Treaty of Mississinewas facts for kids

The Treaty of Mississinewas, also known as the Treaty of Mississinewa or Treaty of the Wabash, was an important agreement signed in 1826. It was made between the United States government and the Miami and Potawatomi tribes. This treaty was about the United States buying large areas of Native American land in what is now Indiana and Michigan. The signing happened near the Mississinewa River on the Wabash River, which is how the treaty got its name.

What the Treaty Said

The United States wanted to build a road called the Michigan Road through Indiana. James B. Ray and Lewis Cass worked for President John Quincy Adams to make this happen. Cass then negotiated two treaties, together called the Treaty of Mississinewa.

Through this treaty, the Miami leaders agreed to cede (which means to give up) most of their reservation lands in Indiana to the United States. These lands had been set aside for them by earlier treaties.

In return, some important Miami families, like that of Chief Richardville, received special estates in Indiana. These estates included houses, like the Richardville House, and farm animals. The government paid for these things. The United States also agreed to buy back some estates that were given out in an earlier agreement, the Treaty of St. Mary's from 1818. Small areas of land were also set aside for the tribes along the Eel and Maumee rivers.

The Miami tribe also received money and goods. They got $31,040.53, with $10,000 of that in silver, in the first year. The next year, they received $26,259.47 in goods. After that, the United States promised to pay $15,000 each year, in addition to other payments from earlier treaties.

Also, $2,000 each year was set aside to help "poor infirm persons" (people who were sick or unable to work) of the Miami tribe. This money was also for "the education of the youth" (to help educate young people) of the tribe. The tribes kept their hunting rights on the land as long as it belonged to the United States.

Challenges with the Treaty

Following the rules of the treaty was hard for both sides. The white treaty makers did not always understand how Native American tribes worked. They often thought a chief had more power than they actually did. They also did not fully understand that tribal groups and alliances could change. Native American settlements often moved depending on the season, which was also not understood.

Younger men in the tribes often preferred to fight against white settlers instead of negotiating. However, older tribal members usually preferred to talk and make agreements. Some tribal members who were of mixed Native American and French Canadian heritage tended to support the treaty more. This was because they often benefited more from the land grants and money given by the government.

These disagreements and misunderstandings about the treaty made it difficult to build the Michigan Road. The road was supposed to go through lands that the treaty said had been given up.