Treaty of Washington (1846) with the Cherokee

What happened

On August 6, 1846, three U.S. commissioners (Edmund Burke, William Armstrong and Albion K. Parris) signed a treaty at Washington with delegations of three parties of Cherokee. They were John Ross and the delegates of the Cherokee Nation, a delegation of the "Treaty Party," and delegates of the "Western Cherokees" or "Old Settlers." The preamble says serious difficulties had long existed between portions of the Cherokee Nation and that there were claims against the United States.

Article 1 says the lands occupied by the Cherokee Nation would be secured to the whole Cherokee people for their common use and benefit. A patent would issue for them, including the 800,000 acres purchased and the outlet west. The patent carried the proviso that the lands would revert to the United States if the Indians became extinct or abandoned them. Article 2 settled differences, declared a general amnesty, pardoned offenses against the nation or individuals, and invited Cherokees who had left to return.

Other articles dealt with money. Article 3 had the United States repay the $5,000,000 fund for certain claims, and Articles 4 and 5 gave the Old Settlers a per capita allowance in exchange for releasing claims to the lands. The treaty was ratified on August 8 and proclaimed on August 17, 1846. It did not cede land to the United States.

Summarized with AI assistance from 3 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error