The Dakota Wars 1862

Emmett Brady & Kailea Fink

Before the War
● Between 1837 and 1858, tribes agreed to a
series of treaties with the US government that
exchanged Dakota land for money and food
● After the civil war, the government fell behind
on their payments of food and money, which
led to problems for the Dakota.
The Spark
● August 17, 1862, a Dakota hunting party stole some eggs from a white settlement
and killed 5 people.
● The chief, Little Crow led more raids the following days because the Dakota were
still low on food.
● The Civil war slowed the response of the US government but a militia was formed
which headed for the Dakota
What Happened
● On September 23, federal forces defeated
the Dakota at the Battle of Wood Lake in
Yellow Medicine County.
● The Dakota surrendered and released 300
captives
● Hundreds of Dakota were held at Camp
Release at Montevideo
Effects of the War
Short term: 498 trials were held after the war and 300 men were sentenced to death on
accounts of rape and murder. Abraham Lincoln commuted all but 39 of the sentences.
On December 26, 1862, 38 Dakota men were hung in Mankato; known as the largest
single execution in American history.

Long term: All Dakota were moved to Nebraska and a law was created saying that no
Dakota was allowed to live in Minnesota and it is still a law today.