Tensions Between
It is not so unusual for me to take a drive through Mankato Minnesota and look about at the city unaware what had been there years before. It is true that Mankato is now a city filled with people busily driving cars, riding bikes, and walking about. What I had not realized until recently, is that just under 150 years ago, Mankato Minnesota was actually home to a very different sort of event. The Dakota Uprising of 1862 was an event that scarred the Mankato area years ago, and played a big part in the shaping of the American people and Dakota Indians at that time. Even to this day, it is mind-boggling to think how different our nation would be, had events like this never taken place. This paper will look deeper into the happenings of this event; how it was caused and how it has shaped our past and present. The tensions, reactions, and results of this historic event are some of the most bizarre and alarming stories ever told.
I have always felt that this world shouldn’t be a place with many rules and boundaries. It’s one thing for people to come to agreements and place laws for the good of all, but when personal gain gets in the way of making good ethical decisions, bad things often become the result. Although in an ideal world people could live freely, we know that some unfair boundaries and rules are also an unfortunate reality. The Dakota Indians, and many other Indian groups across our nation, saw this first hand during the beginning of the 1800’s. At this time period there was a large scale struggle in which settlers and Natives fought for who had rights over the land. When the settlers moved in, the Indian and American cultures collided and unfortunately one of them had to give. Although the newly arriving settlers tried their best to push the natives farther and farther west, this solution was far from complete. Both the Native Americans and settlers resented this time period, and making a clear solution for the problem was difficult.
In order to see how each group was individually affected we must look closely at how Native Americans first reacted when pressured by the tensions of the new coming settlers. It’s obvious, but interesting to note that the these Native Americans were the first ones on the American soil. The new settlers could try to argue and make rules about who gets all the land, but in reality all the land was first settled on by the Native Americans. Looking into the lives of some Native American tribes helps us see more about how they reacted suddenly pressured by another group. One reason that they might have refrained from fighting the new people off their land was because many of them saw land as something that can’t be owned. In the book Last of the Mohicans by James Fennimore Cooper, it’s clear that many of the Native Americans had a perception of nature as something that one couldn’t claim. An individual might shout “I landed here first, so I own it” but this shouldn’t truly make them the owner of the land. One key theme in this book is how nature is not something that you can’t claim, but you can only appreciate. This same idea is one of the morals celebrated within the Dakota Indian culture. Originally the Dakota Indians were open to sharing the land with the settlers; however, the settlers weren’t as fond of the idea. Since the intruding culture didn’t have quite the same beliefs, tensions built and the original offer to share, ended up not working out.
On the contrary, the new settlers were also in a bind when it came to meeting Native Americans as they moved west. During this time period, many people all over the nation were traveling west to stake out a part of the beautiful land. The American settlers were excited to finally take a look around the American wilderness. When they did so, it didn’t always end as hoped. The stress the intruders brought upon some Native American led deaths, as well as the struggles settlers faced on the trails. Some of these Native American attacks led settlers to think that removing the Natives was a necessity. The government wanted the expansion to be a good experience for their citizens, but when the Native Americans already had their homes on much of the land, it was hard for them to move in without conflict. In many areas this problem led to extremely terrible conclusions such as the Trail of Tears in the 1830’s, and other Indian removal wars. Specifically in the Minnesota territory, the Dakota Indians and the new settlers had a big set of problems that had to be dealt with.
In attempt to clear up the problems, a treaty was signed by both the Dakota Indians and the settlers on July 23, 1851. This treaty was called the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux. The Dakota Indians, who previously claimed much of the land in Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota, ceded the land to the United States. In return for their generous actions they asked for $1.665 million in cash and annuities. The Dakota Indians also agreed in the treaty to live on a reservation bordering the Minnesota River. All 7,000 Dakota Natives were placed on this ten mile strip of land. With this treaty, the United States government was expected to supply the Dakota Indians with a certain amount of food to make up for lost hunting grounds as well. Originally both sides were pretty content with the signing of the treaty. Although this treaty might have quelled the problems for the time being, down the road this treaty would also lead to some terrible events. For over ten years the two groups lived in relatively good relations, and made the best of the situation. However in 1862 a terrible happening took place. In this year a bad drought took place and many struggled to keep their crops and families alive. Both the Dakota Indians and the settlers took a terrible hit due to this bad weather. In August of that year, annuity payments from the United States to the Dakota Indians were expected to take place. However, because of the food shortage, no food showed up. In response to this, the Dakota Indians were scared and angry with the United States Government. They argued with officials and held meetings, but the people of the U.S. decided not to meet the food dues. One shopkeeper and trader named Andrew Jackson Myrick, was quoted in response to the predicament, “So far as I am concerned, let them eat grass.”(United Native America, 2011) The Dakota Indians and the settlers were in total outrage at one another once more.
