The 1784 Treaty with the Six Nations, a pivotal moment in the early history of the United States, was formally concluded on October 22, 1784, at Fort Stanwix, located in present-day Rome, New York. This treaty marked a significant attempt to establish peace and define boundaries between the newly formed United States and the Six Nations Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy. The Six Nations, comprised of the Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Tuscarora nations, had played a complex role during the American Revolutionary War, with some nations siding with the British and others remaining neutral or supporting the American cause. The treaty aimed to address the aftermath of this conflict and lay the groundwork for future relations.
The signatories to the 1784 Treaty with the Six Nations represented the highest levels of authority from both sides. Representing the United States were Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee, all appointed as Commissioners Plenipotentiary by the Congress. These commissioners were vested with the full power to negotiate and conclude agreements on behalf of the United States government. On the other side, the treaty was signed by Sachems and Warriors representing each of the Six Nations. These individuals held positions of leadership and influence within their respective communities, empowered to make decisions affecting the collective interests of their nations. The inclusion of both Sachems (civil chiefs) and Warriors highlighted the importance of both political and military authority in the negotiation process.
The treaty’s preamble clearly states its primary objective: to establish peace between the United States and the Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, and Cayuga nations, and to extend the protection of the United States to these nations under specific conditions. The Oneida and Tuscarora nations, having generally supported the American cause during the war, were given special consideration. The articles that followed outlined the specific terms and conditions agreed upon by both parties.
Article 1 of the 1784 Treaty with the Six Nations focused on the repatriation of prisoners taken during the Revolutionary War. It stipulated that the Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, and Cayuga nations were required to deliver six hostages to the United States Commissioners. These hostages were to remain in the custody of the United States until all prisoners, both white and black, captured by these nations during the war were released and returned to American control. This provision reflected the United States’ desire to secure the return of its citizens and to address the issue of wartime captivity. It also served as a measure of accountability for the Six Nations, ensuring their compliance with the treaty’s terms.
Article 2 addressed the status of the Oneida and Tuscarora nations, who had largely remained neutral or allied with the Americans during the Revolutionary War. This article affirmed that these nations would be secured in the possession of the lands on which they were already settled. This provision recognized the Oneida and Tuscarora nations’ loyalty to the United States and aimed to protect their land rights from encroachment by settlers or other external forces. It also served as a contrast to the treatment of the other four nations, who were viewed as having been allied with the British and therefore subject to different terms.
Article 3 of the treaty was arguably the most significant, as it defined the western boundary of the lands of the Six Nations. This boundary line began at the mouth of a creek approximately four miles east of Niagara, known as Oyonwayea or Johnston’s Landing-Place, on Lake Ontario. From there, the line ran southerly, maintaining a distance of four miles east of the carrying path between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, to the mouth of Tehoseroron or Buffalo Creek on Lake Erie. The line then continued south to the northern boundary of Pennsylvania, west to the end of that boundary, and then south along the western boundary of Pennsylvania to the Ohio River.
According to the treaty, this line from the mouth of the Oyonwayea to the Ohio River would serve as the western boundary of the lands of the Six Nations. The Six Nations, in turn, ceded to the United States all claims to the country west of this boundary. The treaty stipulated that the Six Nations would be secured in the peaceful possession of the lands they inhabited east and north of this boundary. However, the treaty also reserved a six-mile square area around Fort Oswego for the United States to support the fort. This provision had a profound impact on the territorial control and sovereignty of the Six Nations, as it significantly reduced the amount of land they controlled and opened up vast areas to American settlement.
Article 4 of the 1784 Treaty with the Six Nations addressed the immediate needs of the Six Nations. Recognizing the challenging circumstances faced by these nations in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, the Commissioners of the United States pledged to provide goods for their use and comfort. This provision was presented as an act of benevolence, reflecting the "humane and liberal views" of the United States. The provision of goods served as a form of compensation for the land ceded by the Six Nations and aimed to alleviate the hardships they faced due to the war and the loss of territory.
The treaty concludes with the signatures of the Commissioners Plenipotentiary from the United States, followed by the marks (indicated by "his x mark") of the Sachems and Warriors representing each of the Six Nations. The presence of witnesses, including Pennsylvania Commissioners, a missionary, and military officers, further validates the authenticity and significance of the document.
The 1784 Treaty with the Six Nations had long-lasting consequences for both the United States and the Six Nations Confederacy. While the treaty aimed to establish peace and define boundaries, it also resulted in the cession of significant amounts of land by the Six Nations, opening the way for American expansion into the Ohio Valley and beyond. The treaty’s provisions regarding prisoners of war and the protection of the Oneida and Tuscarora nations reflected the complex dynamics of the post-Revolutionary War era and the challenges of establishing relations with Native American nations. The treaty continues to be studied and debated by historians and legal scholars, as it sheds light on the early interactions between the United States government and Native American tribes and the ongoing struggle over land, sovereignty, and cultural preservation.
