Treaties of Portage des Sioux facts for kids
The Treaties of Portage des Sioux were important agreements signed in 1815. They happened in a place called Portage Des Sioux, Missouri. These treaties were supposed to officially end fighting between the United States and Native American tribes. This was after the War of 1812 had finished.
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What Were the Treaties of Portage des Sioux?
These treaties were meant to give Native American tribes back their lands and rights from before 1811. This was a rule from the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. However, the U.S. government also used these new treaties to confirm older agreements. In those older agreements, the United States had gained large areas of land in the Midwest. But not all the right Native American leaders had signed those first agreements.
Why Were These Treaties Needed?
The U.S. wanted to make sure they legally owned the land they had gained. Some earlier agreements included:
- The Treaty of St. Louis (1804): Here, the Sac and Fox tribes gave up a huge strip of land. This land stretched from Missouri through Illinois and Wisconsin.
- The Treaty of Fort Clark (1808): In this treaty, the Osage Nation gave up land in Missouri and Arkansas. This land was east of Fort Clark.
These new treaties were also meant to create a legal way to move tribes west of Missouri. This area was called Indian Territory. It would then clear the way for new states to join the United States.
Who Helped Make the Treaties?
On March 11, 1815, President James Madison chose three people to lead the treaty talks. These people were called "commissioners."
- William Clark: He was the governor of Missouri Territory.
- Ninian Edwards: He was the governor of Illinois Territory.
- Auguste Chouteau: He was a businessman from St. Louis. He had become rich by trading furs with Native Americans.
The President allowed $20,000 to be spent on gifts for the chiefs. The commissioners met in St. Louis, Missouri on May 11, 1815. They planned the meetings and sent out 37 invitations to different chiefs.
When and Where Did the Signings Happen?
The treaty signings at Portage des Sioux took place over several weeks. They happened between July 18 and September 16, 1815.
A Chief Who Resisted
One important chief who did not want to come was Black Hawk. He was a leader of the Sauk people. He was eventually made to come and was the last to sign the treaty. Later, he would fight against the terms of this treaty in the Black Hawk War.
Which Tribes Signed the Treaties?
The following tribes signed the treaties at Portage des Sioux, in the order they signed:
- Potawatomi
- Piankeshaw
- Lakota
- Mdewakantonwan Dakota
- Yankton Sioux
- Omaha
- Kickapoo
- Osage Nation
- Sac
- Fox
- Iowa
Other tribes signed similar treaties later in St. Louis.
