1861-1865 is a time period that resonates with American history as a dark period of civil unrest in our early years in the form of the Civil War. What gets forcefully overshadowed by this war is another just as influential, horrible, and politically driven war between the Dakota peoples of Minnesota and the surrounding area and the US Government. Much of how the United States came to be is revolved heavily on the institution of treaties, and the events following institution/misuse of these treaties is what has shaped the nation. Events leading to one of the darkest periods in American history is no different. The US Govt. had entered into treaties with many Native Nations, and more specifically the Dakota in and around the Minnesota territory. The US-Dakota War began essentially from strained relations and unfulfilled promises brought about through the abuse of the treaties. Late annuity payments, or non-payments, as much of the annuities went to traders who over-extended credit to many Indians, coupled with a food shortage brought about by drought, lead to the initial conflict and eventually war (US). Following the surrender of the Dakota on Sept. 26th, 1862 at Camp Release, 321 Dakota men were convicted of "war crimes" with all but 18 sentenced to death (US). A petition from Bishop Whipple to President Abraham Lincoln brought the conviction total down to 39: eventually 38 following a mistrial finding (Lecture). Those 38 men were executed by hanging on Dec 26th, 1862 in Mankato, MN and eventually lead to further conflicts between Dakota, as well as other nations, and the US Govt and the eventual more recognized Battle of Little Big Horn. These events helped forever etch a bloody stain on the relations between Native Nations and the US Govt, and helped pave the way for future relations with other countries. If you look at events from the present, you will continue to see the act of implementing treaties and the bloodshed following, as well as the mistreating of peoples (example Bernie Madoff and the credit unions). You cannot help but wonder if we as Americans cannot or will not learn from our past discretion, if we are doomed to forever be caught in the cycle.
(US) The US-Dakota War. EMuseum at Minnesota State University. (2007). Retrieved from: http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mnstatehistory/thedakotaconflict.html
(Notes) Class Lecture. American Indians of Minnesota, AIS 230. Dr. Rhonda Dass. September 16,2009.
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Do you see other parallels with how the United States deals with other people? The similarities on how we dealt with the Iraqi people is disquieting. After the first Iragi war in the 90s we made specific promises that were never kept and some say led to the second war.
ReplyDeleteDr. Dass
Until this class I never knew about the 38, I've heard about the Dakota War but very little. Its the largest mass execution in United States history and its no where in the history books. This is an amazing event in history
ReplyDeleteChris has made a good point, Americans havent learned there lesson still today we are still causing bloodshed and mistreating other people in other countries.
Sade Kelly