Odds & Ends
Who was the first Territorial Governor of Minnesota?
Hint: Alexander ________
Alexander Ramsey
In simplest terms, what is Fort Snelling?
A Military Base in Minnesota
Define Westward Expansion
The movement of settlers and immigrants west to undeveloped land
Which group had more power in the process of creating and signing treaties?
The American Settlers
Define the Vocab word:
Debt
Something that is owed. Often money, goods, or work/services
An early explorer troop of soldiers traveled up the Mississippi river in search of finding land to acquire and build a fort. They found an area in Dakota land to camp at. The Dakota called the spot Bdote (Beh-doh-tay). What does this translate to?
"The place where two rivers meet"
At the time of its initial construction and opening, what was the main job of Fort Snelling soldiers?
To enforce the U.S. laws related to the fur trade. Protect the trade process and supplies from British involvement, and keep peace between the Natives and the Settlers
After the Revolutionary War, the United States won land west of the 13 colonies from who?
Great Britain
Name one of the two main treaties that gave the American Settlers the land that is now southern Minnesota
(Double Points if you can name both)
Traverse des Sioux and Mendota
Name the vocab word that goes with this definition:
Specific land set aside by the U.S. Government for Native American use
Reservation
As Minnesota developed, many sawmills began quickly popping up along the river. Why?
- Sawmills produces the wood needed to continue building settlements
- The river provided helpful transportation to move materials to and from the sawmills faster
How did the U.S. Government obtain the land that Fort Snelling is built on?
A treaty arranged with Dakota leaders
Name the two groups who were the original inhabitants of this land
Dakota & Ojibwe
Name one reason that the treaty of Traverse des Sioux ended up being unfair for the Native Americans
- Did not get the promised annuities
- The money they did "get" was handed over to Fur traders who claimed the Natives owed them money
- Tricked the Natives with English Language
Define the vocab word:
Ratify
To formally or officially approve something
When reflecting on the development of Minnesota, Alexander Ramsey talked about the "obstacles" that they had been keeping them from developing Minnesota. What are the "obstacles" that he was referring to?
Native tribes living on the land
Name one of the two nearest cities to Fort Snelling
St. Paul and Mendota
What did the American Settlers do to the acquire land for Westward Expansion?
Create treaties with the Native Americans that allowed them to take over the land that the Natives were living and hunting on.
Name 2 different reasons why the American Settlers wanted to create treaties with the Native Americans
- Westward Expansion
- Pay off debt from the fur trade
- Remove Native Americans and their culture from the desired land
Define the vocab word:
Annuity
An annual/ongoing payment of food, goods, or money.
The U.S. Government paid an annuity to the Native Americans in exchange for land
The Fur Trade was one of the main industries that funded and motivated Westward Expansion. The fur was commonly used for the trendy and expensive "top hat". What are the 2 animal furs most commonly used to create this item?
Beaver fur and Muskrat Fur
What is significant about the location of Fort Snelling?
It is located right above the confluence (meeting point) of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers
Treaties were often used to exchange land and goods between the Native Tribes and the American Settlers. What would happen if Tribe did not want to sign a treaty and give up land?
The United States would use it's power and often force (sometimes through threats or acts of violence) the Natives to sign the treaties anyway.
Name 2 reasons why Native Americans chose to sign treaties
- Freedom to continue their own culture on reservations
- Money to pay off debts
- Extra supplies & resources
- To prevent war/not be forced by violence
Adopting the values and habits of another group
Assimilation