History of North Dakota

North Dakota State Flag

Facts About

North and South Dakota were one territory until 1889

Facts about the History of North Dakota History - 1600's Indians of North Dakota

  • The Native Indians of North Dakota included the Arapaho, Arikara, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Dakota and Mandan tribes.

  • 1610 - Henry Hudson (1565-1611) English and navigator explores the area claims the eastern area of Dakota for England.

  • 1682 - Claimed by the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687) for France.

Facts about the History of North Dakota History - 1700's

  • 1713 - England receives the northern part of Dakota from France

  • 1738 - French explorer, Pierre Gaultier de la Vérendrye (1732-1739 ), lead the first known Euro-American expedition into Dakota
    1742 - The sons of Pierre Gaultier de la Vérendrye conduct further expeditions into Dakota 

  • 1756 - 1763 - The Seven Years War (French and Indian War) due to disputes over land is won by Great Britain. France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba.

  • 1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution creates the United States of America. The Revolution was due to the British burden of taxes and total power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies

  • July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

  • July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces

  • September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain

  • 1787 - David Thompson (1770-1857) Fur Trader and Mapmaker for the Hudson's Bay and North West Company completes the first formal mapping of Dakota

Facts about the History of North Dakota History - The Early 1800's

  • Claimed by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase (1803)

  • The Louisiana Purchase - In 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France. The U.S. Secretary of State, James Madison paid 15 million dollars for the land

  • 1804 - Lewis and Clark expedition - Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) and William Clark (1770- 1838)

  • 1812 - 1815 - The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but
    confirmed America's Independence

Facts about the History of North Dakota History - The American Civil War

  • 1861 - 1865 The American Civil War. In 1859 John Brown raided Harpers Ferry and set in motion events that led directly to the outbreak of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, a known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861 the South Secedes. The initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy.

  • 1865 December 6 - The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery

  • 1889 - North and South Dakota become separate territories

  • 1898-1901 The Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.

Origin of the name

  • Named after the Dakota, Sioux tribe. Dakota is the Sioux word for "friends"

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