Dakota War Causes – Acton
- Acton is 40 miles north of New Ulm
- The Dakota War broke out on August 17, 1862, near Acton
- The Sisseton/Wahpeton people started the war at Acton
- Young Dakota men were sent out to hunt for food
- The eggs were taken from a nest located near the fence on the Robinson Jones farm
What happened in the Dakota War of 1862?
Dakota War of 1862. The Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux Uprising, the Dakota Uprising, the Sioux Outbreak of 1862, the Dakota Conflict, the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862 or Little Crow's War, was an armed conflict between the United States and several bands of Dakota (also known as the eastern ' Sioux ').
When did the Dakota War start?
It began on August 18, 1862, at the Lower Sioux Agency along the Minnesota River in southwest Minnesota. The eastern Dakota ceded large tracts of land to the United States in a series of treaties signed in 1837, 1851 and 1858.
Where were the Dakota Indians interned after the Dakota War of 1862?
Census of Dakota Indians Interned at Fort Snelling After the Dakota War in 1862. Minnesota Historical Society. 2006. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2006. ^ "Exile". The US-Dakota War of 1862.
What happened to the Dakota after the Dakota War of Independence?
By the summer of 1863, the vast majority of Dakota had left Minnesota, heading into the western territories or north into Canada. As a result of the war, approximately 6,000 Dakota and “mixed-blood” people were displaced from their Minnesota homes.
What caused the Dakota War of 1862?
In 1862, Minnesota was still a young state, part of a frontier inhabited by more than one million Indians. Times were hard and Indian families hungry. When the U.S. government broke its promises, some of the Dakota Indians went to war against the white settlers.
What happened to the Dakota in 1862?
On September 23, federal forces defeated the Dakota at the Battle of Wood Lake in Yellow Medicine County. Three days later, the Dakota surrendered, releasing nearly 300 captives. The Dakota who surrendered were held until military trials could take place that November.
What was one cause of the First Dakota war which occurred in 1862 quizlet?
What was of the main causes of the war? The killing of the white settlers by the Dakota Hunters.
Why did the Dakota Sioux start an uprising in 1862 quizlet?
The first major clash that began in 1862 when the Dakota people known as the Sioux launched a major uprising in Minnesota. The government agreed to give annual payments to the Sioux Indians in exchange for them living on a reservation. The payments never reached them. They lived in poverty and many starved.
Why were there no Dakota villages north of the Minnesota River in 1862?
The treaties of 1851 also called for setting up reservations on both the north and south sides of the Minnesota River. But the U.S. Senate changed the treaties by eliminating the reservations and leaving the Dakota with no place to live.
What happened to the Dakota after the US Dakota War?
A small number of Dakota people remained in Minnesota after the war. In the 1880s, more began to return from exile. Several families purchased land that eventually became the Lower Sioux community.
When did Dakota War end?
August 17, 1862 – December 26, 1862Dakota War of 1862 / Period
What happened in 1862?
On August 16, 1862, the treaty payments to the Dakota arrived in St. Paul, Minnesota, and were brought to Fort Ridgely the next day. They arrived too late to prevent violence. On August 17, 1862, four young Dakota men were on a hunting trip in Acton Township, Minnesota, during which one stole eggs and killed five white settlers after a confrontation and insult. Soon after, a Dakota war council was convened. Their leader, Little Crow, agreed to continue attacks on the American settlements to try to drive out the whites.
What wars were there in 1862?
Great Sioux War. Ghost Dance War. The Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux Uprising, the Dakota Uprising, the Sioux Outbreak of 1862, the Dakota Conflict, the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, or Little Crow's War, was an armed conflict between the United States and several bands of Dakota ...
How long were the Dakota trials?
Army, but by Minnesota Volunteer Infantry sworn into Federal service for the Civil War. All federal troops had been transferred out of Minnesota to battle the Confederacy. The 400-odd of trials commenced on 28 September 1862 and were completed on 3 November; some lasted less than 5 minutes. No one explained the proceedings to the defendants, nor were the Sioux represented by defense attorneys.
Why was Iowa militarized?
The region had already been militarized because of the Spirit Lake Massacre in 1857. After the 1862 conflict began, the Iowa Legislature authorized "not less than 500 mounted men from the frontier counties at the earliest possible moment, and to be stationed where most needed," though this number was soon reduced. Although no fighting took place in Iowa, the Dakota uprising led to the rapid expulsion of the few remaining unassimilated Dakota.
How many men were sentenced to death in the Dakota War?
