Treaty of Doak's Stand with the Choctaw, 1820
At Doak's Stand in 1820 the Choctaw ceded Mississippi land for a tract between the Arkansas and Red rivers.
- Signed
- October 18, 1820
- Senate
- Ratified January 8, 1821
- Land given up
- about 4.8 million acres
- Land set aside for the nations
- about 5.3 million acres
- Promises
- 0 of 1 broken or only partly kept
What happened
What happened
On October 18, 1820, Andrew Jackson and Thomas Hinds signed a "treaty of friendship, limits, and accommodation" with the Choctaw Nation near Doak's Stand on the Natchez Road. The preamble says the President wanted to promote Choctaw "civilization" through schools. It also says he wanted to exchange "a small part of their land here" for "a country beyond the Mississippi River." It adds that the state of Mississippi wanted part of Choctaw land.
The Choctaw ceded a tract in Mississippi. In part payment, the United States ceded a tract west of the Mississippi, between the Arkansas and Red rivers. The United States also promised each warrior who wished to move a blanket, a kettle, a rifle and a year's ammunition, plus corn to support him and his family for a year. Fifty-four sections of ceded land were to be sold to pay for Choctaw schools.
Article 4 set the boundaries east of the Mississippi to "remain without alteration" until the Choctaw became citizens of the United States and Congress set aside land for each family. That did not last. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History says some families moved into the new land, but "the majority did not" until Andrew Jackson pushed the Indian Removal Act through Congress in 1830. That year Choctaw leaders signed the Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty, ceding their remaining territory in Mississippi.
What was promised, and what happened
- Not known
Mississippi boundaries would stay unaltered until the Choctaw became citizens and Congress set aside land for each family. (Art. 4)
In that year Choctaw leaders signed the Dancing Rabbit Creek, ceding their remaining territory in Mississippi and agreeing to move west.
okhistory.org
Good to know. The Oklahoma Historical Society gives about thirteen million acres for the western lands; the treaty describes boundaries, not acreage.
Summarized with AI assistance from 3 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
Supported by the sources below; some details rest on one source.
exchanging, for a small part of their land here, a country beyond the Mississippi River
Tribal Treaties Database (OSU)shall remain without alteration until the period at which said nation shall become so civilized and enlightened
Tribal Treaties Database (OSU)Although some families moved into the new land, the majority did not until Andrew Jackson pushed his Indian Removal Act through Congress in 1830.
Choctaw (tribe), Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Research notes. The Choctaw leaders signed the 1830 Dancing Rabbit Creek treaty, so the end of the Article 4 boundary came by a later treaty, not unilateral action. The Oklahoma Historical Society gives about thirteen million acres for the western lands; the treaty text gives boundaries, not acreage.
What the treaty did to the land
About 4.8 million acres given up. about 5.3 million acres recognized, kept or set aside for the nations. Each shape is a numbered area in the federal government’s 1899 record of land cessions.
set aside as a reservationabout 5.3 million acres
Land of the Choctaw in Arkansas, ceded 1825 (area 122)
Granted by the United States to the Choctaw in the 1820 Treaty of Doak's Stand as part of a tract west of the Mississippi; the Choctaw ceded this Arkansas portion back in January 1825.
ceded to the United Statesabout 4.8 million acres
Land of the Choctaw in Mississippi, ceded 1820 (area 115)
Ceded by the Choctaw to the United States in the 1820 Treaty of Doak's Stand, giving up land in Mississippi.
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.
- 1820
This treaty
About 5.3 million acres set aside as a reservation for the Choctaw. About 4.8 million acres ceded to the United States by the Choctaw
At Doak's Stand in 1820 the Choctaw ceded Mississippi land for a tract between the Arkansas and Red rivers.
- 1821
This treaty
Ratified by the Senate
- 1825
Land lost
About 5.3 million acres ceded to the United States by the Choctaw
By Choctaw at Washington, DC (1825)
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.
Who is doing the work
This history belongs to living nations. Start with them:
Native legal and land defense, nationally
- Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Native-led Litigation and legal advocacy for tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, land and resources Give on their site Website
- NDN Collective (LANDBACK Campaign) Native-led LANDBACK campaign (launched 2020; Mount Rushmore closure and return of Black Hills public lands), Indigenous… Give on their site Website
- Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) Native-led Land recovery and control by tribes and individual Indian landowners Website
- Decolonizing Wealth Project (Indigenous Earth Fund; California Tribal Land Return) Native-led Reparative philanthropy Give on their site Website
Gifts go straight to each organization; this atlas takes nothing. Listing is not endorsement: how organizations are listed.
Sources
Sources
- digitreaties.org/treaties/treaty/102075737reference work
Research notes
Wikipedia (pointer) for acreage and Jan 8, 1821 effective date; Kappler page from OSU slug. Ratification detail: 1821-01-08 (proclaimed)
Shapes are approximate and are not legal descriptions of land, title or jurisdiction.