territorial era minnesota territorial era minnesota covers history land modern state minnesota achieving formed area rich history long history european presence area 19th century 19th century united_states began establish firm presence minnesota minnesota culture perceived area early history fact originated period notably heavy scandinavian immigration state known pioneering days chronicled author occurred later 19th century unlike later years half 19th century characterized sparsely populated communities harsh living conditions degree era period economic transition dominant enterprise area 17th century fur trade later tribes hunted gathered trading french british later american traders sites trade gradually declined early 19th century demand europe diminished lumber industry grew rapidly replacing key economic resource grain production began develop late time emerging economic basis saw mills later grain mills east central minnesota development end era east central minnesota replaced northern minnesota economic center area era period cultural transition time took possession region native americans far largest ethnic groups role fur trade gave steady stream income significant political influence french british americans asserted territorial claims area french british traders mixed native society area decades peacefully contributing society creating new ethnic groups consisting mixed race peoples americans established outposts area fur trade declined dynamics changed dramatically economic influence native americans diminished american territorial ideology increasingly sought limit influence large waves immigration 1850s suddenly changed demographics years population shifted predominantly native predominantly people european descent native mixed race populations continued influence territory culture politics end territorial era time achieved influence steep decline heavy immigration new_england new_york led minnesota labeled new england west background 17th century native american tribe known reached minnesota westward migration having come region maine experienced dealing european traders tensions rose dominant area ensuing years french exploration minnesota known begun 17th century explorers like france signed treaty number tribes allow trade area french settlements began appear explored western area helping advance trade leading establishment modern named roman catholic priest captured exploring north_america famed explorer discovered named account expedition minnesota interior captain connecticut reached later 18th century trader explored valley noting significant european settlement region addition natives explorers searching large inland seas north_america continued pass region built french lake facilitate exploration 17th century lucrative trade developed native americans trapped animals near traders shipped animal europe centuries trade network prime economic driver area notable result trade network people mixed race community descended native americans french traders mixed race peoples particular 18th century numerous french english traders minnesota region purchased wives order establish relationships secure supply tribes formed capitalize native american fur trade near company came dominate north american trade 18th century montreal formed compete establishing western headquarters key exchange point minnesota numerous warehouses britain main fur trading posts detroit british ships crossed regularly transporting supplies region bringing valuable property british operations continued operate area time parts minnesota claimed different times spain france britain nations significant efforts establish major settlements area instead french british established trading posts utilized natives area suppliers land east mississippi_river granted united_states second treaty paris end american revolution included modern day minneapolis including northeast north central east central portions state wording treaty minnesota area depended landmarks reported fur traders erroneously reported isle long lake west island belief mississippi_river ran modern canada region claimed states subsequently ceded federal government remaining areas state purchased france area west mississippi having recently acquired france spain parts northern minnesota considered land large territory owned exact definition boundary minnesota british north_america addressed entire today southeastern northwestern minnesota considered british subject colonization schemes particularly colony known established valley fact occupied middle 17th century established supply british fur trade problems beginning important minnesota area early fur trade supplying early settlers region pioneers exploration beginning 19th century parts minnesota area traveled british french explorers region population native american important british trading posts area european mixed race settlers particularly north particular long established major trading center british fur trader montreal completed numerous surveys maps north american frontier completed known map minnesota area obliged british settlers withdraw settlements mixed race peoples remained lieutenant sent general governor enforce sovereignty british traders area establish diplomatic trading relationships native tribes met leadership central minnesota secure rights area near saint later city treaty signed leaders tribes legitimacy including understood dubious ultimately efforts little establish authority area major led expedition prairie reach documented terrain today occupied minneapolis native american villages existed time 49th parallel established boundary united_states british north_america point crossed line marked conducted survey expedition expedition determined things fur trading post lay inside border efforts determine source mississippi_river italian explorer split long expedition found believed source mississippi_river actual source found guided group headed lake northern minnesota named combining latin words truth head conducted geological survey valley wrote account entitled canoe voyage scouted area late 1830s accompanied exploring mapping basin saint river land mississippi forts important british american frontier system forts built military forts provided safe shelter soldiers explorers frontier base operations expeditions military commercial forts area french particularly built 18th century later abandoned french indian war british british fort charlotte grand essential fur trade protecting supplying british traders area natives british