When the French first began exploring Minnesota in the
1600's, they found the Dakota Tribe of Native Americans or Indians in the
northern forests. With the arrival of the French, however, another tribe
called the Ojibwa began to immigrate into the western Great Lakes area,
including Minnesota. They were friends of the French, and often helped them
with the western tribes, including the Dakota.
Trade with the white man brought new tools to the Indian and
new and faster ways of doing things. A steel ax, for example, saved hours or
even days off the work of building a house, a canoe, or even chopping
firewood. A gun made hunting easier than traditional bow and arrow.
In exchange, the white traders wanted fur for European
markets. This meant that Indians did more hunting and trapping than before.
And soon, traditional Indian activities were less important, like making
baskets, pottery, clothing, etc. With these traders also arrived alcohol:
something native Indians did not have before the Europeans arrived. Christian
missionaries also arrived and wanted to change the Indians religion. Soon
Native American traditional values were in danger.
The population of the eastern British colonies was greater
than of the French in the center of the United States. Soon there was war
between France and England for control of the center part of the United
States, as well as Canada. When England was victorious, control of the upper
United States, including Minnesota, went to them in 1763. The American
revolution and independence came in 1776.
|
Although the Minnesota territory became American with the
American Revolution in 1776, the British controlled Minnesota through Canada
into the early 1800's. The first American step toward occupation was the
building of Fort Snelling where the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers came
together to flow south. However, the Red River at the western border of
Minnesota flows north! Minnesota's rivers and lakes determined exploration,
trade, settlement and economic growth. The name Minnesota means "Land of
sky-blue waters".
Fort Snelling was not only a military center, but also the
center of exploration and settlement, especially of the capital of the state,
St. Paul. Along the rivers, industries of agriculture, flour milling, and
lumbering grew. Minnesota was organized as a territory in 1849 with about 5000
people. In 1858 it became the 32nd state of the United States with a
population of about 150,000. Immigrants at this time were mostly from northern
Europe, especially from the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, and
Finland.
Early settlement of Minnesota was very hard for its first
European people. Often there was trouble with the Indians who felt they were
dealt with unjustly and who were losing their land. Farmers often lived very
far from one another. There were no doctors, schools, or help in difficult
times. In 1873-75 grasshoppers ate all the farmers crops. In dry summers there
were often great fires that raced across the land. In 1873 there was a
financial crisis in the cities and many people lost their savings. After the
1800's, the population grew mostly from eastern Europe. Often they settled in
northern Minnesota to work in mines. In 1884, iron ore was discovered near
Lake Superior. Soon Minnesota was to lead the nation in this mining. Shipping
was across the Great Lakes to supply the great steel industries of the eastern
U.S.
Minnesota is about sixth in total farm sales in the United
States. The southwest is part of the great Plains and "corn belt". The hilly
forest region in the southeast is mainly dairy farming. The flat, rich area of
the northwest Red River Valley is good for wheat and sugar beet production.
Twenty-one percent of the population work in manufacturing,
most in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Electronic and communications are a
great part of this total. Computer companies include IBM, Honeywell, and
Control Data. Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, or 3M, has its international
headquarters in St. Paul.
|
