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Treaty

Chickasaw at Chickasaw Bluffs (1801)

In 1801 the Chickasaw allowed a United States wagon road through their land and received $700 in goods and a pledge of protection.

Signed
October 24, 1801
Senate
Ratified
Promises
0 of 1 broken or only partly kept

What happened

On 24 October 1801, at Chickasaw Bluffs, three United States commissioners (James Wilkinson, Benjamin Hawkins and Andrew Pickens) met the Mingo (a principal leader), principal men and warriors of the Chickasaw nation. The treaty calls itself "of reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience."

In Article I the Chickasaw gave leave to the President to lay out, open and make a wagon road through their land between the settlements of Mero District in Tennessee and Natchez in the Mississippi Territory. The road would be a highway for citizens of the United States and for the Chickasaws. The Chickasaw would appoint two men as assistants, guides or pilots, who would receive reasonable pay. The ferries over water courses on the road would be held to be the property of the Chickasaw nation.

In Article II the commissioners gave the Mingo and his delegation goods worth seven hundred dollars for their trouble and for letting the road be opened. The commissioners also agreed that the President would take such measures as he deemed proper to help the Chickasaws keep all their rights against the encroachments of unjust neighbors, of which he would be the judge.

The treaty took effect once the President ratified it with the Senate's consent. It was ratified on 1 May 1802 and proclaimed on 4 May 1802.

What was promised, and what happened

  • Not known

    The President would help the Chickasaws protect their rights against encroachments by unjust neighbors. (Art. 2)

    to assist the Chickasaws to preserve entire all their rights against the encroachments of unjust neighbors treaties.okstate.edu

Good to know. This granted a right of way for a road, not a sale of land, and the President alone judged who counted as "unjust neighbors" under the protection promise.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error

What the sources say, and how this was checked

Well supported by the sources below.

  1. give leave and permission to the President of the United States of America, to lay out, open and make a convenient wagon roadTreaty with the Chickasaw, 1801, Tribal Treaties Database
  2. the necessary ferries over the water courses crossed by the said road shall be held and deemed to be the property of the Chickasaw nationTreaty with the Chickasaw, 1801, Tribal Treaties Database
  3. goods to the value of seven hundred dollarsTreaty with the Chickasaw, 1801, Tribal Treaties Database
  4. to assist the Chickasaws to preserve entire all their rights against the encroachments of unjust neighbors, of which he shall be the judgeTreaty with the Chickasaw, 1801, Tribal Treaties Database

Research notes. The text grants a right of way, not a land sale; its width and any later use are not stated. The President was named as sole judge of 'unjust neighbors', so the protection promise was at his discretion.

What happened next

Everything the record holds about this land and this treaty, in order: what earlier agreements said, what this one did, and what the United States, the courts and the nations did afterwards.

Who is doing the work today

The nations connected to this treaty come first, then groups returning land and defending treaty rights. Support goes directly to them.

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Sources

  1. treaties.okstate.edu/treaties/treaty-with-the-chickasaw-1801-0055reference work
    Oct. 24, 1801. | 7 Stat. 65. / scan: 55

Shapes are approximate and are not legal descriptions of land, title or jurisdiction.