Treaty of Turkey Creek Prairie facts for kids
The Treaty of Turkey Creek Prairie was an important agreement signed on March 26, 1836. It was made between the United States government and Mes-quaw-buck, a leader of the Potawatomi Native American tribe. This treaty is sometimes called the Treaty of the Potawatomi. In this agreement, the Potawatomi tribe gave up four sections of land near the Tippecanoe River to the United States. In return, the United States agreed to pay the chief and his group $2,560. This payment was to be made in "specie," which means in coins, at their next yearly payment. The treaty became official once it was approved by the United States Senate.
Contents
What Was in the Treaty?
This treaty was signed at a place called Turkey Creek Prairie in Indiana. Abel C. Pepper represented the United States, and Mes-quaw-buck signed for his Potawatomi band. The treaty had several parts, called articles, that explained what each side agreed to do.
Giving Up Land
- Article 1: The Potawatomi chief Mes-quaw-buck and his group agreed to give four sections of their land to the United States. This land had been set aside for them in an earlier treaty from October 27, 1832.
Payment for the Land
- Article 2: The United States agreed to pay Mes-quaw-buck and his group $2,560. This payment was to be made in coins after the treaty was officially approved.
- Article 3: The United States also agreed to pay for all the costs involved in making and signing this treaty.
Moving to New Lands
- Article 4: Mes-quaw-buck and his group agreed to leave the land they had given up. They would move to new lands west of the Mississippi River. The United States had set aside this new area for the Potawatomi people. They had two years from the date of the treaty to move.
When the Treaty Became Official
- Article 5: This part of the treaty said that it would become binding (meaning official and required to be followed) for both sides once the President and the Senate of the United States approved it.
- Article 6: This article was removed by the Senate. This means it was taken out of the treaty before it became official.
Who Signed the Treaty?
The treaty was signed by Abel C. Pepper for the United States. For the Potawatomi, Chief Mes-quaw-buck signed, along with other important leaders from his group. They used an "x" mark next to their names, which was a common way to sign documents at that time if someone did not write their full name.
- A. C. Pepper (for the United States)
- Mes-quaw-buck (his x mark)
- Mess-Sett (his x mark)
- Muck Rose (his x mark)
- Waw-baw-que-ke-aw (his x mark)
- Naush-waw-pi-tant (his x mark)
- Che-qua-sau-quah (his x mark)
There were also witnesses who saw the signing:
- C. Carter, secretary
- Edward McCartney, interpreter
