Minnesotan Federation

The Republic of Minnesotan Federation

Flag and seal of Minnesotan Federation
L'Étoile du Nord
Map Click here to view
Spoken Languages  - Official  - Unofficial	English Spanish, Hmong, Somali
Capital City	St. Paul
Largest City	Minneapolis
President	Paul D. LeDuc
Vice-President	Milton Dies
Ruling party	Minnesotan Front
Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude	225,365 km² 400 km 645 km 8.4 43°34'N to 49°23'50.26"N 89°34'W to 97°12'W
Elevation  - Highest point  - Mean  - Lowest point	701 m 365 m 183 m
Population  - Total (2005)  - Density	5,000,000 23.86/km²
Age distribution  - 0-18  - 19-34  - 35-64  - 65+	27.7% 21.7% 38.6% 12.1%
Race and ancestry  - White  - Black  - Hispanic  - Asian  - Native American  - Mixed Race	88.2% 3.5% 2.9% 2.9% 1.1% 1.4%
Religion  - Lutheran  - Baptist  - Methodist  - Presbyterian  - Other Protestant  - Roman Catholic  - Other Christian  - Other religion  - Not religious/Agnostic	26% 5% 4% 3% 20% 25% 1% 1% 15%
Admission to Union	11 May 1858
Independence Day	26 January 2006
Nation type	Federal republic
State bird  - Scientific name  - Common name	Gavia immer Common Loon
State butterfly  - Scientific name  - Common name	Danaus plexippus Monarch
State fish  - Scientific name  - Common name	Sander vitreus Walleye
State flower  - Scientific name  - Common name	Cypripedium reginae Showy Lady Slipper
State gemstone	Lake Superior Agate
State tree  - Scientific name  - Common name	Pinus resinosa Norway Pine
GDP (2005)   - Total (USD)   - GDP/capita (USD)	$141,740,367,075.21 $28,348.07
Currency	1 MN Dollar ($) = 100 cents (¢)
Exchange Rate	1 MN Dollar ($) = 1.3245 USD
Time Zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
International Abbreviation	MN
National Anthem	"Hail! Minnesota"
Internet TLD	.mn
Calling Code	+1

The Minnesotan Federation, formerly the State of Minnesota, was the 32nd state of the United States, having joined the Union on 11 May, 1858. Its name comes from the Dakota people's name for the Minnesota River, mini sota, variously translated "smoky-white water" or "sky-tinted water." Minnesota was the largest state by land area in the Midwestern United States and is in the sub-region known as the Upper Midwest. The most significant metropolitan area is known as the Twin Cities, which contains more than half the state's population. The Twin Cities refer to the state's most populous cities: Minneapolis and St. Paul, along with multiple "rings" of suburbs. The remainder of the state is generically referred to as "outstate Minnesota", by analogy to upstate New York.

Minnesota officially relinquished its statehood on January 26, 2006, the day it declared its independence from the United States and became a Federal republic, adopting as its new name "Minnesotan Federation."

Pre-Independence History

History prior to joining the United States

Before European colonization, the area now known as Minnesota was inhabited by Native Americans, in particular the Ojibwe (Chippewa, Anishinaabe) and Dakota, although the Winnebago also had a presence in the southeastern part of the state. In this time, the economy originally consisted of hunter-gatherer activities, which changed over time as Europeans settled in the area and further exploited the state's natural resources. Before the arrival of Dakota and Ojibwe, Cheyenne and Gros Ventre also made their home in Minnesota.

According to local tradition, the first European visitors were Swedish and Norwegian Vikings in the 14th century. The evidence for this is largely based on the controversial Kensington Runestone, which many historians consider to be an elaborate hoax. Some say that the earliest European settlement was in the area of the current city of Stillwater, on the St. Croix River, though many histories focus on the military settlement that took place farther west. Fort Snelling, located at the confluence of the Minnesota River and the Mississippi River, was one of the earliest U.S. military presences in the state. It is now a historic site.

