The Dakota Conflict

1805- Beginning of the End

In 1805 and years prior, the Dakota Indians were living off the land now known as Minnesota.

They enjoyed a rich life of hunting, trapping and fishing.

Treaty is signed

Westward expansion reached Minnesota.

The Dakota signed a treaty with explorer Zebulon Pike which allowed US Military to build a fort and trading post very near their land - Fort Snelling.

As a part of the treaty the Dakota were forced onto very unproductive land.

This caused them to become heavily dependent on the government for food and resources.

When the Dakota Indians complained about their hunger one trader (Andrew Mirek) said, “Let them eat grass!”

Conflict begins To pay off their debt the Dakota traded off

more of their land.

Then “settlers” began encroaching upon the reservation lands

• Traders would charge the Dakota for food and this drove the tribe’s debts higher.

•Food subsidies also came late or were spoiled when they came.

•In 1858, a group of Dakota officials were told they had to move off yet another portion of the reservation.

More trouble!

Dakota became angry about lack of food and lack of land.

Indians had to start foraging for food. Some stole eggs and vegetables from a white man’s farm.

The Indians were “tried” and executed.

The Dakota Conflict of 1862

Dakota people reached their breaking point. They attacked the Indian Agency at Fort Ridgely, and killed nearly all the troops.

They also attacked New Ulm, burning down a good percentage of the city.

The Indians took several white settlers hostage.

Governor Ramsey tried to get Little Crow to surrender but he refused unless amnesty could be granted for his people.

The fighting finally ended at Wood Lake and Little Crow fled, to only be shot later by a farmer while he was picking berries. Many of the Dakota fled and those who didn’t surrendered.

The result

The women, children, and elders who surrendered were brought to Fort Snelling to be held in a prison.

The men were brought to Mankato to be “tried” and executed. Some died on the way, and some died in prison awaiting their trial.

425 Dakota were tried. The government wanted

to execute all 308 men they believed to be guilty, but the number was brought down to 38 by President Lincoln.

Execution Even though Lincoln didn’t allow the

execution of all 308 men, this was still the largest mass execution in American History.

Afterward:

All treaties with the tribes were canceled. The Dakota were forced to move to South Dakota.

Roles and responsibilities in the Dakota Conflict

Native Americans

White Settlers*Government