Ch. 9 Test Review

Minnesota River

Minnesota River

• Dakota Reservation existed on a narrow strip of land after the Traverse des Sioux Treaty

• In 1858 this area was cut in half after a treaty was signed in Washington D.C.

Agency

A U.S. government field office

Thomas Galbraith

• Indian agent in 1862 at Upper and Lower Sioux Agencies who passed out annuities

Andrew Myrick

• A trader who had two stores 

• Dismissed Dakota appeals for food in August 1862

• “If they are hungry, let them eat grass.”

Stephen Riggs

Missionary who participated in the treaty of 1851 and helped to develop a small group of Dakota farmers

Acton

• Town where 4 young Dakota men killed 5 white settlers in an argument over eggs on Aug. 17, 1862

• This conflict is the spark that ignites the war

Taoyateduta (Little Crow)

• Dakota chief who felt conflicted about going to war  

• “I am not a coward and will die with you”

• Shot after the war while picking berries by a farmer

Dakota War

• Dakota were hungry

• Government broke promises, food and supplies withheld

• Dakota went to war against settlers, many Dakota did not join in, aided and protected settlers instead

• Lasted 6 weeks

New Ulm

• German community nearly destroyed after two battles 

• 2,000 residents were evacuated to Mankato, St. Peter, and St. Paul

Fort Ridgely

• Attacked by Dakota

• After 3 days of fighting the Dakota retreated

Henry Sibley

• Led 1,400 soldiers to fight the Dakota and end the conflict

• Conducted the trials of the 303 sentenced Dakota in 39 days

Henry Whipple

• Came to the defense of the 303 accused Dakota during the trials and asked President Lincoln to show mercy.

• Lincoln signed off on execution

Abraham Lincoln

Reviewed trial cases and lowered the number to be executed from 303 to 39

Dakota 38

• The Dakota men executed in Mankato on Dec. 26, 1862, the largest mass execution in US history

Internment Camp

• A place where civilians, prisoners of war, and/or political prisoners are held

• 1,700 Dakota were forced from Lower Sioux Agency to Fort Snelling in 1862

• Around 300 Dakota died

Exile

• Forced to leave one’s country or homeland

• March 1863 Congress declared Dakota reservations to be sold and Dakota people removed, the remaining 1,500 were sent out of MN to SD

secret word

Shakopee and Medicine Bottle

List two changes to the Dakota’s traditional homeland that took place between 1851 and 1863.

1. Settlers were arriving in Minnesota by the thousands due to recent treaties and the Dakota’s homeland was filling up with farms and towns by the early 1860s

2. Dakota homeland was reduced to a narrow strip of land along the Minnesota River

Farm Dakota

Traditional Dakota

Describe the job of the Indian agent at the Lower Sioux Agency:

Carried out the U.S. government’s assimilation policies on the reservations.
Oversaw a number of government workers.
Handed out food and money that the U.S. government had promised the Dakota.

Describe the job of the trader at the Lower Sioux Agency:

Ran the stores where Dakota could buy additional food and supplies on the reservations.
Traders worked on a credit system and kept written records of all business deals.

The main goal of the missionaries at the Lower Sioux Agency

Assimilate and convert the Dakota by convincing them to accept Christianity and give up their spiritual traditions.

List three things the missionaries did to accomplish their goal of converting the Dakota:

1. Encouraged to wear American style clothing
2. Attend church
3. Men encouraged to cut their hair short and women to wear their hair pinned up on their heads

How did most Dakota fit somewhere in between the two lifestyles of Farm and Traditional Dakota? Why did they do this?

As the Dakota became outnumbered by European-Americans, they felt it was easier to show an outward sign of trying to fit in, such as changing their appearance, so the newcomers wouldn’t feel threatened and leave them alone.

How did the actions of U.S. Government Officials cause tension?

Food and supplies were withheld at agency storehouses until the money arrived.  Payments were late from the U.S. Government

How did the actions of the Traders cause tension?

Traders acted first as businessmen, not as kin, and they shut down the credit system.  They said offensive things like, “Let them eat grass.”

How did the relations between the Traditional and Farm Dakota cause tension?

Traditional Dakota were resentful of Farm Dakota’s extra supplies and abandonment of heritage.

After the killings near Acton, why did some Dakota think it was a good time to fight?

Some Dakota thought they should strike at their enemies before their enemies struck out at them.  They believed the U.S. Military would not fight back because they were more focussed on the Civil War.  The Lower Sioux Agency was attacked the next day, it was the first battle site.

Why did Little Crow speak against going to war?

He was conflicted about going to war because he knew the U.S. military was stronger and the Dakota people, especially their women and children, would suffer.

Why did Little Crow ultimately agree to lead his people into war?

Despite his concerns, Little Crow led the Dakota to war because he didn’t want to be seen as a coward.

How did Farm Dakota, like Wounded Man and other Farm Dakota, react to the start of the war?

They began to fear for their lives.  They felt there was nothing they could do to resist because their numbers were so few.  Many Farm Dakota did not fight but helped the settlers instead.

How did settlers, like Mary Schwandt, react to the start of the war?

Many settlers fled their homes and warned each other of the dangers.  Some settlers fought back.

What battle ended the U.S.-Dakota War? Describe the battle.

Battle of Wood Lake on Sept. 23, 1862.
Henry Sibley led more than 1400 soldiers to battle the Dakota.  More than 2000 Dakota soldiers surrendered and hundreds more, such as Little Crow, fled to avoid capture.

Describe the effects of the war on the region’s people:

More than 500 settlers had been killed, most in raids during the first week of war, 20,000 settlers fled for safety.
Hundreds of surviving residents were wounded, homeless and they struggled to rebuild their lives

Describe the effects of the war on the region’s property:

Farms were abandoned and left empty.
Town like New Ulm were devastated; dozens of buildings were burned down.

How did most Minnesotans react to Colonel Henry Sibley’s court?

Most Minnesotans supported the trials and settlers wanted to see all the Dakota punished.

Originally, 303 Dakota were sentenced to death. Why/how was the number of death sentences reduced to 38?

Bishop Henry Whipple encouraged President Lincoln to review the 303 cases. Lincoln approved the execution of 39 Dakota who had been convicted of crimes against civilians.  One Dakota man was pardoned at the last minute.  The execution of the 38 Dakota took place in Mankato, MN, on Dec. 26, 1862.

List at least three details that describe the conditions of the internment camp at Fort Snelling:

1. Dakota women and children, and elderly men, camped on the river banks surrounded by a wooden wall, they were guarded and fed by U.S. soldiers

2. If the Dakota received permission to leave the camp to look for food or firewood there was a risk of attack by people still angry about the war

3. Measles and disease spread

4. Between 100-200 Dakota died from disease illness and attacks

In 1863, what happened to the Dakota in Minnesota?

The U.S. Government canceled all treaties they had signed with the Dakota of Minnesota.  More than 1500 Dakota were exiled to South Dakota, where hundreds died from hunger and disease.

By the 1880s, how had Minnesota’s settler populations changed?

Most original settlers abandoned the southwestern region right after the war.  Many fled to St. Peter, Mankato, and St. Paul: most did not return.
Tens of thousands of new settlers moved into Minnesota

By the 1880s, how had Minnesota’s Dakota populations changed?

Only about 200 Dakota who helped the settlers during the war were allowed to stay in Minnesota.
Some Dakota returned to Minnesota to live alongside relatives who had been allowed to stay.
New communities established at the Upper and Lower Sioux Agency, Prairie Island, and Prior Lake