The following days led to no obvious solution, and by the 17th of August, a true outbreak of hatred started to take place, and the Dakota Uprising began. It started with a group of four Dakota killing five settlers, but this grew over the next week to an entire war between thousands of Dakota Indians and United States citizens. One individual killed in this uprising was Andrew Jackson Myrick, and the Dakota stuffed his mouth with grass following his death. Not only had the treaty backfired, but it soon had created relations even worse than they previously were. Both sides were killing and capturing each other, and all of the treaties once made were soon completely ignored. Sioux Indian, Hdainyanka, sums up the debacle the Dakota Indians were going through in his speech to the tribes during one of the battles. Although he says the tribes must fight, he explains the sadness of the situation in this segment.
“Ever since we treated with them their agents and traders have robbed and cheated us. Some of our people have been shot, some hung; others placed upon floating ice and drowned; and many have been starved in their prisons. It was not the intention of the nation to kill any of the whites until after the four men returned from Acton and told what they had done. When they did this, all the young men became excited, and commenced the massacre. The older ones would have prevented it if they could, but since the treaties they have lost all their influence. We may regret what has happened but the matter has gone too far to be remedied. We have got to die.”( Carly, 2001)
This quote stung the hearts of the Native American tribes just like its hurts to this day. In reality, Hdainyanka realized that the Dakota really didn’t have a choice. If they fought they would likely die, if they didn’t, their land would be taken from them. With his conclusion to fight for justice even to death, Hdainyanka leads his tribe members into war. The American army too went to war with the Dakota Indians. General Pope, a leader of the American war effort, declared in a letter what was on the minds of many Americans of the region. He urged the state to continue to “…destroy everything belonging to them and force them out to the plains, unless, as I suggest, you can capture them. They are to be treated as maniacs or wild beasts, and by no means as people with whom treaties or compromises can be made.”(The Dakota Conflict Trials, 1999) These extremely threatening words were the result of the cruel treatment the Dakota used for Americans as reported by the citizens. As seen by these statements, the people of Minnesota were completely torn. By September 26, 1862 the actual war was over, but still the solution was not nearly concluded. In the 37 days the two groups were at war, 500 U.S. citizens to 60 Dakota Indians were killed, ripping the two groups apart. The Dakota Uprising might have taken a toll on the lives of many Americans, but ultimately their actions didn’t help the situation. The lives they killed only led to more conflict between the two, and revenge would soon take place upon the Dakota Indians.
In response to this uprising, the Minnesota people soon looked for revenge on Dakota Indians. Authorities of the Minnesota region tried 393 prisoners they thought were associated with the event. Only 90 of these were found not guilty, leaving 303 individuals responsible for causing the conflict. Many people argue, to this day, the legitimacy of the legal aspect of these trials. Although the Dakota Indians were supposed to be treated fairly, the short trials led many to think the courts failed to make a just decision. Following the conviction of these 303 men, in a letter to President Lincoln, the authorities asked the president for permission to execute every single one of these men. Provoked by many other letters warning of the violence that would result if the executions don’t take place, Abraham Lincoln finally replied that this execution should only be placed on individuals who took part in the killing of settlers during the uprising. As a result, 38 of the Dakota Indians were convicted. In response to this statement, Bishop Whipple wrote within the Republican Pioneer, “There is a broad distinction between the guilt of men who went through the country committing fiendish violence... and the guilt of timid men who received a share of the plunder or who under threat of death engaged in some one battle where hundreds were engaged.”(History Topics: U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, 2004) Although Bishop Whipple wrote out against the act of killing all these men, the deed was still done. On the day after Christmas, December 26, 1862, all 38 Dakota Indians were hanged and killed in Mankato Minnesota. Upon the hanging of the men, "...there was one, not loud, but prolonged cheer from the soldiery and citizens who were spectators, and then all were quiet and earnest witnesses of the scene,”(Carly, 2011) according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press article following the gloomy event. This event is sadly the single largest execution event ever to take place in the United States.
