Treaties and Agreements
The Louisiana Purchase was followed by many treaties and agreements with the Indigenous nations who were living on the land at the time. These treaties demonstrated, how in the beginning the United States wanted to work together in unity with the nations. However, as the years went on, the United States wanted the Indigenous nations to leave their land, so white settlers could make their new home there. The Louisiana Purchase was completed and signed in 1803. The purchase was marked by the “Treaty for the Cession of Louisiana between the United States and France”. This treated took effect, because France was believed to be suffering economic struggles and a possible battle with Great Britian. So, Napoleon offered the United States the Louisiana Territory for about $27 million total. However, the land that was sold to the United States by the French had Indigenous nations living on the land at the time. In the treaty however, there is only one section that mentions these nations. Which is Article six stating that the United States will not recognize any previous treaties that were put in place by Spain and the tribes. Thus meaning, any promises made by Spain will not be upheld and it will be up to the United States to make new treaties.2
A couple years later in 1806, Thomas Jefferson releases an address to the Chief of the Cherokee nation. In this address, Jefferson talks about how important it is for everyone to live in harmony and not start war with your neighbors. This is for the white settlers and the Indigenous nations. This is the first address put in place after the Louisiana Purchase to ensure that there is no war started. Jefferson also makes it clear that those who attack the other will face revenge.3 This, however, did not stop the white settlers from forcing the Cherokee to move west off the land in 1808. This caused a protest from the Cherokee’s and brought up more tension between the settlers and the Indigenous nations.
Lastly, in 1815, James Madison went on to ratify a treaty between the Sioux nation and the United States. In this treaty, Madison made it clear that the treaty was being put in place for peace and friendship between the Sioux and the United States. This treaty outlined that even if one side attacked the other, it would be immediately forgiven and forgotten.4 This made it so that if the white settlers attacked the Indian nation, they would not have to face consequences of their actions. This made it so that the United States no longer prioritized protecting the Indian nations. This contradicted the treaty with the Cherokee nation, written by Thomas Jefferson. Who declared that the Indian nations would be protected. This demonstrates, that depending who was the president at the time, determined how the Indian nations living on the land of the Louisiana territory would be treated.
2Treaty for the Cession of Louisiana between the United States and France, April 30, 1803 Treaty Series 86 EX (Exchange File); Perfected Treaties, 1776-1945; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11; National Archives, Washington, DC.
3Thomas Jefferson to Wolf Indian Chief, Address, -12-30, 1806, Manuscript/Mixed Material, https://www.loc.gov/item/mtjbib016727/.
4"Ratified Indian Treaty 65: Sioux of the Lakes - Portage des Sioux, July 19, 1815”, NAID: 77828875, National Archives and Record Administration. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/77828875?objectPage=10. Accessed 11/21/2024