Treaty of Traverse des Sioux: Difference between revisions
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The [[Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate|Wahpeton]] and [[Sisseton]] bands of the Upper Dakota, (sometimes spelled Dahkotah on treaties.) were hesitant to sign away so much land, but older members of the tribes believed that the results of the 1825 [[Treaty of Prairie du Chien]] and the Sioux defeat in the [[Black Hawk War]] limited their choices. The Wahpeton and Sisseton bands ceded their lands in southern and western Minnesota Territory, along with some lands in [[Iowa]] and [[Dakota Territory]]. In exchange, the United States promised payment of $1,665,000 in cash and annuities. Through the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and the [[Treaty of Mendota]], the [[Mdewakanton]] and [[Wahpekute]] bands of the Lower Sioux ceded territory of nearly 24 million acres (97,000 km²) of land. |
The [[Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate|Wahpeton]] and [[Sisseton]] bands of the Upper Dakota, (sometimes spelled Dahkotah on treaties.) were hesitant to sign away so much land, but older members of the tribes believed that the results of the 1825 [[Treaty of Prairie du Chien]] and the Sioux defeat in the [[Black Hawk War]] limited their choices. The Wahpeton and Sisseton bands ceded their lands in southern and western Minnesota Territory, along with some lands in [[Iowa]] and [[Dakota Territory]]. In exchange, the United States promised payment of $1,665,000 in cash and annuities. Through the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and the [[Treaty of Mendota]], the [[Mdewakanton]] and [[Wahpekute]] bands of the Lower Sioux ceded territory of nearly 24 million acres (97,000 km²) of land. |
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but only paid dakota 3 cents an acre, and charged setterlers $1.25 an acre |
but only paid dakota 3 cents an acre, and charged setterlers $1.25 an acre |
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The US set aside two reservations for the Sioux along the [[Minnesota River]], each about {{convert|20|mi|km|-1}} wide and {{convert|70|mi|km|-1}} long. The [[Upper Sioux Agency]] was established near [[Granite Falls, Minnesota]], while the [[Lower Sioux Agency]] was established about thirty miles downstream near [[Redwood Falls, Minnesota]]. The Upper Sioux were satisfied with their reservation, since it included several of their old villages. The Lower Sioux were displaced from their traditional woodlands, and were dissatisfied with their territory. The Sioux were also resentful of the separate "trader's paper" included in the treaty, which paid $400,000 of the promised treaty total to fur traders and mixed-bloods who had financial claims against the Indians. |
The US set aside two reservations for the Sioux along the [[Minnesota River]], each about {{convert|20|mi|km|-1}} wide and {{convert|70|mi|km|-1}} long, which later were made temperary. The [[Upper Sioux Agency]] was established near [[Granite Falls, Minnesota]], while the [[Lower Sioux Agency]] was established about thirty miles downstream near [[Redwood Falls, Minnesota]]. The Upper Sioux were not satisfied with their reservation because of low food supplies, but since it included several of their old villages they agreed,not that they had much say in it. The Lower Sioux were displaced from their traditional woodlands, and were dissatisfied with their territory. The Sioux were also resentful of the separate "trader's paper" included in the treaty, which paid $400,000 of the promised treaty total to fur traders and mixed-bloods who had financial claims against the Indians. traders papers were papers that had traders names on it that still needed to get paid from the fur trade, and stated that they got to take their money out of the Dakotas pay in land. The Dakota agreed to sigh the treaty, but they wanted a copy, so after signing the copy, they were asked to sign a third paper, they thought it was a third copy but it was the traders papers. the interpreters didn't truthfuly tell them what it ment. but they signed thinking that selling and owning land was like selling and owning the air they breath, they didn't really understand. |
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Despite these issues, the crush of settlers moving into the area meant more people encroaching on Sioux land. As the US had promised increased annuity payments in exchange for more land cessions, Sioux leaders went to Washington, D.C. in 1858 to sign another pair of treaties; these ceded the reservation north of the Minnesota River. |
Despite these issues, the crush of settlers moving into the area meant more people encroaching on Sioux land. As the US had promised increased annuity payments in exchange for more land cessions, Sioux leaders went to Washington, D.C. in 1858 to sign another pair of treaties; these ceded the reservation north of the Minnesota River. |
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Revision as of 14:48, 23 December 2010
by Frank Blackwell Mayer
The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux (10 Stat. 949) was a treaty signed on July 23, 1851, between the United States government and Sioux Indian bands in Minnesota Territory by which the Sioux ceded territory. The treaty was instigated by Alexander Ramsey, the first governor of Minnesota Territory, and Luke Lea, Commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. The United States wanted the treaty to gain control of agricultural lands for more settlers.
Background
The Wahpeton and Sisseton bands of the Upper Dakota, (sometimes spelled Dahkotah on treaties.) were hesitant to sign away so much land, but older members of the tribes believed that the results of the 1825 Treaty of Prairie du Chien and the Sioux defeat in the Black Hawk War limited their choices. The Wahpeton and Sisseton bands ceded their lands in southern and western Minnesota Territory, along with some lands in Iowa and Dakota Territory. In exchange, the United States promised payment of $1,665,000 in cash and annuities. Through the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and the Treaty of Mendota, the Mdewakanton and Wahpekute bands of the Lower Sioux ceded territory of nearly 24 million acres (97,000 km²) of land. but only paid dakota 3 cents an acre, and charged setterlers $1.25 an acre The US set aside two reservations for the Sioux along the Minnesota River, each about 20 miles (30 km) wide and 70 miles (110 km) long, which later were made temperary. The Upper Sioux Agency was established near Granite Falls, Minnesota, while the Lower Sioux Agency was established about thirty miles downstream near Redwood Falls, Minnesota. The Upper Sioux were not satisfied with their reservation because of low food supplies, but since it included several of their old villages they agreed,not that they had much say in it. The Lower Sioux were displaced from their traditional woodlands, and were dissatisfied with their territory. The Sioux were also resentful of the separate "trader's paper" included in the treaty, which paid $400,000 of the promised treaty total to fur traders and mixed-bloods who had financial claims against the Indians. traders papers were papers that had traders names on it that still needed to get paid from the fur trade, and stated that they got to take their money out of the Dakotas pay in land. The Dakota agreed to sigh the treaty, but they wanted a copy, so after signing the copy, they were asked to sign a third paper, they thought it was a third copy but it was the traders papers. the interpreters didn't truthfuly tell them what it ment. but they signed thinking that selling and owning land was like selling and owning the air they breath, they didn't really understand.
Despite these issues, the crush of settlers moving into the area meant more people encroaching on Sioux land. As the US had promised increased annuity payments in exchange for more land cessions, Sioux leaders went to Washington, D.C. in 1858 to sign another pair of treaties; these ceded the reservation north of the Minnesota River.
The US intended the treaties to encourage the Sioux to convert from their nomadic hunting lifestyle into more European-American settled farming, offering them compensation in the transition. The forced change in lifestyle and the much lower than expected payments from the federal government caused economic suffering and increased tensions within the tribes. Finally their resentments broke out in the Dakota War of 1862.
See also
References
- Carley, Kenneth (1976). The Sioux Uprising of 1862 (Second edition ed.). Minnesota Historical Society. ISBN 0-87351-103-4.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - Lass, William E. (1998) [1977]. Minnesota: A History (2nd ed.). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-04628-1.