In the United States, there are two states 39 and 40 referred to as North and South Dakota. They are close to each other, but are considered two different worlds, although with a single history, geographical and ethnic characteristics. When did North South Dakota split?
How did the United States get these territories?
In the early 19th century, America acquired these lands from their French counterparts in the Louisiana Deal. There were a lot of Indians here and the Siu Dakota was the most massive tribe, so it gave the name to the entire region.
What was Dakota State?
The composition of the territory was initially many times wider. Modern Minnesota and Nebraska were immediately incorporated. Only in the second half of the 19th century, the Dakota territory received the title – an organized incorporated territory of the United States. It was also decided to join Wyoming, Idaho here.
Soon, a real “gold rush” began in these lands, which contributed to population growth, largely in the southern part of the state. It began to develop with great force: transport routes, jobs, infrastructure.
By the beginning of 1880, there were almost 100 thousand inhabitants in the south of Dakota, while in the north there was a less active increase – no more than 37 thousand.
The beginning of the conflict
The northerners did not like deprivation and, seeing even in the remoteness of the capital of Dakota – Yankton, some kind of injustice, they decided to create their own, which became Bismarck. Soon the south side, due to the large number of the population, was taken to the trade union on its own, and the north was cheated here too.
The US Congress realized that the situation was heating up and decided to divide North and South Dakota in 1881 along the 46th parallel. At the same time, the northerners left Bismarck as their capital, and the southerners changed Yankton to Pyrrhus.
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Preconditions for separation
Why did North South Dakota split? It should be understood that no matter how hard the authorities tried to populate the northern part and reconcile it with the southern, these territories still had too much that was different. For example, economic ties, even at the time of joint “residence”. North and south were connected by rail, but the first was actively working with Minneapolis, and the second with Sioux.
Corrupt officials also contributed to the division, who were appointed from above and did not think about the local residents, as if on purpose pitting the two sides against each other. A prominent representative is Nehemiah Ordway, who was involved in the scandal with the transfer of capitals.
Why did both sides get the name Dakota?
South, separating, did not want to give his name and demanded to call himself, as before – Dakota. The northerners were going to give up the territory of Pembina in order to turn it into the state of Lincoln. However, the name Dakota was no longer just a name for a territory, but a brand, so a real struggle unfolded for it. As a result, both sides lost, obliging only to make clarifications – North or South Dakota.