The killing of these Dakota men was about the worst solution to eliminate the conflict between the Dakota and settlers, yet in 1862 this dreaded event took place. Following the event, the Dakota Indians were absolutely torn. Tazoo, one of the executed prisoners said two days before his death, “Tell my friends that we are being removed from this world over the same path they must shortly travel. We go first, but many of our friends may follow us in a very short time. I expect to go direct to the abode of the Great Spirit, and to be happy when I get there.”(The Dakota Conflict Trials, 1999) These words highlight the fact that no problems were being resolved, and it would only be a matter of time before more fights and injustice led to the deaths of many more Dakota. The Dakota were devastated. Not only had the government taken away their land, failed to pay $1.665 million, and failed to feed the people, but they now were threatening to kill their friends and family. It’s understandable that after all this, they were absolutely enraged by their neighbors. On the other side, the American people were quite angered as well. Not only had the Dakota taken the lives of many of their people, but the settlers also lived in fear of a sudden Indian attack or another war. More fights took place, but when the settlers had a large government and armies backing them up, the Dakota Indians were basically helpless. No longer did the treaty take effect, and the relations between the neighboring U.S. citizens were worse than ever. By April of 1863, Congress passed a law requiring the removal of all Dakota Indians from the Minnesota territory. Many of the Dakota Indians were moved to either South Dakota or Iowa, but nearly all left with the upset feelings of unsolved conflict and hurt. These hurts would smolder for quite some time, and would take years for this scar to even begin to heal. With both sides so completely enraged at one another, forgiveness and reconciliation would have to wait. Many of the prisoners taken on both sides during the war were held in extremely cruel conditions, and on the American side, half of the Dakota prisoners died because of it. Not until almost five years after the war, were the 177 prisoners finally released to be with their families.
To this day, many people still feel these hurts burn as they did in 1862. Although this December 26th will mark the 150th anniversary of this dreadful event, many Dakota Indians will be filled with resentment for the Americans that killed their past generations. Forgiveness is always hard. The death of so many people is something that is especially not easy to forgive for either side. Thankfully, both groups of the conflict have and still are making steps to healing the wounds of years past. 110 years after the Dakota and American wars, large amounts of people gathered, both Indian and white, to form an annual Pow-Wow in support of the Dakota Indians that occurs to this day. Also in 1987 the Governor of Minnesota, Rudy Perpich, declared the year “The Year of Reconciliation.” His goal was to finally eliminate the barrier of the two ethnicities, and build cultural diversity in Minnesota. This year of reconciliation was a great success. The two sides were able to finally see attempts at forgiveness being made, and a variety of activities including an annual 90 mile run was made to bring together the people. This same year, Reconciliation Park was created in Mankato MN, to honor those who died in the execution. The well-known large stone buffalo is a constant reminder for the people in Mankato of the sad event that took place on the land. Although these steps are being made, we are by no means finished. Although the Dakota and American wars took only 37 days, the process of complete reconciliation and forgiveness will take years to be achieved.
When thinking about the world we live in, I have always seen it as a free place. I’ve seen it as a place where all people can live together and get a long relatively well. I wouldn’t picture this nation as a place with strict boundaries, a place with harsh and unfair laws, or a place without much freedom. Although I haven’t had much experience with these difficulties, these challenges were faced by many new settlers and Dakota Natives during 1800’s. It’s really surprising to me to see just how unfairly some of my past generations treated others, and all the difficult situations brought about during the younger days of this state. Although it is heartbreaking to see that buffalo standing in memory of all the lost lives for both the Dakota people and American settlers, I believe America was given an opportunity to learn from these mistakes. Staying true to ones promises, being slow to anger, and the value of reconciliation, are all values the American people were able to gain from these terrible moments in history. Perhaps even though it was unfortunate that the deaths of hundreds of individuals were needed to get across these points, or nation will become a role model for other countries in the future because of it. The people killed in 1862, might have felt their influence on the world was cut short. However, even 150 years after their death, they still show the great importance of peace between all people of our world.
