Final answer:
The massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, marking the end of the Indian Wars, resulted from the last stand of Native American resistance against U.S. government forces, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Lakota Sioux.
Step-by-step explanation:
The massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890 was the result of the last armed resistance by Native Americans towards the U.S. government. This tragic event occurred on December 29, 1890, when the U.S. 7th Cavalry attempted to disarm a group of Lakota Sioux near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. An accidental rifle discharge, possibly from a young Lakota man or a deaf member attempting to retain his weapon, led to chaos and a violent response from the troops. The soldiers fired indiscriminately, killing an estimated 150 to 300 men, women, and children. The massacre marked the end of the Indian Wars and was a stark symbol of United States expansion and the forceful suppression of Native American tribes.