American Indian treaty diplomacy in the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789

Abstract

This paper uses treaty minutes and correspondence from the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 to trace the development of a United States treaty protocol with American Indians from its origins in 1775 through the end of the pre-federal period. This examination draws on reports of treaty negotiations, speeches from council proceedings, reports, and letters from Indian Commissioners, agents, Indians, and the Continental Congress to portray the changing cultural context of treaties between the United States and the Iroquois, and by extension, American Indians. ► The Papers are a primary source for historical and cultural information on American Indians. ► Treaty minutes, council proceedings, reports, and letters provide the cultural context of American Indian treaties. ► Changes in the cultural context of treaties from Indian to Euro-American show the development of a United States treaty protocol.