The Monstrous Conspiracy | Alexander Ramsey, Part Three

In 1850, Alec Ramsey was in the middle of a rapidly rising political career. He'd been a U.S. Congressman, and now he was Governor of a U.S. Territory--and it seemed the possibility of being President grew more and more likely. But this meteoric rise was brief. One year later, a crime which one historian called "the monstrous conspiracy" rocked the country, and Alec Ramsey was at the center. At stake: not just Ramsey's career, but his entire project to build Minnesota.

Alexander Ramsey was Minnesota Territory's first governor. He was a congressman, a senator and a secretary of war. He oversaw forced removals and executions. He helped orchestrate three wars. And along the way, he lived a high-octane political thriller of a life filled with backstabbing, unlikely alliances, and tragedy.

In episode three of our analysis of Alexander Ramsey's life, we break down the explosive allegations of corruption, bribery, and fraud that nearly ended Ramsey's political career. To understand the charges, we have to understand the notorious treaties of 1851: Traverse des Sioux and Mendota. How many of the charges were true? And how did Ramsey get away with it? 

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