Joining the United States

Part of what would become Minnesota was granted to the United States by the Second Treaty of Paris at the end of the War of Independence in 1783, the fledgling states having been granted all of the land east of the Mississipi River. This included what would become modern-day Saint Paul (but only part of Minneapolis), including the northeast, north-central and east-central portions of the state. Most of the state, however, was purchased from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The northern border between Minnesota and British North America was for a long time disputed. At the time it was erroneously believed that the Mississippi River ran well into modern Canada, making some earlier agreements flawed. Parts of northern Minnesota were considered to be in Ruperts Land. The exact definition of the boundary was not addressed until the Anglo-American Convention of 1818 which set the border at the 49th parallel west of the Lake of the Woods (except for a small chunk of land now dubbed the northwest angle). Border disputes east of the Lake of the Woods continued until the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842.

Throughout the first half of the 19th century, the north eastern portion of the state was a part of the Northwest Territory, then the Illinois Territory, then the Michigan Territory, and finally the Wisconsin Territory. The west and south areas of the state were not formally organized until 1838 when they became part of the Iowa Territory.

Upon statehood of Iowa and Wisconsin the Minnesota Territory was carved out of the remaining land and established on March 3, 1849, but unlike the boundaries of modern day Minnesota, the areas western border extended far into present day North Dakota and South Dakota; all the way to the Missouri River. The eastern half of the Minnesota Territory became the country's 32nd state—after California—on May 11, 1858. The remaining western part fell unorganized until its incorporation into the Dakota Territory on March 2, 1861.

Politics

Henry Hastings Sibley came to Minnesota around 1834, to head a post of the American Fur Company in Mendota. Sibley stayed around, eventually acting as a delegate for Minnesota Territory in the United States Congress (starting in 1849), becoming a territorial legislator in 1855, and then becoming the first Governor of Minnesota after the territory became a state.

1857 was a busy year. Slavery and race became an important issue as the state began drafting its constitution in preparation for statehood. The Missouri Compromise meant that Minnesota should become a free state, but this wasn't true for everyone. Dred Scott and his wife Harriet had been brought to Fort Snelling in 1836 and they had traveled with their owner through other northern territories where slavery was illegal. Scott sued for his freedom in 1846, but after 11 years of trials, it was declared that he was still a slave.

Republicans attempted to include the right for blacks to vote in the state's constitution, but Democrats did not like the idea. The eventual constitution did not give blacks the right to vote, but amending the constitution was made easy enough that it could be tried later.

The capital of Minnesota was almost moved to St. Peter, but legislator Joe Rolette disappeared with the bill long enough to prevent it from being signed into law. The bill had been proposed by individuals with vested interests in moving the capital—they owned land in the new city.

Blacks were given the right to vote when a constitutional amendment was passed in 1868.

Transportation

Early transportation in Minnesota was simple: by foot or by water. Native populations made canoes out of local materials.

As European traders first came into the region, they also brought horses, which had been extinct on the continent for 8,000 years. They were reintroduced to the area through trade in the mid-18th century. The Dakota used them to follow bison herds over greater distances.

1855 marked the completion of first permanent bridge to cross the Mississippi River's main channel. The toll bridge made use of Nicollet Island just upriver of Saint Anthony Falls to shorten the required distance. A suspended span, the bridge was replaced by a heavier Hennepin Avenue Bridge in 1876, which finally gave way to a steel arch crossing that lasted for nearly a century starting in 1891 before being replaced by the current bridge on the site in 1990.

Until the late 19th century and early 20th century, the state was highly dependent upon the availability of horses. In 1872, the state's horses were hard-hit by an epizootic fever.

Water

Early traders and explorers largely moved along the waterways of the area. The Mississippi and St. Croix rivers were well-known by 1700, along with Lake Superior. The steamboat made it possible for newcomers to quickly come into the area by traveling up the Mississippi. During warmer months in the mid-1850s four or five steamboats were arriving every day.

Rail

In 1862, a train pulled by the locomotive William Crooks made the first trip by rail between St. Paul and St. Anthony (in what is now Minneapolis). The ability to travel by rail was greatly expanded in the following years.

