Treaty of Fort Adams facts for kids

The Treaty of Fort Adams was an agreement signed on December 17, 1801. It was made between the Choctaw people, who are a Native American tribe, and the government of the United States. This treaty meant that the Choctaw gave up about 2,641,920 acres (10,691 km²) of their land.

The people who made the treaty told President Thomas Jefferson that the Choctaw had asked for help. They wanted materials, tools, and teachers to help them farm and work. The treaty makers hoped that with the government's help, the Choctaw people could live happily and be useful. They also hoped this would prevent the United States from having to force the Choctaw off their land or harm them.

Why Was This Treaty Important for the Choctaw?

Even though the treaty was first planned to create a road called the Natchez Trace, it became much more significant. It was the first of many treaties that would eventually lead to the Choctaw Nation being forced to move away from their lands east of the Mississippi River.

What Were the Treaty's Main Points?

The treaty starts with an introduction, called a preamble. It states who was involved in making the agreement.

THOMAS JEFFERSON, President of the United States of America, by James Wilkinson, of the state of Maryland, Brigadier-General in the army of the United States, Benjamin Hawkins, of North Carolina, and Andrew Pickens, of South Carolina, commissioners plenipotentiary of the United States on the one part, and the Mingos, principal men and warriors of the Choctaw nation, representing the said nation in council assembled, on the other part, have entered into the following articles and conditions, viz: ...

—Treaty of Fort Adams, 1801

The main points of the treaty were:

• Peace and friendship between the Choctaw and the United States.
• Permission for a wagon road to be built through Choctaw land.
• A clear definition of the new land boundary.
• Rules for letting the Choctaw know when the land would be surveyed.
• Payments given to the Choctaw for the land they gave up.
• When the treaty would officially start.

Who Signed the Treaty?

The important people who signed this treaty were:

• James Wilkinson
• Benjamin Hawkins
• Andrew Pickens
• Buckshun Nubby
• Mingo Hom Massatubby

Images for kids

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  General James Wilkinson

• 

  U.S. Senator Benjamin Hawkins

• 

  U.S. Representative Andrew Pickens

See also

• List of Choctaw Treaties
• Treaty of Hopewell
• Treaty of Fort Confederation
• Treaty of Hoe Buckintoopa
• Treaty of Mount Dexter
• Treaty of Fort St. Stephens
• Treaty of Doak's Stand
• Treaty of Washington City
• Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
• List of treaties