The first Europeans that came to Minnesota were French explorers, traders soldiers and missionaries. The explorers were trying to find the North Passage, the traders came for the fur and the missionaries came to convert the Natice Dakota. In 1762 Spain gained control of west Minnesota and Britain gained control of east Minnesota, During the years that followed settlements were brought along the Mississippi river. In 1821 a group of Swiss families came and settled in Minnesota, several years later more Swiss families came. They were the first truly agricultural settlers to settle in Minnesota. The first school for children of any race in Minnesota was established in 1847.
GERMAN MIGRATION TO MINNESOTA:
Germans have been coming to Minnesota since it was a colony of Britain, many came in search of religious freedom, because in those times there wasn't alot of religious freedom. German immigration was at its peak during the 1860 and 1870's. Many came to the United States because of problems in their country. Many areas in Minnesota attracted the settlers, they settled in many different parts of Minnesota. Mostly in the southern part, such as Winona.
SWEDISH MIGRATION TO MINNESOTA:
Swedish migration to Minnesota took place around the 19 and 20th century. They mostly left because of lack of land in their country, also because of religious problems and military service. Young man had to train in the Swedish military army for 30 days of the year, by 1900 it was increased to 240 days. Swedish settlers came to Minnesota because there was more employment and higer payment. It also had very rich land to farm on. Also some geographic similarities brought them to Minnesota. Some of the areas that had lakes reminded the Swedish of parts of their homeland in Sweden. They mostly settled in St. Croix and Rum river valley, on the western part of Minnesota.
NORWEGIAN MIGRATION TO MINNESOTA:
Many Norwegian families came to Minnesota was because they lived under a very strict social system. They went to the States because the States didnt have a caste system yet. They also left because of a increase in population, so there wasn't alot of jobs. They came to Minnesota because there was alot of land and it was very cheap. It was only $1 per acre, the soil was rich and good for farming. They mostly settled in the southern part of Minnesota.
NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES IN MINNESOTA:
One of the most common Minnesota’s tribes is the Dakota, they were mainly in Southern Minnesota, they lived in agricultural communities. They accepted "white settlements" and seizure of their land for payment. IN 1862, the money did not arrive, the local traders said they would not give any more credit to the Dakota, and that they were free to eat grass. As a result on August 17, 1862 they attacked the settlements. It was in the middle of the American Civil war, they gathered enough troops to put down the attacks more then 300 Dakota were sentenced to die 4 there crimes, out of the 300 , 38 of those were hanged, on a single day in December 26, 1862, the 38 that were hanged are remembered every year at two separate "pow wows" in Minnesota. The Dakota are part of 7 tribes, that speak 3 different languages, the other two are Lakota and Nakota.