 By the 1850s racist ideology , which was becoming prevalent in much of the U.S. , began to affect Minnesota more significantly than it had in the past . The ruling class was composed of primarily Anglo @-@ American Protestants . Settlers from the U.S. increasingly discussed " white " inhabitants as the key to Minnesota 's future with an eye toward marginalizing the role that other " inferior " races would have in the future . Author James Wesley Bond in 1853 described Minnesota before the 1850s as " a waste of woodland and prairie , uninhabited save by the different hordes of savage tribes from time immemorial . " Prejudices in the territory , however , were complicated . As late as 1840 mulattos in Saint Paul were commonly treated as equals to others in the community with children of all races attending the same schools . By the late 1840s , however , all blacks had been completely disenfranchised . In addition they were prevented from running for office and their children were segregated in schools . By contrast Irish Catholics and Native Americans who adopted European lifestyles were allowed to vote and their children were not segregated in the classrooms . Paradoxically whereas Anglo @-@ Americans generally accepted business development by African Americans , they largely opposed business development by Irish immigrants . 
 By the 1850s racist ideology , which was becoming prevalent in much of the U.S. , began to affect Minnesota more significantly than it had in the past . The ruling class was composed of primarily Anglo @-@ American Protestants . Settlers from the U.S. increasingly discussed " white " inhabitants as the key to Minnesota <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>future with an eye toward marginalizing the role <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>that</mark></a>other " inferior " races would have in the future . Author James Wesley Bond in 1853 described Minnesota before the 1850s as " a waste of woodland and prairie , uninhabited save by the different hordes of savage tribes from time immemorial . " Prejudices in the territory , however , <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> complicated . As late as 1840 mulattos in Saint Paul <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> commonly treated as equals to others in the community with children of all races attending the same schools . By the late 1840s , however , all blacks <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> been completely disenfranchised . In addition they <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> prevented from running for office and their children <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> segregated in schools . By contrast Irish Catholics and Native Americans <a href='null_relcl' title='8'><mark>who</mark></a>adopted European lifestyles <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>were</mark></a> allowed to vote and their children <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> not segregated in <a href='None' title='11'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='12'><mark>classrooms</mark></a> . Paradoxically whereas Anglo @-@ Americans generally accepted business development by African Americans , they largely opposed business development by Irish immigrants . 
By the 1850s racist ideology , which was becoming prevalent in much of da U.S. , began to affect Minnesota more significantly than it had in the past . The ruling class was composed of primarily Anglo @-@ American Protestants . Settlers from tdaU.S. increasingly discussed " white " inhabitants as the key to Minnesota  future w/ an eye toward marginalizing the role other " inferior " races would have in thdauture . Author James Wesley Bond in 1853 described Minnesota before theda50s as " a waste of woodland and prairie , uninhabited save by the daferent hordes of savage tribes from time immemorial . " Prejudices in the tdaitory , however , was complicated . As late as 1840 mulattos in Saint Paul was commonly treated as equals to others in the community with children of all races attending the sadaschools . By the late 1840s , however , alll blacks done been completely disenfranchised . In addition they was prevented from runnin for office and their children was segregated in schools . By contrast Irish Catholics and Native Americans adopted European lifestyles was allowed to vote and their children was not segregated in no classrooms . Paradoxically whereas Anglo @-@ Americans generally accepted business development by African Americans , they largely opposed business development by Irish immigrants .