Sac and Fox treaty of 1842 facts for kids

The New Purchase of 1842 was an important agreement, called a treaty, between the United States government and two Native American tribes: the Sauk and the Meskwaki. These tribes were also known as the Sac and Fox. In this treaty, the Native American tribes gave up a large area of their land in Iowa. This land was west of the Mississippi River and north of the Missouri border.

Why Was the New Purchase Treaty Needed?

In the early 1800s, the United States wanted more land for its growing population. Many Native American tribes lived on this land. In 1804, the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes signed a treaty in St. Louis. This treaty meant they gave up their claims to land east of the Mississippi River. Most of them then moved to the area that is now Iowa.

Later, in 1829, the U.S. government told the tribes they had to leave their villages in western Illinois. They were told to move across the Mississippi River into Iowa. The government said it owned the Illinois land because of the 1804 treaty.

The Black Hawk War and Land Cessions

Moving was not easy, and it led to conflict. Black Hawk, a respected Sauk leader, did not agree with the move. In 1832, he returned to try and reclaim his village in Illinois, called Saukenuk. For about three months, the Illinois militia chased Black Hawk and his group. This group had about 400 Native Americans. They were pursued north along the Mississippi River.

The Native Americans finally surrendered at the Bad Axe River in Wisconsin. Their numbers had dropped to about 200. This conflict is known as the Black Hawk War. As a result of this resistance, the U.S. government made the Sauk and Meskwaki give up more land. This new land was in eastern Iowa. It was a strip about 50 miles wide along the Mississippi River. This area became known as the Black Hawk Purchase. The tribes also gave up more land in 1837.

What Were the Terms of the 1842 Treaty?

The 1842 treaty mainly said that the Sauk and Meskwaki people would trade their land in Iowa for money from the U.S. government. The tribes agreed to move to what is now Kansas within three years. They also agreed to move west of a specific boundary, called the "Red Rock line," by May 1843. They had to leave Iowa completely by 1845.

Understanding the Red Rock Line

The treaty set up a special line. Native Americans would live west of this line during their move. This was a temporary step until a new home in Kansas was chosen. The line ran north to south. It was mostly marked by "painted or red rocks on the White Breast" River. This river flows into the Des Moines River.

The city of Red Rock, Iowa, was built just west of this line. Many of the landmarks that marked the line were later covered by water. This happened in 1962 when Lake Red Rock was created by building the Red Rock Dam. The treaty also stated that the U.S. military would patrol this border.

Money and Other Payments

In exchange for their land, the U.S. government agreed to pay the tribes $16,000 every year. This was like 5% of $800,000. The government also agreed to pay off some of the tribes' debts. These debts were worth $258,566.

The treaty also included some other special agreements. The grave of Chief Wapello was improved with a tombstone. This tombstone matched the one for U.S. Indian agent Joseph M. Street, who was buried next to him. The treaty also gave money, land, and buildings to General Street's widow, Eliza M. Street. This was for the Indian Agency office, which was no longer needed.

Who Signed the Treaty?

The treaty was signed at the "Indian agency for the Sak and Fox." This place is now the town of Agency, Iowa.

Signatories for the United States

The only person who signed for the United States was John Chambers. He was the Governor of the Iowa Territory at the time. Other people, like Indian agent John Beach, interpreters, and military staff, witnessed the signing. The U.S. Senate approved the treaty on February 15, 1843. President John Tyler signed it on March 23, 1843.

Signatories for Native American Tribes

The main leaders who signed for the tribes were Keokuk for the Sauk people. Poweshiek signed for the Meskwaki people. Other important leaders and military figures from both tribes also signed the treaty.

Sauk Leaders Who Signed

• Keokuk
• Keokuk, jr.
• Wa ca cha
• Che kaw que
• Ka pon e ka
• Pa mekow art
• Appanoose
• Wa pe
• Wa sa men
• Wis ko pe
• As ke po ka won
• I o nah
• Wish e CO ma que
• Pash e pa ho
• Ka pe ko ma
• Tuk quos
• Wis CO sa
• Ka kon we na
• Na cote e we na
• Sho wa ke
• Mean ai to wa
• Muk e ne

Meskwaki Leaders Who Signed

• Pow a shick
• Wa co sha she
• An au e wit
• Ka ka ke
• Ma wha why
• Ma che na ka me quat
• Ka ka ke mo
• Kish Ua naqua hok
• Pe a tau a quis
• Ma ne ni sit
• Mai con ne
• Pe she she mone
• Pe Shaw koa
• Puck aw koa
• Qua CO ho se
• Wa pa sha kon
• Kis ke kosh
• Ale mo ne qua
• Cha ko kow a
• Wah ke mo wa ta pa
• Muk qua gese
• Ko ko etch

What Happened After the Treaty?

By 1845, almost all of the Sauk and Meskwaki people had left Iowa. Other Native American groups also gave up their land in Iowa through treaties with the United States. For example, tribes like the Missouri, Omaha, and Oto gave up western Iowa in 1830. The Ioway tribe gave up their last Iowa lands in 1838.

The Winnebago and Potawatomi tribes had only recently moved to Iowa. But they were moved again and left Iowa by 1848 and 1846, respectively. The last group, the Sioux, gave up their final Iowa land in an 1851 treaty. They completed their move by 1852.

After the Native Americans moved to Kansas, Iowa became a state in the United States in 1846. The new state capital, Iowa City, was built in the area that was given up in this treaty. Once the transition period ended in 1846, U.S. settlers were allowed to claim land in the former Native American territory, like Mahaska County, Iowa. Many settlers eagerly did so.