As early as 1867, streetcars were attempted in Minneapolis. Dorilus Morrison, the city's first mayor, is believed to have laid track and purchased a horse-drawn streetcar, but it was another eight years before a successful operation started in that city. In 1872, Saint Paul beat its neighbor to the punch and launched a successful street railway. The two cities were linked by an interurban streetcar line in 1890, and the two city companies merged to form the Twin City Rapid Transit Company. Around that time, the lines also moved toward using electricity for power, rather than horses. A few steam-powered lines also ran for a while. Within two decades, certain lines were operating at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more, with some streetcars capable of traveling faster than 60 miles per hour.

In 1879, James J. Hill first got into the railroad business by purchasing a failing company. It was renamed the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba, and would eventually become known as the Great Northern Railroad. In 1883, his company constructed the Stone Arch Bridge as a crossing of the Mississippi in Minneapolis, a landmark that still stands today. By 1891, Hill was a very rich man. His home was being completed around that time. The total cost came to $931,275.01, including furnishings.

A monorail project was attempted in 1888, going up Bryant Avenue in Saint Paul. However, the city council didn't approve funding, and the project stalled.

That same year, the city reported its highest level of passenger rail traffic, with about eight million passengers handled at the old Saint Paul Union Depot. About 150 trains departed daily around this time.

Names

Many place names in Minnesota have interesting stories behind them. Some sites used traditional Dakota or Ojibwe names, but many were named for historical or legendary figures. Hiawatha and Nokomis come from the legend of Hiawatha. Minnehaha Creek was already named by that time, according to the legend, and Hiawatha became involved with a woman named after the creek, Minnehaha. Winona is named for Wenonah, another character in the story.

Population

The population of the region dramatically increased in the 1850s after treaties were signed with Native American populations, allowing newcomers to legally settle on the land. In 1849, the estimated population of the region was 3,814. Just over a decade later, the 1860 census indicated a population of 172,072.

War

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, governor Alexander Ramsey was in Washington. His proximity to the President allowed him to visit the White House and be the first governor to pledge troops for the conflict. Large numbers of Minnesotans enlisted, to be trained at Fort Snelling. About 25,000 enlisted, roughly half of the eligible population. More than 100 black men enlisted during the war (the estimated 1860 population of blacks, including women and children, was only 259). About 600 Minnesotans would die in the conflict.

On August 17, 1862, five American settlers were killed by a group of Dakota Indians. They had been angered by a lack of compensation for their land. When the Civil War broke out, many white men from the state left, giving the Dakota an opportunity. Over the following six weeks, 500 settlers and an unknown number of Dakota would die in an undeclared war known as the Sioux Uprising or the U.S.-Dakota Conflict. The conflict ran across the southwestern quadrant of the state across 23 counties. In the aftermath, 38 captured Dakota were hanged in the largest mass execution in U.S. history. More than 300 were initially sentenced to death, but President Abraham Lincoln commuted most of the sentences. Still, 130 other prisoners would die in camps in the following months, and other Dakota people would be forcibly removed from the state.

At the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, the First Minnesota Infantry Regiment made one of the most notable charges, against Cadmus Wilcox's Alabama Brigade. In five-to-one odds against them, more than 212—more than half the regiment—were killed or wounded in the engagement, but they held the line for General Hancock's forces until reinforcements could arrive. A poem written 20 years later in commemoration would remember,

Honor our fallen comrades-cover their graves with flowers,

For they fought and fell like Spartans for this glorious land of ours;

And oft shall our children's children garland their graves and say—

"They bore the banner of Freedom on the Gettysburg hills that day."

During World War II, Minnesotan Naval Reservists serving aboard USS Ward fired the first American shot of the war on December 7, 1941, sinking a Japanese minisub during the attack on Pearl Harbor. A gun from that ship is placed near the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul.

Major floods

Major flooding hit southern Minnesota in 1978, submerging large portions of cities such as Rochester and Austin. It was then considered a "100-year flood", although Austin would see even higher water less than three decades later. The Rochester flooding led the city to construct flood-control systems, which have reduced the impact of high water.

In September 2004, much of Austin was submerged when heavy rain caused flooding. Some lessons had been learned from the 1978 floods, and many people had moved out of the area flood plain as part of a buyout program. However, water still hit an even higher level. One man drowned in the flood, and another died from a heart attack he had while sandbagging.

