Treaty of Colerain facts for kids

The Treaty of Colerain was an important agreement signed on June 29, 1796. It was made between the United States government and the Creek Nation. The treaty was signed in St. Marys, Georgia, which is in Camden County, Georgia.

What Was the Treaty of Colerain?

Three representatives from the United States signed the treaty: Benjamin Hawkins, George Clymer, and Andrew Pickens. For the Creek Nation, their leaders signed, with an interpreter named Langley Bryant helping them. The treaty was officially announced on March 18, 1797.

The signing took place in a small community called Colerain, Georgia. This place was also home to a U.S. Indian factory, which was like a special trading post set up by the government. James Seagrove started this trading post.

Setting the Boundaries

This treaty confirmed and strengthened an earlier agreement called the Treaty of New York (1790). Other treaties, like the Treaties of Hopewell and the Treaty of Holston (1791), had already set boundary lines between the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokee people, and the United States. The Treaty of Colerain made sure the Creek Nation also agreed to these established boundaries.

It also drew a new boundary line specifically between the Creek Nation and the United States. At the time this treaty was signed, the borders between Spanish Florida and the U.S. had not yet been decided. This treaty formally allowed the Creek chiefs to agree to discussions about where the Georgia-Florida border would be with Spain.

Important Agreements

The treaty included a rule that the President of the U.S. could set up a trading or military outpost in Creek territory if needed.

The United States also asked the Creeks to return any American prisoners they held. They also demanded the return of all "citizens, white inhabitants, negroes and property" that the Creeks had taken.

Changes to the Treaty

The treaty explained when it would officially begin. After it was signed but before it was fully put into action, the U.S. Senate asked for two parts of the treaty to be changed.

The first change said that any military or trading posts built would be completely controlled by the United States. The second change stated that if the U.S. no longer needed these posts, the land where they were located would go back to the Creek people.

See also

• List of United States treaties