The Dakota Conflict Essay

The largest mass execution in United States history took place in Mankato, Minnesota in 1862. Thirty- eight Dakota “warriors” were hung simultaneously. The hangings were to take place on Christmas Day. It was considered unchristian to hang people on Christmas so the hanging was postponed until the next day. The conflict that was taking place was called the Dakota Conflict. When the white man came to America, they took on a manifest destiny attitude. Every tribe became grouped together in the minds of white businessmen regardless of how different the numerous tribes were. The belief was that the native people needed to be Christianized by God’s chosen people. Even though there was plenty of land for everyone involved, the white businessmen

When the government did send food, they sent cornmeal that had been rained on, baked in the sun, and refused by the soldiers. Andrew Myrick is famous for saying “as far as I’m concerned, they can go eat grass.” No one cared enough about the starving people. Because the promise of food wasn’t kept, there was an inciting incident that could have been prevented. One day, four starving, young men came across a chicken coop. They were caught stealing eggs. The young men went back to their tribe and the tribe decided to protect the young men from the harsh justice they would face from the white man. The family that caught the men stealing eggs ended up dead. After the Mexican American war, and the civil war, there was a concentrated military effort to go after the many different tribes one after one. The Indian wars weren’t so much battles as massacres. The battles that took place were just another way to try to take care of the “Indian problem.” When the warriors were hung, they went to their deaths bravely. They held hands and sang a death song. It was a shock to all those watching. The event could have even seemed cheerful if not for the gallows involved. Not only did the people die, any support for the natives died that day