Treaty of New York
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of New York is one of several treaties signed between the United States
and Native American tribes
, conducted in the city of New York
.
Creek people
and Henry Knox
, then Secretary of War
for the United States
, under president George Washington
.
After a failed treaty attempt between the United States and the Creek Indians at Rock Landing, Georgia, in 1789, which Creek leader Alexander McGillivray
abruptly ended and described his grievances in a letter to the United States commissioners, George Washington sent a special emissary, Colonel Marinus Willett
to McGillvray, persuading him to come to New York City, then the capital of the United States, to conduct a treaty with Washington and Henry Knox directly.
In the summer of 1790, twenty-seven Creek
leaders led by Alexander McGillivray traveled to New York
and signed a treaty on behalf of the "Upper, Middle, and Lower Creek and Seminole composing the Creek nation of Indians
". Creek leaders ceded a significant portion of their hunting grounds to the United States
and agreed to turn runaway slaves over to federal authorities, although the Creek leaders averred that convincing the Creek people to honor the new boundary lines or return African American
slaves
would be difficult at best.
The United States granted the Creeks the right to punish non-Indian trespassers in their territory but refused to allow the Creeks to punish non-Indians who committed crimes on Creek lands. For their part, the Creeks agreed to turn over Creek people accused of crimes to the U.S. courts. In a secret side agreement to the treaty, McGillivray received a commission as a brigadier
in the U.S. Army and was granted permission to import goods through the Spanish
port of Pensacola
without paying American duties.
The Treaty of New York was the first treaty between the United States and Native Americans not held in Indian controlled lands.
and a delegation headed by Abraham Ogden
for the United States
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Native American tribes
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, conducted in the city of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
1790
The Treaty of New York was a treaty signed in 1790 between leaders of the Native American TribesNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
Creek people
Creek people
The Muscogee , also known as the Creek or Creeks, are a Native American people traditionally from the southeastern United States. Mvskoke is their name in traditional spelling. The modern Muscogee live primarily in Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida...
and Henry Knox
Henry Knox
Henry Knox was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War....
, then 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...
for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, under president George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
After a failed treaty attempt between the United States and the Creek Indians at Rock Landing, Georgia, in 1789, which Creek leader Alexander McGillivray
Alexander McGillivray
Alexander McGillivray, also known as Hoboi-Hili-Miko , was a principal chief of the Upper Creek towns from 1782. Before that he had created an alliance between the Creek and the British during the American Revolution...
abruptly ended and described his grievances in a letter to the United States commissioners, George Washington sent a special emissary, Colonel Marinus Willett
Marinus Willett
Marinus Willett was an American soldier and political leader from New York. He was characterized by historian Mark M. Boatner as "one of the truly outstanding American leaders of the Revolution."...
to McGillvray, persuading him to come to New York City, then the capital of the United States, to conduct a treaty with Washington and Henry Knox directly.
In the summer of 1790, twenty-seven Creek
Creek people
The Muscogee , also known as the Creek or Creeks, are a Native American people traditionally from the southeastern United States. Mvskoke is their name in traditional spelling. The modern Muscogee live primarily in Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida...
leaders led by Alexander McGillivray traveled to 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...
and signed a treaty on behalf of the "Upper, Middle, and Lower Creek and Seminole composing the Creek nation of Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
". Creek leaders ceded a significant portion of their hunting grounds to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and agreed to turn runaway slaves over to federal authorities, although the Creek leaders averred that convincing the Creek people to honor the new boundary lines or return African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
slaves
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
would be difficult at best.
The United States granted the Creeks the right to punish non-Indian trespassers in their territory but refused to allow the Creeks to punish non-Indians who committed crimes on Creek lands. For their part, the Creeks agreed to turn over Creek people accused of crimes to the U.S. courts. In a secret side agreement to the treaty, McGillivray received a commission as a brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in the U.S. Army and was granted permission to import goods through the Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
port of Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
without paying American duties.
The Treaty of New York was the first treaty between the United States and Native Americans not held in Indian controlled lands.
1796
Treaty of New York (also known as Treaty with the Seven Nations of Canada) was a treaty signed on May 31, 1796, between leaders of the First Nations comprising the Seven Nations of CanadaSeven Nations of Canada
The Seven Nations of Canada were a historic confederation of Canadian First Nations living in and around the Saint Lawrence River valley beginning in the eighteenth century. They were allied to New France and often included substantial numbers of Roman Catholic converts. During the Seven Years War...
and a delegation headed by Abraham Ogden
Abraham Ogden
Abraham Ogden was an American lawyer and politician who served as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1791 to 1798 and negotiated the Treaty of New York in 1796.-Biography:...
for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.