2. 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.
3. 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.
4.
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!”
5. Conflict begins
To pay off their debt the Dakota traded off
more of their land.
Then “settlers” began
encroaching upon the
reservation lands
6. • 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Execution
Even though Lincoln didn’t allow the
execution of all 308 men, this was still the
largest mass execution in American
History.
