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Indian Treaties in the United States: An Encyclopedia and Documents Collection
Prior to contact with Europeans and, later, Americans, American Indian treaties assumed unique dimensions, often involving lengthy ceremonial meetings during which gifts were exchanged. Europeans and Americans would irrevocably alter the ways in which treaties were negotiated: for example, treaties no longer constituted oral agreements but rather written documents, though both parties generally lacked understanding of the other's culture.
The political consequences of treaty negotiations continue to define the legal status of the more than 565 federally recognized tribes today. These and other aspects of treaty-making will be explored in this single-volume work, which serves to fill a gap in the study of both American history and Native American history. The history of treaty making covers a wide historical swath dating from the earliest treaty in 1788 to latest one negotiated in 1917. Despite the end of formal treaties largely by the end of the 19th century, Native relations with the federal government continued on with the move to reservations and later formal land allotment under the Dawes Act of 1887.
The political consequences of treaty negotiations continue to define the legal status of the more than 565 federally recognized tribes today. These and other aspects of treaty-making will be explored in this single-volume work, which serves to fill a gap in the study of both American history and Native American history. The history of treaty making covers a wide historical swath dating from the earliest treaty in 1788 to latest one negotiated in 1917. Despite the end of formal treaties largely by the end of the 19th century, Native relations with the federal government continued on with the move to reservations and later formal land allotment under the Dawes Act of 1887.
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421 pages, ebook
Published May 3, 2018
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January 3, 2019
I found this book utterly fascinating. Most of us know at least from school history classes that we, as a country, were jerks to the Native Americans and didn't really keep our promises. This actually takes it a step further. There were some instances, some, where we did keep to the spirit of the treaties we made. Some of the issues with the treaties weren't necessarily that American's didn't keep their word to the Native Americans, it falls more into 'lost in translation'. Because each side had differing opinions on what ownership and property rights are. Also the Native tribe, which lacked a significant means of keeping written records, found verbal agreements to be completely binding, while Americans found only the written word to be binding, and promises made in person at a negotiation, but that did not make it into the written document, were void. That and the senate would sometimes pull some dick moves, like, after receiving and agreed upon treaty for ratification from their negotiators with the Native peoples, changing certain lines or agreements in the treaty before passing it, without consulting the other party involved. At which point the modified treaty would be sent back to the Native people with whom it was signed, and they would understandably be pissed off that changes were made without their input or consultation. What was also fascinating was watching the way that the Native peoples were treated in regards to our government. In the 1700's, they were more or less treated as sovereign nations who deserved the same courtesy that European nations were accorded. But a little after the war of 1812, when Jackson became president, that changed to a more condescending and paternalistic tone. Some of the reason is because the Natives had something the Americans wanted (e.g. land, natural resources, ect.), and some of it is because it's easier to break promises to someone who you deem inferior to you, especially if it results in your best interest. And the Americans only became interested in Native affairs when there was something they wanted. No wonder the Native peoples of this country get incredibly suspicious when the government tries to become involved in their affairs!
Even if you aren't interested in the words of the treaty, this book is still worth a read. The first third or so of the book in basically a summary of the history of treaties including treaties that tribes made with the Confederacy during the Civil War, something that I certainly didn't learn in school or even college! The second part of the book is the treaties themselves. But even this part is worth a read because prior to the text of the treaties (only the main ones are included here because American signed 300+ treaties, which would take more than one volume to cover!), is a small summary of the situation surrounding the signing of the treaty. What evens were going on, and what each side hoped to obtain, and in some cases there was a brief description of the fall out when the treaty was ultimately broken.
Even if you aren't interested in the words of the treaty, this book is still worth a read. The first third or so of the book in basically a summary of the history of treaties including treaties that tribes made with the Confederacy during the Civil War, something that I certainly didn't learn in school or even college! The second part of the book is the treaties themselves. But even this part is worth a read because prior to the text of the treaties (only the main ones are included here because American signed 300+ treaties, which would take more than one volume to cover!), is a small summary of the situation surrounding the signing of the treaty. What evens were going on, and what each side hoped to obtain, and in some cases there was a brief description of the fall out when the treaty was ultimately broken.
Displaying 1 of 1 review