John Taylor Treaty Signing At Medicine Lodge Creek
The Medicine Lodge Treaty was a pivotal moment in the history of the United States. It marked the first time that the government had attempted to negotiate with the Plains Indians, and it set a precedent for future negotiations. The treaty was signed on October 21, 1867, at Medicine Lodge Creek in Kansas. The negotiations were led by Commissioner of Indian Affairs Nathaniel G. Taylor, who was tasked with negotiating with the leaders of the Southern Plains tribes.
The Background
The Medicine Lodge Treaty was the result of years of conflict between the Plains Indians and the United States government. After the Civil War, the government focused its attention on the westward expansion of settlement, which often led to conflict with the Plains Indians. The government wanted to establish a system of reservations that would allow for the settlement of white Americans while pushing the Plains Indians onto smaller and more confined areas of land.
The Southern Plains tribes, including the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache, were particularly resistant to these efforts. They had long relied on the buffalo for their way of life, and the government policies threatened to destroy their culture and way of life. The government responded with military force, which only escalated the conflict and led to more violence on both sides.
The Negotiations
The negotiations at Medicine Lodge Creek were led by Nathaniel G. Taylor, who had been appointed as Commissioner of Indian Affairs by President Andrew Johnson. Taylor was an experienced negotiator who had previously negotiated treaties with the Chippewa and the Sioux. He was tasked with negotiating with the leaders of the Southern Plains tribes, including Satanta of the Kiowa, Lone Wolf of the Kiowa, and Ten Bears of the Comanche.
The negotiations were held over several weeks, during which time the Indians and the government representatives camped on opposite sides of the creek. The negotiations were difficult and often contentious, with both sides making demands and refusing to compromise. The Indians were wary of the government's promises, having been betrayed in the past, while the government was determined to establish a system of reservations that would allow for the settlement of white Americans.
The Treaty
After weeks of negotiations, the Medicine Lodge Treaty was signed on October 21, 1867. The treaty established a system of reservations for the Southern Plains tribes, including the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache. The tribes agreed to move onto the reservations and to give up their nomadic way of life. In exchange, the government promised to provide the tribes with food, clothing, and other supplies, as well as protection from white settlers.
The treaty was seen as a success by the government, which had finally established a system of reservations in the west. However, the treaty was also controversial, with many Indians feeling that they had been forced into signing it. The treaty also failed to address many of the underlying issues that had caused the conflict between the Plains Indians and the government, such as the destruction of the buffalo herds and the encroachment of white settlers onto Indian lands.
The Legacy
The Medicine Lodge Treaty marked a turning point in the history of the United States. It established a system of reservations for the Plains Indians and set a precedent for future negotiations. However, the treaty also had a profound impact on the lives of the Southern Plains tribes, who were forced to give up their way of life and move onto reservations.
Today, the legacy of the Medicine Lodge Treaty is still felt by many Native Americans. The reservations established by the treaty continue to be home to many tribes, and the issues of land rights and sovereignty remain a contentious issue. The treaty serves as a reminder of the complex history of the United States and the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights.