Little Arkansas Treaty facts for kids

The Little Arkansas Treaty was a set of important agreements signed in October 1865 between the United States government and several Native American tribes. These tribes included the Kiowa, Comanche, Plains Apache, Southern Cheyenne, and Southern Arapaho. The treaties were signed near the Little Arkansas River in Kansas.

Even though it was meant to bring peace, the Little Arkansas Treaty lasted less than two years. The special lands, called reservations, that were promised to the Plains Indians were never actually created. In fact, these promised lands were made 90% smaller just eighteen months later by the Medicine Lodge Treaty.

Why the Treaty Was Needed

The American Civil War was coming to an end in 1865. The United States government did not want to keep a huge army to protect settlers from conflicts with Native American tribes. To try and find a peaceful solution, the government sent respected leaders to meet with the Plains Tribes. They wanted to talk about peace and make agreements.

Important People at the Treaty

Many important leaders from both sides attended the treaty talks.

Among the Native American leaders were:

• Chief Black Kettle and Seven Bulls (from the Cheyenne)
• Little Raven and Big Mouth (from the Comanche)
• Poor Bear, Old Fool Man, and Crow (from the Apache)
• Little Raven and Storm (from the Arapaho)
• Satanta and Satank (from the Kiowa)

The United States government was represented by highly respected commissioners. These included General William S. Harney, Colonel Jesse Henry Leavenworth, Kit Carson, and William Bent. Other important people who signed for the United States were John B. Sanborn, James Steele, and Thomas Murphy.

What Each Side Wanted

Both the United States and the Native American tribes had specific goals for the treaty.

The US representatives wanted:

• Peace on the plains.
• Safe travel for settlers and traders on trails like the Santa Fe Trail.
• To set clear boundaries for Native American lands.

The Native American tribes wanted:

• To keep their large hunting grounds without limits.
• Fairness and payment for the terrible Sand Creek massacre. This was an attack on Chief Black Kettle's peaceful camp that had happened earlier.

The treaties signed at Little Arkansas River aimed to give the tribes reservations south of the Arkansas River. They also said that the tribes would not use the lands north of the Platte River. Both sides agreed to peace. As part of the agreement, several white captives were released. This included the Box family, a woman and her four children from Texas, who had been taken by a war party led by Satanta.

What Happened After the Treaty

The Little Arkansas Treaty is known as one of the shortest-lasting treaties in history. Most of its main promises were never kept. Both the US government and the Native American tribes accused each other of breaking the rules. Because of this, fighting continued.

The conflicts finally ended with the signing of the Medicine Lodge Treaty in 1867. Today, there is a monument located about one mile west of the Little Arkansas River in Kansas. It stands on the old Council Grounds and remembers where this important treaty was signed.