Treaty of Big Tree

Quick Facts: Who was Treaty of Big Tree?

Subject:

Treaty of Big Tree

Known for:

1797 land agreement between the Seneca Nation and the United States, ceding vast territory.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Treaty of Big Tree was a treaty signed in 1797 between the Seneca Nation and the United States, in which the Seneca relinquished their rights to nearly all of their traditional homeland in New York State—nearly 3.5 million acres. In the 1788 Phelps and Gorham Purchase, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) had previously sold rights to their land between Seneca Lake and the Genesee River.

Career & Major Achievements

The Treaty of Big Tree signed away their rights to all their territory west of the Genesee River (except 12 small tracts of land) for $100,000 and other considerations (roughly $5 billion in 2020 dollars, in relation to GDP). The money was not paid directly to the tribe, but was to be invested in shares of the Bank of the United States, and to be paid out to the Senecas in annual earnings of up to six percent, or $6,000 a year, on the bank stock.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The delegates for both parties met from August 20, 1797, until September 16, 1797, at the rustic log cabin of James and William Wadsworth, early settlers and land agents in the area, in what is now Geneseo, New York. In attendance were nearly 3000 Seneca and other prominent members of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1788: 1788 Milestone — In the 1788 Phelps and Gorham Purchase, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) had previously sold rights to their land between Seneca Lake and the Genesee River.
2. 1797: 1797 Milestone — The Treaty of Big Tree was a treaty signed in 1797 between the Seneca Nation and the United States, in which the Seneca relinquished their rights to nearly all of their traditional homeland in New York State—nearly 3.
3. 2020: 2020 Milestone — The Treaty of Big Tree signed away their rights to all their territory west of the Genesee River (except 12 small tracts of land) for $100,000 and other considerations (roughly $5 billion in 2020 dollars, in relation to GDP).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Treaty of Big Tree

True or False: “True or False: The Treaty of Big Tree required the Seneca Nation to relinquish all of their traditional homeland in New York State.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): False. The treaty required the Seneca to relinquish all their territory west of the Genesee River, except for twelve small tracts of land.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolphe Thiers — Historical peer (Born in 1797) (1797): Influential French statesman, historian, and President of the Third Republic.
• Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar — Historical peer (Died in 1797) (1797): Founder of the Qajar Dynasty, who reunified Iran and established Tehran as its capital.
• Arthur Schopenhauer — Historical peer (Born in 1788) (1788): Pioneering philosopher known for 'The World as Will and Representation' and philosophical pessimism.
• Augustin-Jean Fresnel — Historical peer (Born in 1788) (1788): Pioneering optical physicist known for the wave theory of light and the invention of the Fresnel lens.
• Alan Parker — Historical peer (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Albert Uderzo — Historical peer (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering French comic artist, co-creator of the iconic Astérix series.

Frequently Asked Questions about Treaty of Big Tree