Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What did the Wounded Knee massacre result in for the Native American population?

1. A major victory

2. Halt of Native American resistance

3. Formation of new treaties

4. Increased military presence

The correct answer is: Halt of Native American resistance

The Wounded Knee massacre, which took place in December 1890, marked a significant and tragic turning point in U.S. relations with Native American populations. As a result of this event, the halt of Native American resistance became evident. The massacre was part of a broader pattern of violent suppression against Native American cultures and ways of life, leading to widespread demoralization and defeat among Native tribes. After Wounded Knee, the residual effects of this violence contributed to the end of armed resistance against U.S. government policies by many Native groups. It symbolized the culmination of decades of conflict, broken treaties, and loss of land that characterized the relationship between the U.S. government and Native American tribes. Following this massacre, many tribes did not engage in further significant military resistance, signaling a shift towards assimilation policies and a focus on survival rather than resistance. While increased military presence and the formation of new treaties did occur in various forms in subsequent years, these actions were often underpinned by the reality that organized Native American resistance had become largely unviable after Wounded Knee. The massacre fundamentally impacted the cultural and social structures of Native populations, leading to a period of significant decline in effective resistance to U.S. government control.