Brief History

The following important events in the history of Minnesota affected political jurisdictions, family movements, and record keeping.

• 1686– 1762: The French established a chain of forts and small settlements in the area of Minnesota.

• 1763–1819: The area was controlled by British fur traders of the Northwest Company.

• 1783: Great Britain grants eastern portions of Minnesota to the United States.

• 1787–1800: Part of Northwest Territory

• 1800– 1809: Part of Indiana Territory

• 1803: The United States obtains the western portion of the area through the Louisiana Purchase.

• 1805: The U.S. purchased land for Fort Snelling

• 1809–1818: Part of Illinois Territory

• 1818: The northern part of Minnesota ceded by British

• 1820: The U.S. Army establishes Fort Snelling at its permanent location near the future site of St. Paul. It becomes a nucleus of settlement. Mississippi River steamboats reach Fort Snelling in 1823.

• 1818–1836: The area that is now Minnesota is in Michigan Territory.

• 1836: All of Minnesota is in Wisconsin Territory.

• 1837: Sioux and Chippewa Indians sell their claim to the St. Croix Valley, opening the way to major white settlements in eastern Minnesota.

• 1840: Some Minnesota residents are listed in the 1840 territorial censuses of Wisconsin and Iowa.

• 1847: Chippewa Indians cede land

• 1849: (March 3,) Congress creates Minnesota Territory.

• 1852: (July 23,) Sioux Indians turned over all their land in Iowa and most of their land in Minnesota to U.S.

• 1851–1855: The Indians give up their rights to millions of acres of land west of the Mississippi River.

• 1854-1855:  Chippewa Indians cede land

• 1857:  Spirit Lake Massacre (Iowa)

• 1854: Large scale immigration begins when the railroad reaches the Mississippi River.

• 1858: (May 11,) Minnesota gains statehood.

• 1861–1865: The Civil War and Indian wars involve 22,000 men.

• 1862:  Sioux Indians led by Chief Little Crow killed about one thousand white settlers. The Sioux were subdued and forced to give up their lands and move into the Dakotas.

• 1862: Dakota Conflict

• 1863: (August 18,) Chief Little Crow led Sioux uprising in Minnesota. Indians defeated by Henry Sibley at Wood Lake September 23rd.

• 1863:  Chippewa Indians cede land

• 1866:  Chippewa Indians cede land

• 1889: Indians ceded land

• 1870–1890: Rapid settlement as homesteaders— many immigrants from Germany, Sweden, and Norway—move into western and southwestern Minnesota.

• 1898: Over 300,000 men were involved in the Spanish-American War which was fought mainly in Cuba and the Philippines.

• 1917–1918: More than 26 million men from the United States ages 18 through 45 registered with the Selective Service. World War I over 4.7 million American men and women served during the war.

• 1930s: Many Mexican Americans arrive.

• 1930's: The Great Depression closed many factories and mills. Many small farms were abandoned, and many families moved to cities.

• 1940–1945: Over 50.6 million men ages 18 to 65 registered with the Selective Service. Over 16.3 million American men and women served in the armed forces during World War II. More than 6,000 Minnesota soldiers lose their lives in World War II.

• 1950–1953: Over 5.7 million American men and women served in the Korean War.

• 1950's–1960's The building of interstate highways made it easier for people to move long distances.

• 1964–1972: Over 8.7 million American men and women served in the Vietnam War.

• 1970s: Arrival of refugees from southeast Asia