Deadlifts are what helped strengthen not only my hamstrings, but virtually my entire posterior chain, from lower back down. After doing proper deadlifts (traditional deadlifts) I would really feel it in my glutes and hamstrings, but also a little in the lowerback (not much) and also a little in my calves.

I never felt this activation in my posterior chain, until I watched a video on deadlifting and corrected my technique, before this I'd mostly feel really bad in my back, thanks to my poor technique.

However, it's important to note that this exercise must be done with a traditional straight bar, like in the video. Using those Trap (or Hex) bars are no good for doing actual deadlifts. When using that type bar, you're actually doing more of a traditional squat as opposed to a deadlift. I never come away after use of a Trap bar feeling like I exercised my posterior chain.