Treaty with Mes-quaw-buck and the Pottawatomie
6/4/1836
Add to Favorites:
Add all page(s) of this document to activity:
Add only page 1 to activity:
Add only page 2 to activity:
Add only page 3 to activity:
This is the ratified treaty between the United States and the Chief of the Pattawatomie Tribe of Indians, and His Band, in Indiana in 1836.
After the Revolutionary War, the United States had continued the European practice of negotiating treaties with the Native Peoples similarly to how they negotiated with foreign governments. This practice changed gradually over time.
In 1831, the Supreme Court case Cherokee Nation v. Georgia had changed the status of Native tribes from "independent, sovereign nations" to "domestic dependent nations." Treaties, however, still followed the pattern of requiring negotiations between the U.S. Government and tribal governments and ratification by Congress. Not all negotiated treaties were ratified.
In 1871, Congress passed the Indian Appropriations Act, which suspended all further treaties with Native governments. After that time, all changes or additions to Native lands or status were conducted by Executive Order, Acts of Congress, and decisions of the Federal Courts. To this day federally recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Natives retain the right of self-government and usually hold a legal position directly under the Federal Government.
This document was digitized by teachers in our Primarily Teaching 2016 summer workshop in Washington, D.C.
After the Revolutionary War, the United States had continued the European practice of negotiating treaties with the Native Peoples similarly to how they negotiated with foreign governments. This practice changed gradually over time.
In 1831, the Supreme Court case Cherokee Nation v. Georgia had changed the status of Native tribes from "independent, sovereign nations" to "domestic dependent nations." Treaties, however, still followed the pattern of requiring negotiations between the U.S. Government and tribal governments and ratification by Congress. Not all negotiated treaties were ratified.
In 1871, Congress passed the Indian Appropriations Act, which suspended all further treaties with Native governments. After that time, all changes or additions to Native lands or status were conducted by Executive Order, Acts of Congress, and decisions of the Federal Courts. To this day federally recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Natives retain the right of self-government and usually hold a legal position directly under the Federal Government.
This document was digitized by teachers in our Primarily Teaching 2016 summer workshop in Washington, D.C.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
National Archives Identifier: 38995553
Full Citation: Copy of Treaty between the United States of America and Mes-quaw-buck, a Chief of the Pottawatomie Tribe of Indians, and His Band; 6/4/1836; March 26, 1836 #200; Printed Copies of Ratified Treaties, 1825-70; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/treaty-mesquawbuck-pottawatomie, April 20, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.