 At the same time , the state faced another crisis as the Dakota War of 1862 broke out . The Dakota had signed the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and Treaty of Mendota in 1851 because they were concerned that without money from the United States government , they would starve , due to the loss of habitat of huntable game . They were initially given a strip of land of ten miles ( 16 km ) north and south of the Minnesota River , but they were later forced to sell the northern half of the land . In 1862 , crop failures left the Dakota with food shortages , and government money was delayed . After four young Dakota men , searching for food , shot a family of white settlers near Acton , the Dakota leadership decided to continue the attacks in an effort to drive out the settlers . Over a period of several days , Dakota attacks at the Lower Sioux Agency , New Ulm and Hutchinson , as well as in the surrounding farmlands , resulted in the deaths of at least 300 to 400 white settlers and government employees , causing panic in the settlements and provoking counterattacks by state militia and federal forces which spread throughout the Minnesota River Valley and as far away as the Red River Valley . The ensuing battles at Fort Ridgely , Birch Coulee , Fort Abercrombie , and Wood Lake punctuated a six @-@ week war , which ended with the trial of 425 Native Americans for their participation in the war . Of this number , 303 men were convicted and sentenced to death . 