The surrendered Dakota warriors and their families were held while military trials took place from September to November 1862. Of the 498 trials, 303 men were convicted and sentenced to death. : 72 President Lincoln commuted the sentences of all but 38. A few weeks prior to the execution, the convicted men were sent to Mankato, while 1,658 Indians and "mixed bloods", including their families and the "friendly" Dakota, were sent to a compound south of Fort Snelling.
Why did the Dakota War attracted young braves?
He concludes the warfare in 1862 attracted young braves for various reasons: "revenge for some, plunder for others, the chance to gain honors in warfare. For many Dakota young men, it offered the chance to obtain a wife.".
How wide was the Dakota reservation?
From that time on, the Dakota were to live on a 20-mile (32 km) wide Indian reservation centered on a 150 mile (240 km) stretch of the upper Minnesota River. But, the U.S. Senate removed Article 3 of each treaty, which set out reservations, during the ratification process.
Why did Dakota declare war?
Some Dakota seized that moment to declare war to reclaim their homelands from the whites who would not keep their promises. In the early morning hours of August 18, they went to war.
What happened to the Dakota reservation in 1861?
Since crops had been poor in 1861, the Dakota had little food stored for the “starving winter” of 1861-62. Their reservation supported no game, and increasing settlement off the reservation meant more competition with Euro-Americans hunting for meat. Reports about government agents' corrupt treatment of the Dakota were ignored.
Where did the Dakota hunters kill the white settlers?
Four Dakota hunters killed five white settlers at Acton Township, Meeker County, on August 17, 1862. Later, Wambditanka (Big Eagle) identified these young men: "You know how the war started — by the killing of some white people near Acton, in Meeker County.
What is the phone number for Dakota Wicohan?
Dakota Wicohan. History on the Spot cell phone tour: call 877-411-4123 (can be accessed at the historic site as well as from your home phone). Minnesota Historical Society: U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 Website and Resources.
How long did the Dakota War last?
While the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 lasted just six weeks, the issues surrounding its causes went on for decades and its aftermath continues to affect Minnesota and the nation to this day.
How many Dakota men were hanged?
After a trial by military tribunal, 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato on Dec. 26, 1862. It remains the largest mass execution in U.S. history. More than 300 Dakota men had initially been condemned to death but President Abraham Lincoln commuted all but 39 of the sentences. Another was reprieved at the last minute because of questions about the testimony used to convict him.
Where were the prisoners held in 1862?
Approximately 1600 Dakota and mixed-race people at Camp Release near Montevideo (so named because friendly Dakota had gathered 269 captives there to release to Sibley after the Dakota were defeated at the Battle of Wood Lake) were taken into U.S. Army custody. In November the prisoners, mostly women, children, the elderly, non-combatants and others who had filtered into the camp, were taken in a six-day march to Ft. Snelling. There, they were held over the winter of 1862-63 in an internment camp, sometimes called a concentration camp, below the fort. As many as 300 Dakota prisoners died over the winter, victims of illness and attacks by civilians and soldiers. Eventually, they were forcibly removed from the state to reservations in the Dakota Territory and what is now Nebraska. The convicted prisoners whose death sentences were commuted were transported to a military prison at Camp McClellan, near Davenport, Iowa.
When did missionaries escape from the fighting?
Missionaries escaping from the fighting. - Aug. 21, 1862
What was the Dakota War?
The Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux or Dakota Uprising, was an armed conflict between the United States and several bands of Dakota Sioux. It began on August 17, 1862, along the Minnesota River in southwest Minnesota ...
What time did the Dakota attack the Sioux?
At about 9:30 in the morning , the Dakota began the attack on the city after burning many of the homes in the surrounding area. The settlement’s defenders formed a defensive picket line several blocks west of town before the Sioux warriors advanced.
How many Dakota deaths were confirmed?
Because Dakota carried away their dead, only two Dakota deaths were confirmed. On August 23rd, New Ulm, the largest settlement near the Sioux reservation, was attacked again by some 600 warriors led by Chiefs Wanbdiṭanka, Wabasa, and Makato.
How many Americans were killed in the Dakota War?
The U.S. – Dakota War of 1862 had begun. In the forays, 44 Americans were killed and 10 were captured. The very next day, on August 19th, Territorial Governor Alexander Ramsey, appointed Henry H. Sibley as “commander of the Indian expedition” with the rank of colonel in the state militia. Though Sibley was dedicated to Minnesota, ...
What did Little Crow say to the warriors?
When one of the warriors accused him of cowardice, Little Crow responded, “Braves, you are little children — you are fools. You will die like the rabbits when the hungry wolves hunt them in January.”.
What happened between 1805 and 1858?
