Sarah Saugen
Readings for April 2, 2008
Satz Chapter 4- The Removal Order and the Wisconsin Death March
Chapter 4 in Chippewa Treaty Rights: The Reserved Rights of Wisconsin’s Chippewa Indians in Historical Perspective touches on a very sensitive subject in the history of America. One of the main events that led to the removal order of 1850 was the 1848 annuity payment at La Pointe. The payment was not made on time, and the Indians had to travel miles out of their way. This caused them to lose their wild rice crops (due to the amount of time that it took them to travel) and in addition to these losses, they were also charged “exorbitant rates” for the goods that they needed from the traders. It was beneficial for these traders to conduct their business further west, as they would not face as much competition and therefore be able to charge higher prices. They pushed to have the Indians moved further west so that they would not have to settle for moderate prices. The Executive Order In 1849, the Minnesota Territory legislature passed resolutions to revoke the Chippewa Indians usufructuary rights to the land ceded in the Treaties of 1837 and 1842. Indian Commissioner Orlando Brown made recommendations to President Taylor, who in turn issued the Executive Order of February 6, 1850. This order revoked the Indians' rights to the ceded lands, and ordered them to remove to unceded lands further west. The Wisconsin Indians were not aware that they had ceded land rights in either treaty, only copper rights. They were also under the understanding that they would never be asked to move unless they acted violently against the whites. Many people were extremely opposed to the removal of the native peoples and merchants, missionaries, newspapers, and other influential citizens rallied together to gather support for the Indians. The Wisconsin Death March Governor Ramsey and John Watrous decided to lure the Chippewas to Minnesota by means of changing the site of the 1850 annuity payment from La Pointe to Sandy Lake. The Governor arranged for the Indians to pick up their annuity payment in October, as undertaking the removal plan after the first of November would lead to much hardship. The Indians went to Sandy Lake, but the subagent arrived six weeks late and with no payment. The Indians were left in Minnesota without adequate shelter or provisions, and with winter about to settle in. Over 400 Indians died from infectious disease, hunger, and exposure. Many of the Indians were forced to burn their canoes, forcing them to return to Wisconsin on foot. This unfortunate decision by Governor Ramsey greatly weakened the Wisconsin bands and caused them to be even more dependent on the U.S. government.
Date created: June, 2002
Last modified: April, 2008
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George R. Spangler