fort operated area illegally area recognized united_states french british fortifications fort charles existed region abandoned earlier government built fort later rebuilt near modern minnesota prairie wisconsin play significant role involvement minnesota particularly site treaty prairie major military presence inside boundaries modern minnesota fort saint anthony later renamed fort commander land fort confluence minnesota mississippi rivers acquired legendary explorer concerns mounted fur trade area construction fort began completed missions fort disputes tribes agent important figure spent years fort finally resigning built central minnesota near modern built provide military presence frontier near new reservation created tribe moved iowa addition helped serve built near reservation southwestern minnesota near modern new named secretary honor army officers named died mexican american war fort created watch addition larger frontier replaced iowa decommissioned period fort operated military post fort built border minnesota near modern fort moved soon afterward flooding problems created spur settlement protect traffic river protect wagon trains travelling montana addition military bases private companies operated numerous trading posts region referred forts typically little way defensive fortifications native americans main native american tribal groups dominated minnesota time lands acquired united_states established migrated area recently groups fought bitter territorial wars 18th century century battle defeated permanently established northeastern minnesota particularly territory southern western minnesota skirmishes groups continued 19th century including battle near traverse battle near site known war sided british times aided americans took opportunity attack enemy tribes notable american loyalist chief rising admirer pike joined army minnesota saw significant conflict war natives region recruited fight east areas particular half british captain heavily recruited branch including chiefs employees engaged territorial conflicts known fur trade wars including famous result conflicts numerous migrated area central eastern minnesota particularly vicinity red river exodus major source immigration minnesota territorial era mixed race groups regarded french canadian whites indians 1820s animal resources decline area leading increased competition tribes game sell fur trading companies led dramatic drop fur prices late 1820s causing hunters government strongly encouraged tribes turn hunting farming trading woodlands plains increasing territorial conflict western frontier particularly mississippi river led government attempt conflicts president policy tribes ultimately sufficiently allow westward expansion american settlers remove tribes areas prevented settlement treaty prairie provisions established southern minnesota modern homeland given northern minnesota wisconsin government failed enforce treaty agreements leading indian agent peace badly blame causing lands enemies following treaty tribes iowa relocated long prairie reservation central minnesota late 1840s establishing important presence territory poor land new reservation tribe subsequently negotiated treaty allowing relocate south substantial land process native tribes experienced gradual government inability honor treaty commitments major leaders tribes hole day success treaty negotiations tribes great facilitated mixed race families treaty traverse des gave upper lands west mississippi_river government treaty year ceded lower lands southern minnesota requiring relocation area near modern treaties amended ratification process eliminate explicit guarantees lands retained tribes additionally promised payments delivered ostensibly debts owed fur traders despite american hunger land leadership actually want remove territory federal subsidies tribes heavily settlements removal tribes territory meant loss income increasing continued treaty violations united_states soon lead band led war chief attacked community spirit lake iowa near minnesota border killing white settlers event referred spirit lake massacre went attack springfield minnesota modern jackson killing seven turned bands launched war defeated apart killed war killed mass execution largest mass execution history hundreds european americans killed government subsequent nation minnesota new commercial enterprises important commercial enterprise early territorial era lucrative fur trade beginning 19th century british companies competed dominance north american trade north west company western headquarters smaller companies operated area principal british trading shipping points north_america following treaty paris british operations grand technically illegal trade continued beginning began establishing headquarters north border newly constructed ontario grand reduced minor trading center traders eventually abandoned area absorbed shipped final band employed company majority fur trading posts minnesota area owned founded new_york taken significant fur shipping point minnesota region near modern far north state location significant key multiple waterways shipping atlantic posts location originally significant trading post claimed time key interests fur trade dominated trade united_states exclusion british companies government beginning 1820s fur trading route developed colony modern trading posts minnesota primarily later system cart trails came known principally way avoid fur trade monopoly absorbed cross border trade entirely illegal violated policies enforcement trade american british authorities virtually non existent trail system reach peak usage mid-19th century continued expand presence north border establishing new posts fur trade decline late 1830s went bankrupt operations kept trade collapsing entirely trade declined lumber industry began grow substantially areas saint valley valuable white pine plentiful new saw mills appeared marine lumber typically cut winter sent downstream spring businessman built private saint anthony falls later town opening commercial mississippi_river quickly followed soon minnesota major lumber headed destinations flour mill minnesota built fort lumber mill private grain mill built minneapolis gained grain mill 1850s grain production began develop rapidly minnesota significant grain known virginia arrived fort carrying indian agent 1830s steady large stream traffic river including ships listed pleasure parties railroad reach mississippi illinois completed event celebrated mississippi minnesota touched