Treaty of Fort Pitt facts for kids
The Treaty of Fort Pitt was a very important agreement signed on September 17, 1778. It was the first official treaty between the brand new United States of America and any Native American group. This treaty was made with the Lenape people, who were also known as the Delaware. Even though many unofficial agreements happened during the American Revolution (1775-1783), this was the first one written down as a formal document. It was signed at Fort Pitt in Pennsylvania, which is now the city of Pittsburgh. This treaty was mostly about creating a military alliance between the Lenape Nation and the United States.
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Why Was the Treaty Needed?
In 1778, the American army, called the Continental Army, wanted to plan a trip. They aimed to go west of the Appalachian Mountains to attack the British, especially at Detroit. To do this, the American soldiers needed to march through the Ohio Valley. This area was where many Lenape tribes lived. The American government, known as the Continental Congress, decided they needed a formal agreement. This would make sure their soldiers could pass through safely. They chose three people to negotiate the treaty. They also set aside $10,000 to buy gifts for the Lenape people.
How Were the Talks Held?
The American negotiators arrived in Pittsburgh in March 1778. It took some time to start and continue the discussions. The Lenape side was represented by important leaders. These included Koquethaqechton, also known as White Eyes, Hopocan, known as Captain Pipe, and John Kill Buck (Gelelemend). For the young United States, Andrew Lewis and Thomas Lewis led the talks. After the treaty was agreed upon and signed, several military leaders witnessed it. These included Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh, Colonel Daniel Brodhead, and Colonel William Crawford.
What Did the Treaty Say?
The treaty allowed the United States to travel through the Lenape lands. It also asked the Lenape to help American troops in their fight against Great Britain. This included Lenape warriors joining the fight. The United States planned to attack the British fort at Detroit. Help from the Lenape was very important for them to succeed.
In return, the United States promised to give the Lenape "clothing, tools, and weapons." They also promised to build a fort in Lenape territory. This fort would keep "old men, women and children" safe while their warriors were fighting. Even though it wasn't written in the treaty, the American negotiators mentioned their alliance with France. They hoped the Lenape would become active allies against the British. There was even talk about creating a new Native American state.
The treaty also said that the Lenape were a sovereign nation. This means they were recognized as an independent group with their own government. It protected their land rights. It even encouraged other Native American tribes in the Ohio Country who were friendly to the U.S. to form a state. This new state would be led by the Lenape and have a representative in the Continental Congress. This was a very unusual idea and probably wouldn't have worked. Some people think the treaty writers weren't honest about this part. Others believe it was the Lenape chief White Eyes who suggested it. He might have hoped the Lenape and other tribes could become the fourteenth state of the United States. Either way, this idea never happened.
What Happened After the Treaty?
According to a historian named Daniel K. Richter, the Lenape saw the agreement simply as a way for American troops to pass through. They also thought the fort would protect white settlers. However, the American leaders planned to use the fort for attacks. They wrote into the treaty that the Lenape would attack their Native American neighbors.
Within a year, the Lenape started to complain about the treaty. White Eyes, who was the tribe's biggest supporter of the United States, sadly died. It was said he died of smallpox. But since he had already had smallpox before, some believed he was killed by American soldiers near Detroit. In 1779, a group of Lenape leaders visited Philadelphia. They wanted to tell the Continental Congress they were unhappy. But nothing changed. The peaceful relationship between the United States and the Lenape Nation broke down. The Lenape soon joined the British in the war against the Americans. The terrible Gnadenhutten massacre in 1782 destroyed any remaining good feelings.
How Is It Remembered?
The 2013 Sacagawea dollar coin remembers the Treaty of Fort Pitt. The coin shows a turkey, a howling wolf, and a turtle. These are important symbols of the Lenape people. The design was created by Susan Gamble and engraved by Phebe Hemphill.
See also
- List of Native American treaties
- Timeline of United States diplomatic history
