What was the stimulus for ghost dances?

Answer 1

The Ghost Dance movement emerged in the late 19th century among Native American tribes as a spiritual response to the traumatic effects of colonization, including loss of land, culture, and lives due to violence and disease. The movement was inspired by visions of a future where Native Americans would be reunited with their ancestors, and the buffalo would return, leading to a restoration of their traditional way of life. It aimed to promote unity among tribes and to resist oppression through a peaceful spiritual practice, ultimately culminating in significant events like the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890.