The Dakota Wars

Created by: Eleanor, Elly, Meagan, Riley

and Jack
Battle of Birch Coulee
1912
Paul G. Biersach
Lithograph
Jack peurrung

The battle of Birch Coulee. A group of 170 men under control by commander joseph R.
Brown. His men were camped at birch coulee. They came under attack by around 200
dakota soldiers when they surrounded Birch Coulee. The date was september 2nd 1862. The
fighting lasted over 30 hours killing 13 of brown's men with 50 injured. Dakotas troops only
lost an estimated 2 men. The fighting ended after 30 hours ending on september 3rd. The
men under Joseph R. Brown were trespassing on native grounds. The natives knew the land
well and knew that Birch Coulee could be easily surrounded as shown in the picture. The
attack was successful and created a fear for people trespassing on their lands. The picture is
when they actually surrounded them. This was the longest battle in the dakota wars.
Ensuring that people remember what happened in the Battle of Birch Coulee.
Abraham Lincolns Execution Proclamation-
December 1862
December 6th 1862
Created by Abraham Lincoln
Excerpt from the proclamation/photo

Historical Context: In late 1862 the U.S. was struggling from Union military disasters, a
combative cabinet, and the passage of the emancipation proclamation. However Lincoln
also had to deal with one more problem, the Dakota uprisings that were occurring do to
traders not paying the proper gold annuities they were promised the Natives. Eventually,
this led to the execution of 38 Dakota Native Americans.

POV: The point of view of this excerpt is from the white people/government perspective
because it expresses a hateful attitude towards Natives in two ways. The first being that it
purposely fails to tell the audience why the Dakota men had attacked the government, and
the second way is by depicting the Natives as savage. In the very beginning Lincoln calls
the Dakota men half breeds, which is a name typically associated with animals.

Why: One of the most astonishing things in this excerpt occurs towards the very when
President Lincoln has to clarify that the other prisoners who arent being executed are not
allowed to be hurt. In saying that, Lincoln has implied that the white people, if not being told
so, would have attacked or beaten the innocent Native Americans. Therefore, Lincolns
Public Execution of 38 Dakota Indians at Mankato
1812
W.H. Childs
Drawing/Image
Eleanor Estrada

The Treaty of Mendota was an agreement between the Dakota Indians and the United
States Government that gave much of the Native land in Minnesota to the United States in
return for over $1,000,000 in payments from the government. But soon after the treaty was
signed, the US government began falling behind on their end of the deal. As the Dakota
began to struggle with the lack of money, many became desperate for food and basic
necessities. This frustration eventually led to conflict and later war between the tribes and
the newly arrived White Settlers in Minnesota. This image created with the intention of
showing how the killing of so many Natives was almost a social event for many white people
at the time. By depicting the hundreds of white spectators surrounding the execution, the
author is showing the lack of respect many settlers (and the government) had for the tribe
and how they still believed themselves to be superior. This document is important because it
reflects the larger fact that the Native Americans have always been overpowered by the US
Government and White Settlers who believe themselves to be the greater power.
George Crooks (Wakanajajas) Account of Journey to Prison Camp
January 29, 1909
George Crook (Wakanajaja)
Diary Entry
Eleanor Estrada
Following the surrender of the Dakota and the end of the Dakota War, over 300 Native
American men were convicted of murder or rape through controversial trials that did not
allow the Sioux to be represented by defense attorneys. President Lincoln reviewed the
cases and sentenced 38 men to be publically executed. After years of holding many Dakota
in Internment camps in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in April 1882, the US Government abolished
the Dakotas reservation and expelled all tribes from Minnesota. The author, George Crook
(or Wakanajaja) wrote this entry to show people the torchers that the Native Americans
faced at the hands of the White Settlers and the US government. He uses vivid detail of the
pain and suffering he and his family withstood when they were sent to Prison Camp in order
to prove that during and after the Dakota Wars, the government was never completely
innocent. These words are important because it shows how the Indians were treated as
animals at the hands of the government and that many horrible things were inflicted upon
the Native Dakota Indians as punishment following the bloody war.
American Progress
1872
John Ghast
Image/drawing
Jack peurrung

The picture created by John Gast is a very important picture that depicts the conquering of
new land for religious reasons . The idea of manifest destiny is great for taking over new
land even if previously owned by natives or who ever. America's future is based on god and
in order to spread we need to expand the borders and spread the word about starting new
communities with churches and new businesses. This idea is great for people looking to start
a new life with opportunities and hope. The idea of manifest destiny started in the early
19th century, westward expansion was in american settlers eyes. Religion was the main
motive to conquer these new lands in the west, but many used that as an excuse in hope to
start a new life somewhere and turn thieres around. This picture is used as a propaganda
piece to persuade early american settlers to expand their territory westward. The picture
makes it seem okay to take over land since it is god's will and he wants us to take over the
land.
SPEECH OF HDAINYANKA IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING WAR
1862
Hdainyanka
Speech
Meagan Jaycox

