Treaty of Saginaw facts for kids
The Treaty of Saginaw, also known as the Treaty with the Chippewa, was an important agreement made a long time ago. It happened between General Lewis Cass and several Native American leaders. These leaders included Chief Mash Kee Yosh, Chief John Okemos, and Chief Wasso. They represented tribes like the Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi. These tribes lived in the Great Lakes area of what is now the United States.
The treaty was signed on September 24, 1819. The President of the United States officially announced it on March 25, 1820.
The Treaty of Saginaw: A Big Agreement
This treaty was a major event in the history of the Great Lakes area. It changed who controlled a huge amount of land. The agreement was put into law as 7 Stat. 203.
Who Was Involved?
The main people involved were General Lewis Cass, representing the United States government, and several important Native American chiefs. These chiefs were leaders from the Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi tribes. They were making decisions for their people about their traditional lands.
What Land Was Exchanged?
Through the Treaty of Saginaw, Native American tribes gave up a very large piece of land. This area was more than six million acres (about 24,000 square kilometers). It was located in the central part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
The southern edge of this land started near Jackson and went west towards Kalamazoo. The line then went directly to the start of the Thunder Bay River in Montmorency County. It followed the river to where it meets Thunder Bay, near Alpena.
From there, the boundary went northeast to the border between the United States and Upper Canada (which was controlled by the British). It then followed this border south. Finally, it connected to a line set by an earlier agreement, the Treaty of Detroit from 1807. This older line ran from Lake Huron in Sanilac County southwest to a point near Lansing.
Even though a lot of land was given up, the treaty also set aside some smaller areas. These special areas were kept for Native American use within the larger territory.
