Treaty of Vincennes facts for kids
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| Type | Recognition of American land claims |
| Signed | June 6th 1803 |
| Location | Vincennes, Indiana Territory |
| Condition | Transfer of money and goods to natives |
| Signatories |
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| Language | English |
The Treaty of Vincennes refers to two different agreements. Both treaties involved the United States of America and several Native American tribes. These tribes included the Miami, the Wea (which included the Piankeshaw), and the Shawnee.
The first treaty was signed on June 6, 1803. Its main goal was for the Native American tribes to officially agree that the United States owned a piece of land called the Vincennes Tract. This land had been taken from Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War.
The second treaty was signed later, on August 27, 1804. This agreement was about buying more land from the tribes for new settlements.
What Was the 1803 Vincennes Treaty About?
In 1803, William Henry Harrison represented the United States. He was the Governor of the Indiana Territory. President Thomas Jefferson had given Harrison the power to settle the land claims for the Vincennes Tract.
The Vincennes Tract was originally bought by the Kingdom of France from the Piankeshaw people around 1740. After the French and Indian War, this land was given to Great Britain.
During the American Revolutionary War, George Rogers Clark captured the area from the British. Because of this victory, the United States claimed the land as its own.
Why Was the 1803 Treaty Needed?
In 1802, a government surveyor named Thomas Freeman started mapping the land. His survey, called "Freeman's Lines and Corners," caused some problems. Some Native American tribes disagreed about the exact borders and size of the land.
To solve these disagreements, President Jefferson decided it would be best to talk openly with the tribes. He also wanted to pay them for their claims to the land.
The Vincennes Tract was a rectangular piece of land that crossed the Wabash River. Most of the land was on the east side of the river. However, a smaller part was also on the west side.
The main town in this area was Vincennes, an old French trading post. The entire tract covered about 1,600,000 acres (about 6,475 square kilometers). The talks were successful. In exchange for payment, the tribes recognized that the United States owned the land.
What Was the 1804 Vincennes Treaty About?
The Treaty of Vincennes signed in 1804 was about buying more land. This new land was for settlers to move into. The area was south of the Vincennes Tract and the Buffalo Trace. It was also north of the Ohio River and east of the Wabash River.
This treaty helped connect two important areas: Clark's Grant and the Vincennes Tract. Many settlers were already living on Native American lands without permission. This caused increasing tension with the tribes. The 1804 treaty helped ease this pressure. It allowed settlers to legally move onto the land.
