terrible work at Wounded Knee, and at the Catholic mission stand, where industrious bucks used to saw wood for the officials. The crimson cross of the army hospital is now moving alone over the northern buttes and over in the little Episcopalian church, where services were held two weeks ago, there are 30 struck by bullets while trying to escape from the deadly triangle at Wounded Knee. Pine Ridge is now a grim army camp.
Use the excerpt from "Indians in a Trap" to answer the question.
Which phenomenon most directly led to the events described?
A.
Tecumseh’s Rebellion
B.
the Allotment system
C.
the Ghost Dance movement
D.
the Second Great Awakening
C. the Ghost Dance movement
C. the Ghost Dance movement
To determine which phenomenon most directly led to the events described in the excerpt, we can analyze the information provided. The excerpt mentions the preparations for war at Pine Ridge and the transformation of the camp from a picturesque and peaceful place to a grim army camp. It also mentions the disappearance of Sioux villages and the presence of soldiers and rifle pits. Additionally, the excerpt mentions the Hotchkiss and Gatling guns, which were used in the violent incidents at Wounded Knee and the Catholic mission.
Given this information, the phenomenon that most directly led to these events is the Ghost Dance movement. The Ghost Dance was a religious movement that emerged among several Native American tribes, including the Sioux, in the late 19th century. The movement offered hope of a spiritual renewal and the restoration of Native American lands and way of life. However, the movement was seen as a threat by the U.S. government, which feared that it could incite resistance and rebellion among Native American groups.
The excerpt mentions the disappearance of Sioux villages, the transformation of the camp into a hostile encampment, and the presence of soldiers and rifle pits. These are all indicators of increasing tensions and preparations for conflict. The mention of the Hotchkiss and Gatling guns, which were used in violent incidents at Wounded Knee and the Catholic mission, further suggests that the situation escalated into a military confrontation.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. the Ghost Dance movement.