Treaty of Washington, with Menominee (1831)
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Washington (1831) was a treaty
between the Menominee
(an American Indian tribe) and the United States Government. The treaty was initially made and signed on February 8, 1831 in Washington, D.C.
. In the treaty, the Menominee ceded about 2500000 acre (10,117.2 km²; 3,906.3 sq mi) of their land in Wisconsin
primarily adjacent to Lake Michigan
. During the ratification of the treaty in June 1832, the United States Senate
modified the treaty to provide additional land for the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe
. The Menominee Tribe did not agree to the changes, and the treaty was renegotiated on October 27, 1832 to resolve the differences. These two treaties are commonly referred to singularly as the Treaty of Washington.
at Green Bay
. The principal Menonminee Chief was Oshkosh
, who did not attend the treaty negotiation due to his belief that without his presence, the treaty would not be binding on the tribe. The head chief that attended the talks for the tribe was Iometah, who was shown signing the treaty as Aya-mah-taw, while the United States
was represented by John H. Eaton, the Secretary of War
. The negotiations concluded on February 8, 1831, ceding 2500000 acre (10,117.2 km²; 3,906.3 sq mi) to the United States in return for clothing, provisions and annuities totaling approximately US$92,000. In addition, approximately 500000 acre (2,023.4 km²; 781.3 sq mi) were to be transferred to the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe for which the Menominee were to be paid an additional US$20,000.
. The Stockbridge-Munsee tribe was unhappy with the treaty as it was written, and had lobbied the New York
senators to amend the treaty. The Senate did so, and George B. Porter
, the Governor
of the Michigan Territory
was directed to gain the consent of the Menominee tribe to the changes. The tribe refused to agree to the changes, and a subsequent treaty was negotiated, being signed on October 27, 1832. After the modifications were negotiated and agreed to by both tribes and the United States, the treaty was again submitted to the Senate and ratified in 1833. Collectively both treaties are referred to as the singular "Treaty of Washington."
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
between the Menominee
Menominee
Some placenames use other spellings, see also Menomonee and Menomonie.The Menominee are a nation of Native Americans living in Wisconsin. The Menominee, along with the Ho-Chunk, are the only tribes that are indigenous to what is now Wisconsin...
(an American Indian tribe) and the United States Government. The treaty was initially made and signed on February 8, 1831 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In the treaty, the Menominee ceded about 2500000 acre (10,117.2 km²; 3,906.3 sq mi) of their land in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
primarily adjacent to Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. During the ratification of the treaty in June 1832, the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
modified the treaty to provide additional land for the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe
Stockbridge-Munsee Community
The Stockbridge-Munsee Community is a Federally recognized Indian tribe consisting of the Mahican and Munsee peoples. Their land-base, the Stockbridge-Munsee Indian Reservation, is located at in Shawano County, Wisconsin, in the towns of Bartelme and Red Springs.-In popular culture:In The West...
. The Menominee Tribe did not agree to the changes, and the treaty was renegotiated on October 27, 1832 to resolve the differences. These two treaties are commonly referred to singularly as the Treaty of Washington.
Initial treaty
The treaty was first brought about by Colonel Samuel C. Stambaugh, the Indian agentIndian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
at Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
. The principal Menonminee Chief was Oshkosh
Chief Oshkosh
Chief Oshkosh was the chief of the Menominee Indian tribe from 1827 until his death. He played a key role in treaty negotiations as the Menominee tribe tried to protect their lands in Wisconsin from the resettling New York Indians and the American pioneers...
, who did not attend the treaty negotiation due to his belief that without his presence, the treaty would not be binding on the tribe. The head chief that attended the talks for the tribe was Iometah, who was shown signing the treaty as Aya-mah-taw, while the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was represented by John H. Eaton, the Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
. The negotiations concluded on February 8, 1831, ceding 2500000 acre (10,117.2 km²; 3,906.3 sq mi) to the United States in return for clothing, provisions and annuities totaling approximately US$92,000. In addition, approximately 500000 acre (2,023.4 km²; 781.3 sq mi) were to be transferred to the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe for which the Menominee were to be paid an additional US$20,000.
Ratification and second treaty
In June 1832 the treaty was ratified by the United States SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. The Stockbridge-Munsee tribe was unhappy with the treaty as it was written, and had lobbied the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
senators to amend the treaty. The Senate did so, and George B. Porter
George Bryan Porter
George Bryan Porter , was a U.S. statesman in Pennsylvania and Michigan Territory.He was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the brother of David Rittenhouse Porter, Pennsylvania Governor, 1839–1845, and James Madison Porter, Secretary of War, 1843–1844, and the uncle of Horace Porter, U.S....
, the Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
was directed to gain the consent of the Menominee tribe to the changes. The tribe refused to agree to the changes, and a subsequent treaty was negotiated, being signed on October 27, 1832. After the modifications were negotiated and agreed to by both tribes and the United States, the treaty was again submitted to the Senate and ratified in 1833. Collectively both treaties are referred to as the singular "Treaty of Washington."