wave interest minnesota tourists visited began publication newspaper paper later renamed time area achieved newspapers established information minnesota published periodicals spread united_states europe advertising campaigns launched northeastern europe lure european settlers efforts met limited success successful scenic rapidly developed destination tourists traveling mississippi luxury hotel overlooking falls constructed late 1860s popular summer resort wealthy major sources income territory 1850s government payments tribes required earlier treaties payments amounted year average million present day terms compared approximately year million present day terms given territory development corruption payments tribes great deal money directly settlers commercial community development questionable benefit tribes beginning minnesota territory fact payments territory important source income fur trade longer lucrative exports settlements era native americans outnumbered european settlers minnesota significant settlements minnesota area included located moved treaty significant settlements included community developed commerce established native american settlements territory american settlements size according scholars village like population largest settlement numerous settlements territory gave total native american population easily outnumbered white settlers outset 19th century european settlements related fur trade largest settlements trading posts established particularly sandy lake historian documented fur trading posts varying sizes minnesota area posts eventually taken settlers abandoned 1820s entered united_states way instead moving eastern canada returning europe adding minnesota region population construction began finished fort settlement east central minnesota nearby established period regional headquarters drew settlement area soon minnesota commercial center stone buildings territory constructed employees bought animal location logging industry spurred development settlements railroads relied river transportation bring logs market minnesota timber resources attractive towns like marine founded significant lumber centers fed saint river supplied lumber areas southern minnesota 1830s group ill fated established camp near fort complaints residents fort new restrictions placed forcing mississippi_river site known eye popular group established saloon new site named settlement pig eye later changing finally local chapel location convenient site landing line established town regular stop attractive advantage commerce caused settlement develop significantly soon prominence general store operator fort established interests area claim lands adjacent following land treaty built falls establishing basis town grew employee pointed land west falls good site future mills land west military reservation stevens deal commander stevens provide free ferry service river exchange tract acres km2 head falls stevens received claim built house house minneapolis later stevens city minneapolis west bank bridge main channel mississippi nation built minneapolis treaties native american tribes government opened minnesota settlement longer frontier outpost efforts establish minnesota prominent future state union swift territorial legislature petitioned land build railroad milwaukee wisconsin year legislature incorporated established university admit students years later formed major white settlements modern minneapolis new settlements began appear rapidly established jackson johnson williams established captain new established german immigrants rochester established new settlements established immigrants eastern europe town example established minnesota native mixed french canadian ancestry influx settlers 1850s transformed minnesota sparsely populated territory white settlers significantly larger native population substantial population center predominantly european settlers city expanded people result heavy immigration new_england new_york regions major towns originated trading centers political manufacturing centers new settlements minnesota laid heavily favor business districts city halls plan philosophy spurred growth economic links communities parts minnesota territory established commissioner emigration advertisements speeches new immigrants new_york expanded immigration trend later created large german community society 1850s native american population vastly outnumbered population european ancestry area division indian white era somewhat vague general persons mixed descent considered white dressed european clothing adopted european customs indians lived traditional native lifestyles began establish authority region settlers began arrive native american population continued hold significant political social influence result fur trade experienced hunters important north_america major business enterprises decline trade later era marked decline native american influence following treaty opened settlement later establishment triangle remained island white culture settlement vast majority minnesota area indian country contemporary accounts larger towns 1840s indicate majority population predominantly french ancestry communities european culture strictly dominant commenting minnesota culture 1840s governor described streets saying common blankets painted faces indians red french half breeds greatly picturesque costume anglo american race fact likely large percentage white population reported census partially native american ancestry men mixed racial ancestry respected members white society example son american entrepreneur hailed new_york began working john mixed blood mother father old french british fur trade educated east early 1850s lived working independent translator contractor warren good writer newspaper articles eventually published 19th century history elected territorial legislature death consumption establishment treaty waves immigrants europe came territory rapidly changing demographics changes occurred areas racial divisions indians whites persisted late common practice jurisdictions men allowed vote based wearing european clothing according observers natives given polling location share single pair trousers wearing long cast ballot logging trading communities territory known centers vice commonly social centers towns bath houses adding character society gathering places attracted traders numerous traveling countryside late 1840s 1850s witnessed large scale immigration eastern europe approximately percent minnesota population came new_york new_england