The Minnesotan Front and Independence

The Minnesotan Front party was founded in the office of Governor LeDuc on 13 April 2004. He had previously been a member of the Constitution Party, until he became disillusioned with the party and felt his allegiance to his state was greater than his allegiance to the United States. He became increasingly disillusioned with the federal government, particularly with President Bush's policies, such as his "Dirty War" and "creeping socialism." He considered Bush an "arch-Marxist" whose "half-baked, hare-brained" policies were "inexplicably and inevitably leading America toward ruin." LeDuc aroused considerable controversy when he bluntly stated: "The longer that neocon bastard is in charge, the more likely this nation is to be subjugated and enslaved by the NWO."

Accordingly, LeDuc, his cabinet, and other political allies founded the Minnesotan Front to "promote Minnesotan culture, Minnesotan values, Minnesotan sovereignty, and, if need be, Minnesotan independence." The more deeply entrenched America became in Iraq, the higher the defecit grew, the greater its status as a pariah became, the more people became convinced that the only way to "save" Minnesota was by declaring independence. By late 2005, polls showed that more than 75% of Minnesotans believed "independence for Minnesota is inevitable."

On 1 January 2006, Governor LeDuc held a special election, which his party won overwhelmingly, capturing almost every seat in both houses. The party's popularity surged and, feeling confident, Governor LeDuc boldly declared Minnesota an independent nation. His decision was widely supported, and massive pro-government, demonstrations erupted in the streets, as the overwhelming majority of the populace proclaimed their enthusiasm and support for LeDuc.

Post-Independence History and the Present

• to be added*

Culture

Stereotypical Minnesotan traits include Lutheranism (26 percent of the state's population is Lutheran) "Minnesota nice," "hot dish (a Minnesotan term for casserole)," lutefisk (a pungent preparation of fish from a Norwegian recipe that includes soaking in lye), very close family ties (and a strong sense of duty to their families, healthy and dysfunctional alike), a strong sense of community and shared culture with many other Minnesotans instead of just with one's town or city, Minnesota's rather unique form of Upper Midwest American English (including Scandinavian-sounding words like "uff-da"), and a distinctive type of upper Midwestern accent, though most Minnesotans deny having any regional accent. However, due to the increase of migrants from throughout the United States (many originating from the West Coast and the Chicago metropolitan area ) and the rise of immigration of Hmong, Vietnamese, Somalis and other East Africans, Liberians, Kenyans, Nigerians, Russians, Eastern Europeans and Latin Americans (mostly Mexicans), many cultures in the state are slowly blending together and slowing changing the culture of the state similar to what European immigrants to Minnesota had done in the mid-nineteenth to early-twentieth centuries. Native Americans have a moderate presence in Minnesota, and some tribes operate casinos which have been said to be among the most profitable in the country. The earliest European exploration and settlement was by the French, and settlement from Scandinavian countries along with Germany followed. The Métis people, a mixed French and Native American culture, were a presence in the early state and territorial days, but largely moved north into Canada. Minnesota is not strongly associated with any particular food, though in recent years dishes like wild rice sausage have come from the state and more will undoubtedly follow as Minnesotan chefs seek to define their home in the culinary world.

Modern immigrants have come from all over the world in recent decades, with Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Indians, Middle Easterners, and the Soviet bloc all being well-represented. Some Chinese and Japanese have had long presences in the state as well. Mexicans are a growing force, as they are across the U.S. Many modern immigrants are attracted by the state's historically strong commitments toward education and social services and many come sponsored and assisted by congregations committed to service and social justice.

Outdoor activities are major parts of the lives of many Minnesotans, including hunting and fishing. Unique activities include ice fishing, which was popular with the early Scandinavian immigrants. Families frequently own or share cabins on central and northern tracts of land in forests and adjoining lakes, and weekend trips out to these properties are common. The 71 state parks which protect diverse landscapes in a state of nature are quite popular. A concern for environmentalism is shared by most state residents in one form or another, vegans and hunters alike. As with other northwoods states (such as Wisconsin and Michigan), residents like to joke that the mosquito is the state bird. The state bird is actually the Common Loon (Gavia immer, also called the Great Northern Diver), whose distinctive cry can often be heard by campers in the northern part of the state and can even on occasion be found as far south as Minneapolis.

