1862 Dakota Uprising The American Spirit Wanted to

1862 Dakota Uprising

The American Spirit • Wanted to become a world power • Expanded Westward – Purchasing Territory – Pioneers and Explorers • Gave away land

Early Native America Life • Independent – “Tribes of the Great Plains produced a remarkable synthesis of political, social, and religious characteristics. ” - Philip Weeks • Sharing Culture • Simple Culture

Early American Indian Relations • Treaty of 1837 • US received land between Mississippi & St. Croix Rivers

What the Natives Received • $300, 000 total • $110, 000 went to Natives and Mixed Bloods • $90, 000 went to pay off debts to the US • $39, 750 went to annuities

Annuities • • Medicine Farming Implements Stock Doctors Farmers Blacksmiths Cattle

Early American Indian Relations • Treaty of 1851 • Minnesota Governor Ramsey • Wahpeton and Sisseton Dakota • $1, 664, 000 of which $275, 000 was paid to Tribal Members • Rest paid in annuities

Treaty of Travers des Sioux • Name given to the two treaties signed in 1851 • Little Crow was happy with the treaties

Problems at the Upper Agency • Move from hunting to farming • Paid in paper money not gold • Lack of food • Corrupt leaders

Problems at the Lower Agency • Corrupt leaders • Traders stopped selling on credit • “You and your wives and children may starve, or eat grass, or your own filth. ” – Andrew Myrick

Start of the Uprising • August 17 th 1862 • Four Dakota on a hunting trip outside of reservation boundaries – Run Against Something – Brown Wing – Killing Ghost – Breaking Up • Near Acton Minnesota

Acton Incident • Unsuccessful hunt led them to Robinson Jones property • Dared one another to steal some eggs • Fight breaks out and people die – – Howard Baker Viranus Webster Robinosn Jones Clara Wilson • A wagon and some horses were also taken

Dakota Take Action • Braves tell Little Crow • Braves want to go to war • Little Crow does not want war • After much thought Little Crow decides to take action

First Attacks • Dakota attacked Americans working at Lower Agency • Massapust house located between Lower Agency and New Ulm – All died but 8 year old son

First Attacks • Middle Creek in Renville County – Buce family killed • Civil War volunteers leaving New Ulm • One made it back to warn the citizens

New Ulm During the Uprising • Largest city in Brown County with 900 people • Located in the River Valley • Along the Minnesota River

1 st Battle of New Ulm • Jacob Nix – Former German military leader • Charles Roos – Brown County Sheriff • Citizens barricaded themselves in center of town – Along Minnesota Street – Center Street – 3 rd North

1 st Battle of New Ulm • Men were poorly armed – Few Guns – Rifles – Axes – Pitchforks – Handguns

1 st Battle of New Ulm • Dakota set fire to a number of buildings • Women and children hide in the Dacotcah House • Thunderstorm stopped the Dakota from advancing

2 nd Battle of New Ulm • Both citizens and Dakota increased numbers • Charles Flandrau arrived with more troops • Dakota continued to set building on fire • Citizens drove Dakota out with attack – Minnesota Street

Dakota Actions to the Dead • Cut bodies apart • Seen throwing gold at citizens • Gold stuffed in mouths • Grass stuffed in mouth

End of the Conflict • 303 Dakota were convinced – Murder and Rape • Sentenced to hanging by Abraham Lincoln • Bishop Henry Whipple • 38 Dakota Hung – Mankato, MN