1851: The Horse Creek Treaty Signed at Fort Laramie, Indian Territory
Read (Excerpts from the original treaty):
Articles of a treaty made and concluded at Fort Laramie, in the Indian Territory, between D. D. Mitchell, superintendent of Indian Affairs, and Thomas Fitzpatrick, Indian agent…authorized by the President of the United States,…and the chiefs, headmen, and braves of the following Indian nations, residing south of the Missouri River, east of the Rocky Mountains, and north of the lines of Texas and New Mexico, viz, the Sioux or Dahcotahs, Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, Crows, Assinaboines, Gros-Ventre, Mandans, and Arrickaras…
Article 1: The aforesaid nations, having assembled for the purpose of establishing and confirming peaceful relations amongst themselves…do hereby agree to make an effective and lasting peace.
Article 2: The nations do hereby recognize the right of the United States Government to establish roads, military and other posts, within their respective territories.
Article 3: The United States bind themselves to protect the aforesaid Indian nations against the commission of all depredations by the people of the said United States… .
Article 4: The aforesaid Indian nations do hereby agree …to make restitution or satisfaction for any wrongs committed…on the people of the United States, whilst lawfully residing in or passing through their respective territories.
Article 5: The aforesaid Indian nations do hereby recognize and acknowledge the following tracts of country…as their respective territories [The rest of Article 5 describes the territories for the Sioux or Dahcotah Nation; the Gros Ventre, Mandans and Arrickara Nations; the Assinaboine Nation; the Blackfoot Nation; the Crow Nation and the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe Nations.]
The remaining articles address the tribes’ commitment to support the chiefs that sign the treaty, and the U.S. government’s promise to pay $50,000 dollars each year, to be divided among the tribes.
Map: Click here, then scroll down to the Topographic map of the Contiguous United States. Click on the map to enlarge. On the map, find the area described in the Horse Creek Treaty.
Summarize: Re-write Articles 1-5 of the Treaty in your own words.