Minnesota is known for active yet quirky politics, with populism being a longstanding force among all of the political parties that call the state home. Minnesota politics include such oddities as a professional wrestler turned governor and a protester turned crowd-surfing mayor. 77.3% of eligible Minnesotans voted in the 2004 U.S. presidential election, the highest of any U.S. state. Political conservatism is less strongly linked to church attendance in most of Minnesota than in other parts of the country, perhaps a reflection of the strong mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic following. Recently, Minnesotan politics have taken a sharp turn to the right, as exemplified in the huge electoral success recently enjoyed by the Minnesotan Front, which declared Minnesota's independence.

Geography

Minnesota covers 79,610 square miles (2.25% of the United States). It is famous for its lakes, having in excess of 15,000, depending on the source of the count. Much of the state is flat, having been eroded during repeated glacial periods (most recently the Wisconsin Glacier). However, the extreme southeastern portion of the state is part of the Driftless Zone, which was not glaciated, and it is here that Lake Pepin and the rugged high bluffs of the Mississippi River are found. In addition, the Iron Range and other low mountains are found in the northeastern part of the state. The Minnesota portion of Lake Superior is the largest body of water in the state.

Minnesota is home to many areas of park land, to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), as well as a number of state and county parks, most notably Itasca State Park, the official source of the Mississippi River.

After its rivers and lakes, Minnesota's most prominent physical feature is the Iron Range. This is a range of low mountains that run across the northern part of the state. It is called the Iron Range because when discovered, it had some of the largest deposits of iron ore in the country. Although the high-grade iron ore was mostly mined out during the Second World War, taconite is still mined across the Iron Range.

The state is bordered on the north by Canada (Manitoba and Ontario), on the east by Wisconsin and Lake Superior, on the south by Iowa, and on the west by North Dakota and South Dakota. In addition, Minnesota shares a water boundary with Michigan. Minnesota is the northernmost of the 48 contiguous states (Alaska reaches significantly farther north), reaching to 49° 23' 04" north latitude, due to a small piece of the state known as the Northwest Angle.

Minnesota sits at a convergence point between three of the great biomes of North America: the Great Plains of the west, the Eastern Deciduous Forest, and the Northern Boreal Forest of Canada. Traversing the state from southwest to northeast, one goes through the three different ecological regions.

The capital is St. Paul, which sits on the Mississippi River next to Minnesota's largest city, Minneapolis. Together (and with surrounding suburbs), they are known as the Twin Cities. Other prominent cities include Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, Rochester (home of the world-famous Mayo Clinic), and Bloomington (home to the Mall of America, recently renamed the Mall of Minnesota).

The state's average elevation is 1,200 feet (366 m), with a high point at Eagle Mountain (2,301 ft or 701 m) and a low at the surface of Lake Superior (602 ft or 183 m). Aside from a few very minor earthquakes, Minnesota is one of the most geologically stable regions in the country. The biggest earthquake in the last century occurred near Morris in 1975 and rated between 4.6 and 4.8 in magnitude.

Temperatures can reach extremes in Minnesota. The northern part of the state is famously cold in winter, with a record low of -60 °F (-51 °C) measured at Tower, MN on February 2, 1996. Surprisingly, due to the flows of the jet stream, parts of Alaska often see relatively warm temperatures when Minnesota is experiencing extreme cold. Additionally, as part of the Great Plains region, the state also experiences warm summers. A record high of 114 °F (45.5 °C) was reached in both 1917 and 1936. The average temperature in January (the coldest month) is 11.2 °F (-11.5 °C), and the average in the warmest month, July, is 73.1 °F (22.8 °C); averages are cooler in the north and warmer in the south. The average annual precipitation is 28.32 inches (719 mm), with a snowfall figure of 49.6 inches (126 cm).

Economy

• coming soon*