In 1853, Washington became a territory of the United States.
The new territorial governor, Isaac Stevens, was charged with making treaties with all the state’s Native Americans. In the treaties, the Native Americans were supposed to agree to surrender their land and move to small reservations.
In 1855, Stevens met with many Native American groups and negotiated several treaties. The treaties, though, were hastily put together. Many Native Americans who signed them probably did not know what they were agreeing to.
Some of the treaties also were not ratified by the U.S. Congress. As a result, the Native Americans who gave up their lands were not given the reservations they were promised. Because the United States was not keeping its part of the deal, in later conferences Native Americans refused to deal with Stevens at all.
The Stevens treaties were a disaster for the Washington Native Americans. Many who signed them never received reservations. Others who walked out of the treaty negotiations were also left landless.
Related Posts
-
What happened to the Indian Territory tribes when it became part of Oklahoma?
When Indian Territory became part of Oklahoma, the United States declared that the Indian nations there no longer existed. The government wanted the Indians to blend into white society and forget their ancestors'…
-
What was Indian Territory and Where was Indian Territory located?
Indian Territory was the name given to the western lands where the United States wanted to resettle the southeastern Indians. Originally, it did not have exact boundaries, but by the late nineteenth century…
-
How did the Civil War of 1861 affect Indian Territory and Why did Native Americans join the Confederacy?
The Civil War began in 1861 when the states in the South (called the Confederacy) declared their independence from the states in the North (called the Union). Although Indians were not then citizens…
-
How many Native Americans live in the United States and is the Native American population growing?
According to the 1990 census, there are about 1,900,000 Native Americans in the United States, approximately .75 percent of the total U.S. population. The Native American population has grown steadily throughout the twentieth…
-
How Big Is the City of Washington and Is the District of Columbia a State Or a Territory?
The District of Columbia is not a state, although many of its residents would like it to be. That's because they do not have a voting representative in the U.S. Congress, and because…
-
What language do Native Americans speak and Do Native Americans still speak Indian languages?
Some Native Americans are bilingual. They speak English with non-Native Americans but might use their native language with relatives and other tribe members. In some Native American communities, however, a Native American language…