Between 1805 and 1858, treaties made between the U.S. government and the Dakota nation reduced Dakota lands, significantly altered the lives of the Dakota tribe, and had serious implications on Dakota-U.S. government relations. Throughout this time, treaty violations by the United States and late or unfair annuity payments by Indian agents caused ...
Why did Dakota feel cheated?
Further, many Dakota felt cheated because when annuity money did arrive, it was often immediately paid to traders who made claims of debts owed by the Dakota. Many Dakota claimed these debts had been inflated or were falsified, and were opposed to the traders being paid directly by the U.S. government. By the summer of 1862, delayed annuity ...
What were the causes of the Dakota War?
Causes, Significance, & Facts of U.S. - Dakota War of 1862. Causes of the Dakota Uprising. There were a number of factors which contributed to the Dakota Uprising in 1862. Life was changing for the Dakota as both fur-bearing and game animals, upon which they depended, were getting scarce. It is likely that the Dakota had expected ...
What were some interesting facts about the Dakota Uprising?
Curtis Dahlin, January 2013. •Probably a majority of the 6000 Dakota who were living in Minnesota at the time did not participate in it. Many wanted no part of it, but many were coerced to join in. •Some Dakota risked their lives to save the lives of whites.
How many white people died in 1862?
oAt least 600 whites were killed in 1862, vs. up to 100 Dakota. The toll eventually reached at least 650 whites. o265 whites, including 25 soldiers were killed on Aug. 18, 1862, vs. up to 6 Dakota. oAt least 100 white children who were 10 or under were killed, vs. few to no Dakota children.
How many people died in the Battle of Little Big Horn?
In contrast, over 100 white women and over 70 white children who were 10 or under were killed. ¬When looking at a daily toll of victims, there were over 200 killed on August 18, 1862 whereas there were about 235 soldiers killed with General George Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876. There were only up to six Dakota who ...
How many white people died in the Minnesota flood?
o400 of the 650 white victims were killed within 3 miles of the Minnesota River.
Where was the Dakota War held?
From the spring of 1863 until the late summer of 1864, Dakota who had surrendered or been captured by the army were held at the Fort Snelling stockade before being exiled from Minnesota. In November of the following year, an event marked the close of the US-Dakota War era at Fort Snelling.
Where was the Dakota camp?
The Fort Snelling Concentration Camp. The Dakota non-combatants arrived at Fort Snelling on November 13, 1862, and encamped on the bluff of the Minnesota River about a mile west of the fort. Shortly after, Marshall and his soldiers moved the Dakota to the river bottom directly below the fort.
What was Fort Snelling's role in the Civil War?
Fort Snelling played a central role in the war and its aftermath. In early August 1862, recruitment of the Sixth through Eleventh Infantry regiments meant for service in the Civil War had commenced. When news of Dakota attacks reached St. Paul, Governor Ramsey appointed Henry Sibley a colonel in the state's military forces and commander ...
What was the purpose of the concentration camp at Fort Snelling?
In the summers of 1863–64, the US Army launched the Punitive Expeditions into Dakota Territory, intent on carrying war to the Dakota people. Fort Snelling became a center for marshalling supplies, stock, and troops for these efforts. From the spring of 1863 until the late summer of 1864, Dakota who had surrendered or been captured by the army were held at the Fort Snelling stockade before being exiled from Minnesota.
How long did the Dakota trials last?
Some of the trials lasted no longer than five minutes. At the time, and ever since, the legal authority of the commission and the procedures it followed have been questioned.
Where was the Dakota removed from the trial?
After the trials, General Pope ordered that the convicted Dakota be removed to Mankato, and the Dakota non-combatants be removed to Fort Snelling .
What was the warehouse used for in the Minnesota camp?
A warehouse just outside the camp was used as a hospital and mission station. Throughout the camp's existence, soldiers of the Sixth, Seventh, and Tenth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiments guarded the stockade, controlling movement in and out.
Where did the Dakota uprising take place?
Dakota uprising begins in Minnesota. Minnesota erupts in violence as desperate Dakota Indians attack white settlements along the Minnesota River. The Dakota were eventually overwhelmed by the U.S. military six weeks later. The Dakota Indians were more commonly referred to as the Sioux, a derogatory name derived from part ...
Why were the Dakota leaders frustrated?
Dakota leaders were frustrated by attempts to convince traders to extend credit to tribal members and alleviate the suffering. On August 17, four young Dakota warriors were returning from an unsuccessful hunt when they stopped to steal some eggs from a white settlement.
Where did the Dakota Indians live?
They were composed of four bands, and lived on temporary reservations in southwestern Minnesota.
Who was the leader of the military department of the Northwest?
