Wounded Knee

Party Politics and the Road to an American Massacre

By: Heather Cox Richardson

Narrated by: Heather Cox Richardson

On December 29, 1890, American troops opened fire with howitzers on hundreds of unarmed Lakota Sioux men, women, and children near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota, killing nearly 300 Sioux. As acclaimed historian Heather Cox Richardson shows in Wounded Knee, the massacre grew out of a set of political forces all too familiar to us today: fierce partisanship, heated political rhetoric, and an irresponsible, profit-driven media.

Richardson tells a dramatically new story about the Wounded Knee massacre, revealing that its origins lay not in the West, but in the corridors of political power back East. Politicians in Washington, Democrat and Republican alike, sought to set the stage for mass murder by exploiting an age-old political tool—fear.

Assiduously researched and beautifully written, Wounded Knee will be the definitive account of an epochal American tragedy.

©2010 Heather Cox Richardson (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

The Politics of Racism

It’s very revealing to understand the political machinations that led to the expulsion of the native Americans and the massacre at Wounded Knee
The maintenance of the Jim Crow south and the west’s antipathy towards Native Americans and Chinese gave both parties the tools to contest the possibility of one region becoming dominant in government

This was published before Trump became President?

The parallels to modern day politics and economics, from rigged elections to tariffs, cannot be overlooked. I was so sure that the language and themes of the book were meant to tie an historical event to current politics. But I was shocked that the book was written well before Trump came to power. History repeats itself, indeed.

All of the history I had no clue about

Such interesting history that I had no clue about but has once again become relevant.

sad but important history

Dr.Richardson's writing is incredibly succinct without giving slight to the visual imagery one looks for in any book.

I like that she herself did the narration, but I found her pace to be a bit slow since I am used to her online "classes". That is where the adjustable speed feature of the Audible software came in handy. I just increased the speed until it matched what I was used to as her normal speaking pace. :)

Great book!

Forever relevant

Fascinating and sad to discover there were just as many destructive, hateful, self serving and divisive politicians then as there are now. This a wonderful and elucidating account of an American tragedy from which lessons should be learned but sadly won’t.

Excellent resource

Wonderful and excellent resource for anyone wanting to know the truth behind the American empire.

Truth

I appreciate that Heather Cox Richardson writes truth. I have enjoyed all of her works and her daily email. Thank you for your work!

An excellent listen

Excellent and engrossing history of the Sun nation within the United States in the late 1800s. Sad and heartbreaking though is, it shows a remarkable parallel to today’s politics.

Learned so much

I learned so much about American history in the late 19th century, not just about the native struggle but American politics. So good!

Eye-opening!

I am forever grateful to historians like Dr Richardson for detailing the factual history of the United States and sharing those incredible events with us in plain language that is never boring. The US has a colorful and very human history that is important to retell as we navigate our future.