Treaty of Fort Wayne

Definition

The Treaty of Fort Wayne, signed in 1809, involved the transfer over three million acres of Native American lands in present-day Indiana and Illinois to the U.S government.

Analogy

Imagine if someone came into your house and convinced you to sell them half your rooms for very little money. That's kind-of what happened with treaties like this one - Native Americans were often pressured or tricked into giving up their land for far less than it was worth.

Related terms

Indian Removal Act: An act passed by Congress in 1830 that authorized the removal of Native Americans who lived east of Mississippi River to lands in west.

Tecumseh’s War: A conflict between US forces and Native American warriors led by Tecumseh, a Shawnee leader who opposed US expansion into native territories.

Land Cession: The act of giving up or surrendering land rights, often through treaties.