In the time periods leading up to this speech, the Dakota indians have felt betrayed by the
settlers who had broken the majority of the treaties made between the two groups, and
often left the Dakota with malnutrition families caused by unfair annuity payments, this left
even greater tensions between the two groups. The point of view of this speech is from a
tribal leader, who has seen the mistreatment of his people continue on for years, he has
seen them starving, even though they do the work theyre supposed to, and receive no pay.
This author uses strong imagery as if hed seen it himself, showing that the horrors of war,
were already all too real for them, by doing this he empowers his people to stand up and
rally together against the injustice that he sees, thus continuing the war. This speech is
significant because it signifies a time where the Dakota indians refuse to submit to the
injustices they faced with white settlers
LETTER FROM GENERAL POPE DECLARING HIS GOAL OF EXTERMINATING SIOUX
Sept. 28, 1862
General Pope
Letter
Meagan Jaycox

In previous months Hdanyanka declared in his speech, that the indians were being
mistreated and viciously killed by white settlers, he used this to justify the continuation of a
war, set in place by 4 Indians on a hunting trip, when they killed 5 white settlers for no
apparent reason. To the whites this was an act of savagery but to the Indians, (who were
often starving due to the mistreatment of whites), this was an act of revenge. Quickly after
Hdanyanka declared continuing the war in his speech, over 600 settlers were violently killed
by the indians. General Pope saw this act of savagery and used it to defend is goal of
exterminating the sioux. The purpose of this speech is to enrage the audience ( general
American/ Soldier), to take arms and kill every sioux they see, Pope wants the reader to
agree with his goals, by using strong diction and using the same strong powerful tone
throughout the letter, Pope is attempting to get people to understand his rage, his cause,
and by this he hopes to enrage them enough so his goals can be achieved.
Address To Condemned Prisoners Before Their
Executions
December 24th 1862
Reverend Riggs
Speech
Historical Context: Native Americans, including the Dakota people, have historically been depicted as
savages for killing women and children. However, many whites at the time ignored the fact that violent
actions by Natives were often in defense, and mimicked many of the violent behaviors of the white people.
At the battle of wounded Knee many white men killed native women and children, yet they received almost
no public negativity. On the other hand, every time Natives did this they were criticized and punished, such
as in Reverend Riggs address to the condemned Dakota prisoners.

Author: Reverend Riggs was a Christian missionary who had experience working with Native Americans as
he helped translate the New Testament. Unfortunately, he used his credibility as a long term partner of the
Natives to help convince people that the Natives deserved to die. He also used his position as a Christian
missionary to reason that the natives were savage with morality. Specifically, he described them as vicious
child killers that didnt deserve to live because according to Christian beliefs they were incapable of
redemption.

Why: Reverend Riggs address to the prisoners is unfair and biased, because he uses his position as a Native
translator and religious figure to justify that the Natives deserve execution, and he ignores the fact that
whites have done the same things to natives in order to help support his opinion on the issue (anti-Dakota).
Indian Land For Sale
1911
United States Department Of Interior Advertising
Advertisment

Historical Context: Before, the west was flooded with white settlers, the Sioux Indians lived
peacefully on the great plains. They were free to hunt buffalo, which at the time still existed
and farmed on their own land.

Audience/Pov/Purpose: The purpose of the Dawes Act, was to divide up the tribal lands in the
north to make individual plots of land for people to live on. The government then promised
any Native American families who agreed to live, and farm on the land; United States
Citizenship.

Why Important? This document is significant, because it shows how the white settlers; took
the native American lands without caring. At first they tried to compromise with the
reservations, but overtime became greedy and forced the natives off the land completely. By
the time this advertising came out the native had lost about 100 million acres of land.

(Elly Lindsey)
The Treaty Of Mendota
August 5, 1851
The Government- On Indian Affairs
Congressional Record

Historical Content: The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux signed on July 23, 1851; was a treaty
between the United States government and Sioux Indian bands in Minnesota Territory.
Through this treaty, the Sioux seceded large acres of land and agreed to move onto
reservations close to the Minnesota river in exchange for goods and cash supplements.

POV: The government saw this treaty as an opportunity to open up the western lands for
more white settlement; and did not care that it was pushing the Sioux indians off their own
land. To the government, it seemed to be fair; having the natives move onto reservations in
exchange for cash payments, but overtime they were slowly driven off the reservations
altogether.

Why Important? This document is significant because shows that the government, felt that
they were doing the Sioux Indians a favor by placing them on reservations; providing them
with land, goods, and cash payments to sustain themselves. However, the government was
actually pushing the natives off the land that rightfully belonged to them, disregarding
many treaties over the years.