President Abraham Lincoln dispatched General John Pope, fresh from his defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run , Virginia, to organize the Military Department of the Northwest. Some Dakota fled to North Dakota, but more than 2,000 were rounded up and over 300 warriors were sentenced to death.
The Dakota People Before The War
- The Sioux settling in North and South Dakota, Western Minnesota, and Northern Iowa are known as the Eastern Dakota. Although culturally related to the Western Dakota and Lakota, several differences exist to distinguish the tribal communities. The Eastern Dakota had been a part of Mi…
Broken Treaties
- The first treaties signed by the Dakota tribes came in 1805 when the Dakota signed a treaty with Zebulon Pike that gave the US government a significant amount of land where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers meet. In 1825, the tribe agreed to define its borders, along with several other tribes, at a meeting at Prairie du Chien, what is now western Wisconsin. This would make it easi…
The Dakota Trials and Their Aftermath
- In November 1862, the trials of the Dakota held at Camp Release began. Of the 498 trials held, more than 300 men were sentenced to death, for crimes ranging from rape to murder. The defendants were not allowed legal representation and the trials themselves were brief, with some lasting less than five minutes. President Abraham Lincoln personally reviewed the convictions o…
The Legacy of The War
- In the years following the Dakota War, a number of memorials were established honoring the white settler casualties of the conflict. In Mankato, a memorial to mass execution existed until the early 1970s. One hundred and fifty years after the war, Governor Mark Dayton formally apologized, declaring August 17, 2012 to be a “Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation.” The …
Educator Resources
- CHGS US-Dakota War Unit Plan: From the “Sioux Massacres” to the “Dakota Genocide:” Minnesota’s “Forgotten War” in the State’s Newspapers from 1862 to 2012
- Bdote Memory Map: Resources for Teachers
- Why Treaties Matter: Educator Resources
- USDakotaWar.org: Teacher Resources
Documentaries
Overview
The Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux Uprising, the Dakota Uprising, the Sioux Outbreak of 1862, the Dakota Conflict, the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, or Little Crow's War, was an armed conflict between the United States and several bands of eastern Dakota also known as the Santee Sioux. It began on August 18, 1862, at the Lower Sioux Agency along the Minnesota River in so…
War
On August 17, 1862, four young Dakota men on a hunting trip in the Big Woods killed five settlers near a settlement in Acton Township, Minnesota. Some accounts say that the men acted on a dare, following an argument about whether or not they should steal eggs. Others say that the men were provoked when the farmer refused to give them food or water, or liquor. The victims inclu…
Background
The United States government and Dakota leaders negotiated the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux on July 23, 1851, and Treaty of Mendota on August 5, 1851, by which the Dakota ceded large tracts of land in Minnesota Territory to the U.S. in exchange for promises of money and supplies.
From that time on, the Dakota were to live on a 20-mile (32 km) wide Indian reservation centered on a 150 mile (240 km) stretch of the upper Minnesota River. But, the U.S. Senate removed Artic…
Aftermath
On September 27, 1862, Colonel Henry Hastings Sibley ordered the creation of a military commission to conduct trials of the Dakota. One year later, the judge advocate general would determine that Sibley did not have the authority to convene trials of the Dakota, due to his level of prejudice, and that his actions had violated Article 65 of the United States Articles of War. However, by then t…
Monuments and memorials
• The Camp Release State Monument commemorates "the surrender of a large body of Indians and the release of 269 captives, mostly women and children" on September 26, 1862. The monument credits "the signal victory over the hostile Sioux at Wood Lake by Minnesota troops under command of General Henry H. Sibley." One of the other faces of the 51-foot granite monument is inscribed wit…
In popular media
• In the Laura Ingalls Wilder novel, Little House on the Prairie (1935), Laura asks her parents about the Minnesota massacre, but they refuse to tell her any details.
• The uprising plays an important role in the historical novel The Last Letter Home (1959) by the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg. It was the fourth novel of Moberg’s four-volume The Emigrants epic. These were based on the Swedish emigration to American and the author’s extensive research in the papers of Swedish e…
See also
• Fort Ridgely State Park
• Monson Lake State Park
• Upper Sioux Agency State Park
• We-Chank-Wash-ta-don-pee
Further reading
• Anderson, Gary Clayton. Massacre in Minnesota: The Dakota War of 1862, the Most Violent Ethnic Conflict in American History (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2019) ISBN 9780806164342
• Beck, Paul N., Soldier Settler and Sioux: Fort Ridgely and the Minnesota River Valley 1853–1867. Sioux Falls, SD: Pine Hill Press, 2000.