ID: Treaty of Greenville
When: August 3, 1795
Who:
- United States represented by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne
- Native American tribes of the Northwest Confederacy (including Miami, Shawnee, Delaware, and others)
What:
A treaty signed after the decisive American victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, ending the Northwest Indian War. In the treaty:
- Native American tribes ceded a significant portion of their lands in the Northwest Territory (modern-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and parts of Michigan) to the United States.
- The treaty established an official boundary between Native American territory and lands open to white settlement.
Impact? Why Significant?:
- Opened the Northwest Territory to American settlement: Led to a wave of white migration and settlement westward, fueling tensions and future conflicts over land.
- Formalized U.S. dominance in the region: Established American sovereignty over the Northwest Territory and solidified their claims to the land.
- Exacerbated tensions with Great Britain: The British had supported the Native American tribes against the U.S. The treaty increased tensions that were already high due to disputes over trade and impressment.
- Temporary peace, but not a lasting solution: While it brought an end to immediate violence, the treaty did little to address the underlying issues of land rights and cultural differences, leading to further conflicts in the future.