List of Choctaw treaties facts for kids
The List of Choctaw Treaties tells the story of important agreements between the Choctaw people, a Native American tribe, and other nations. These agreements often involved land. Over time, the Choctaw's land was taken away through treaties, new laws, and even threats of war.
The Choctaws made treaties with Great Britain, France, and Spain. They also signed nine treaties with the United States. Some treaties, like the Treaty of San Lorenzo, affected the Choctaws even if they weren't directly involved.
The Choctaw people found European laws and ways of talking about peace (diplomacy) confusing. One very puzzling thing was writing, as the Choctaws passed down their history by telling stories, not by writing them. Europeans used written treaties to make sure everyone agreed and to share the information widely. During treaty talks, the three main Choctaw areas (Upper Towns, Six Town, and Lower Towns) each had a "Miko" (chief) to speak for them.
Spain first claimed the land where the Choctaw lived. Then, in the late 1600s, France also made claims. After 1795, the United States claimed Choctaw land because of the Treaty of San Lorenzo.
By the early 1800s, states like Georgia wanted Native American lands. The Treaty of Fort Adams was the first of many treaties that took away Choctaw lands. The Choctaws were forced to move from their homeland, now called the Deep South, to lands west of the Mississippi River. About 15,000 Choctaws moved to what was called Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. Sadly, about 2,500 people died along the way, on what is known as the Trail of Tears.
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek made the Choctaws give up their remaining homeland to the United States. The forced moves happened in three waves, starting in 1831. After the last wave in 1833, nearly 6,000 Choctaws chose to stay in Mississippi. Even though they were promised citizenship and land, new European-American settlers kept trying to make them leave. But the Mississippi Choctaws refused. Today, while smaller Choctaw groups live throughout the southern U.S., most Choctaws are found in Florida, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.
Important Treaties with the Choctaw Nation
This table lists the major treaties that affected the Choctaw people. It shows who signed the treaty, where and when it happened, what its main goal was, and if any land was given up.
| Treaty | Year | Signed with | Location | Purpose | Ceded Land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 1738 | Great Britain | Charleston, SC | Trade and Alliance | n/a |
| Mobile | 1749 | France | Mobile, AL | Trade and Alliance | n/a |
| Grandpre | 1750 | France | Choctaw Nation | Ended Choctaw Civil War | n/a |
| Augusta | 1763 | Georgia | Augusta, GA | Established "Indian/White" boundaries | n/a |
| Mobile | 1783 | Great Britain | Mobile, AL | Land Cession, Boundaries defined | n/a |
| Mobile | 1783 | Spain | Mobile, AL | Trade and Alliance | n/a |
| Charleston | 1783 | Great Britain | Charleston, SC | Trade and Amity | n/a |
| Pensacola | 1784 | Spain | Pensacola, FL | Trade and Alliance | n/a |
| Hopewell | 1786 | United States | Hopwell, SC | U.S. to serve as protectorate, Choctaw Nation boundaries defined | n/a |
| Natchez | 1792 | Spain | Natchez | Peace, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Cherokees Nations boundaries defined | n/a |
| San Lorenzo | 1795 | Between Spain and United States | San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain | The treaty, without Choctaw participation, put Choctaw country under U.S. control | n/a |
| Fort Adams | 1801 | United States | Mississippi Territory | Re-defined Choctaw cession to England and permission for Natchez Trace | 2,641,920 acres (10,691.5 km2) |
| Fort Confederation | 1802 | United States | Mississippi Territory | Boundary re-defined, and lands ceded | 10,000 acres (40 km2) |
| Hoe Buckintoopa | 1803 | United States | Choctaw Nation | Small cession of Tombigbee River and redefined English treaty of 1765 | 853,760 acres (3,455.0 km2) |
| Mount Dexter | 1805 | United States | Choctaw Nation (Mississippi) | Large cession from Natchez District to the Tombigbee Alabama River watershed | 4,142,720 acres (16,765.0 km2) |
| Fort St. Stephens | 1816 | United States | Fort St. Stephens (Alabama) | Ceded all Choctaw land east of Tombigbee River | 10,000 acres (40 km2) |
| Doak's Stand | 1820 | United States | Natchez Trace, Choctaw Nation (Mississippi) | Exchanged cession in Mississippi for parcel in Arkansas and prepare the Choctaws to become citizens of the United States | 5,169,788 acres (20,921.39 km2) |
| Washington City | 1825 | United States | Washington, D.C. | Exchanged Arkansas land for Oklahoma parcel | 2,000,000 acres (8,100 km2) |
| Dancing Rabbit Creek | 1830 | United States | Choctaw Nation (Mississippi) | Removal and granting U.S. citizenship | 10,523,130 acres (42,585.6 km2) |
| Comanche | 1835 | United States | Muscogee Nation (Indian Territory) | Peace and friendship among various tribes | n/a |
| Bowles Village | 1836 | Republic of Texas | Texas Cherokees and Twelve Associated Bands-Yowani Choctaw (Texas) | Acquisition of Title for east Texas lands based upon previous 1822 Mexican grant | 1,500,000 acres (6,100 km2) |
| Choctaws and Chickasaws | 1861 | Confederate States of America | Creek Nation (Indian Territory) | Serve as protectorate, admit Indian Nations as Confederate states | n/a |
| Choctaw and Chickasaws | 1866 | United States | Washington, D.C | Besides granting amnesty for past crimes against the U.S. Government, this treaty also encourages the Choctaws and Chickasaws to seek cooperation from the plains Indians to the west. | n/a |
The Indian Appropriations Act of 1871
In 1871, the U.S. Congress passed a law called the Indian Appropriations Act. This law added a rule that stopped the United States from recognizing any more Native American tribes or nations as independent. It also said that the U.S. could no longer make new treaties with them. However, it also stated that any treaties made before this law were still valid.
That hereafter no Indian nation or tribe within the territory of the United States shall be acknowledged or recognized as an independent nation, tribe, or power with whom the United States may contract by treaty: Provided, further, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to invalidate or impair the obligation of any treaty heretofore lawfully made and ratified with any such Indian nation or tribe.
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