1652 Articles of Peace and Friendship facts for kids
The 1652 Articles of Peace and Friendship was an important agreement signed on July 5, 1652. It was made between the Province of Maryland, which was a colony at the time, and the Susquehannock people. This treaty meant that the Susquehannock gave up most of their land in Maryland. This land stretched from the mouth of the Susquehanna River along both sides of the Chesapeake Bay. The agreement greatly changed the way of life for the Susquehannock people in Maryland.
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What Was the 1652 Treaty?
This special agreement, or treaty, was signed next to the Severn River. This area is now close to the city of Annapolis. Important leaders from both sides signed the document.
Who Signed the Treaty?
Five leaders from the Susquehannock people signed the treaty. Their names were Sawahegeh, Aurotaurogh, Scarhuhadih, Ruthcuhogah, and Wathetdianeh. For the Maryland colony, five officials signed the treaty. These were Richard Bennett, Thomas March, William Fuller, Leo Strong, and Edward Lloyd.
What Did the Treaty Do?
Under the terms of the treaty, the Susquehannock people received some help. They were given more men, cannons, and ammunition. In return for this help, they gave up a large amount of their land to the Maryland colony.
Later Agreements
The original treaty was renewed, or agreed upon again, in 1661. This showed that both sides continued to recognize the agreement for some time.
Remembering the Susquehannock People
While the Susquehannock people's traditional way of life in Maryland changed greatly after this time, their history is not forgotten. Today, some groups are working to make sure universities and other public places in the Baltimore area remember them. They want these places to have "land acknowledgement" policies. This means they would officially recognize the Susquehannock and other Native peoples who lived on the land first. A copy of the original treaty can be found at the Maryland State Archives. It is stored on microfiche, which is a way to keep old documents.
