The U.S.-Dakota War from 1862 stemmed from a combination of broken treaties and increasing pressure on the Dakota people from white settlers encroaching on their lands in Minnesota. Tensions escalated into armed conflict, culminating in several violent skirmishes and the deaths of numerous settlers. In a bid to investigate culpability, a military tribunal was established to try the Dakota warriors. Between August and October of that year, the trials were conducted rapidly and under severe conditions, often with little regard for the principles of due process. The verdicts were reached with alarming speed, leading to a mass conviction of 303 Dakota men. The decisions were harshly criticized for their lack of fairness and transparency. Many of the accused were not provided adequate legal defense or the opportunity to present their cases effectively.

After several weeks of deliberation, the military tribunal sentenced 38 of the warriors to death, while others received various sentences including imprisonment. The hangings took place in December 1862 in Mankato, Minnesota, amidst national and local controversy over the executions and the handling of the trials. The event drew considerable attention, leading to an increased federal involvement and the eventual removal of the Dakota from Minnesota. Many from the Dakota tribe were forced into exile, resulting in a significant alteration of the social and cultural landscape in the region, as well as broader implications for the Native American relations with the federal government.