The hangings represent a dark chapter in history. Originally, 303 men were sentenced to be hanged after the war. President Abraham Lincoln was aware of injustices in the trials, and he wrote a letter to Minnesota Gov. Alexander Ramsey listing 39 men who should be hanged, including one who was later given a reprieve.
There were no defense attorneys. No defense was allowed. Also, the trials were only 3 to 5 minutes long. They were conducted in English, and the Dakota didn’t understand the trial process. They believed their land and homes were being stolen, and they were left to starve.
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