The Migratory Spirit: Greed and Adventure at the Expense of the Sauk, Fox, and Ho-Chunk (1826-1847)

Abstract

This paper is about change. When white settlers in pursuit of wealth from lead deposits in the vicinity of Southwestern Wisconsin arrived in the early 1800s, Native Americans were gradually forced from their land until there were no more tribes living in the area. As a result of the encroachment the Sauk, Fox, and Ho-Chunk were removed from their lands, suffered bloodshed in the battle for land, lost parts of their cultural identity as a result of American assimilation efforts, and at times became dependent on alcohol.