state fact time known new england west maine particular contributed large number immigrants probably large number maine growing lumber industry minnesota 1850s racist ideology prevalent began affect minnesota significantly past ruling class composed primarily settlers increasingly discussed white inhabitants key minnesota future eye role inferior races future author described minnesota 1850s waste woodland prairie save different savage tribes time territory complicated late commonly treated equals community children races attending schools late 1840s blacks completely addition prevented running office children segregated schools contrast irish catholics native americans adopted european lifestyles allowed vote children segregated classrooms anglo americans generally accepted business development african americans largely opposed business development irish immigrants minnesota multi area era earlier parts era french english widely language widespread late 1850s english grown spoken language new immigrants brought additional languages territory newspapers published german die minnesota swedish minnesota norwegian czech languages communities population region earlier decades followed traditional tribal religious practices known area long acquisition french traders lived catholic missionary activity expanded greatly early 19th century catholic_church particularly established newer phenomenon protestant missionaries entered region early 19th century protestant church appeared waves immigration 1850s rapidly largest religious group african americans slavery theory outlawed slavery including minnesota area ordinance specifically stated shall slavery said territory punishment crime party shall duly convicted ordinance seen ambiguous specifically address slaves territories discussed free population territories seemingly implying slave population exist french traders territories later american army officers including commanded namesake fort continued hold slaves congress number african americans territory period small insignificant newcomers continued bring slaves free blacks working servants completely independent pioneers information black immigrants earlier periods sparse records fort slaves records indicate population free blacks total population citizens territory excluded native american tribes 1840s free persons expect treated equal racial groups time minnesota achieved blacks schools segregated despite start minnesota territory leadership predominantly ending practice era famous early african americans territory born minnesota father son freed slave mother member tribe montreal eventually fur trader northwest territories went serve interpreter negotiations particularly representative michigan governor brother stephen served interpreter fort treaty 1850s played key role infamous scott court case slaves scott wife taken fort master lived fort territories slavery prohibited death argued lived free territory longer slaves ultimately sided decision helped fuel slavery leading bleeding kansas conflicts eventually american_civil_war government politics earlier 19th century area today minnesota recognized single entity mississippi_river divided eastern british french lands north_america western spanish lands time seen separation territories division territories region british territories remained ambiguous set border british north_america 49th parallel west small land dubbed border disputes east continued half 19th century northeastern portion state formed ohio area new illinois territory illinois area incorporated later western southern areas state formally organized following admission wisconsin state minnesota area temporarily government secretary claimed governorship remained territory short term measure time minnesota residents largely democrats time controlled democrats hoped congress sympathetic concerns year meeting held nominally led later known discuss establishing new territory participants elected representative congress chair united states drafted bill authorizing envisioned future upper mississippi valley motivated area carved neighboring territories prevented iowa including northern border kept organizers wisconsin including established lands remaining iowa territory march extended far dispute shape state carved alternate proposal narrowly defeated 46th parallel state northern border western border giving northern half state exchange eastern half later governor territorial delegate united_states congress replaced territorial delegate worked congress promote minnesota interests lobbied construction railroad connecting link organization minimal discussion minnesota discussion potential railroad leaders minnesota recognized territory weak position lobby economic opportunity december rice brought forward bills congress enabling act allow minnesota form state constitution railroad land grant bill enabling act defined state containing prairie forest lands boundaries drawn today bid came time tensions rising tensions later lead american_civil_war debate admitting minnesota free state heated enabling act finally passed february constitutional convention assembled territory july divisions republicans democrats led drafting separate larger cities domain democrats southern minnesota domain republicans single constitution finally worked factions powerful democrats ultimately prevailed issues resentment parties remained separate copies constitution members party sign copy signed members party copies signed august election called october approve document voters approved constitution rejected state constitution sent united_states congress ratification december approval process drawn months congress debated issues stemmed kansas nebraska act questions surrounding kansas settled bill minnesota passed eastern half minnesota territory boundaries defined country 32nd state western remained incorporation march popular culture explored minnesota published song containing references regions minnesota story based legends carried east explorers traders particularly collected known joe fur trader territorial legislator partially mixed french native american ancestry iconic figure known minnesota history famous following passage bill moved territorial capital saint peter bill preventing law stories passed generations making legend historical figure state moniker state today widely known selected mid-19th century means create identity state believed beaver state selected instead political cartoon featuring soon solidified state known identity
Territorial era of Minnesota