1855 Yakama Treaty

Definition

The 1855 Yakama Treaty was an agreement between the United States government and the Yakama Nation that established a reservation for the Yakama people in present-day Washington State. This treaty allowed the Yakama to retain rights to hunt, fish, and gather on their traditional lands while also ceding vast territories to the U.S. government. The treaty is significant as it illustrates the complex relationship between Native American tribes and the federal government during the era of westward expansion.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Yakama Treaty was signed on June 9, 1855, at a time when westward expansion put pressure on Native American lands.
2. The treaty created the Yakama Indian Reservation, which is approximately 1.3 million acres in size.
3. In addition to land cession, the treaty ensured that the Yakama people retained rights to fish and hunt in their traditional territories.
4. The U.S. government failed to uphold many terms of the treaty, leading to conflicts and disputes over land use and resources.
5. The Yakama Nation continues to exist today, maintaining cultural practices and asserting treaty rights in contemporary legal contexts.

Review Questions

• How did the 1855 Yakama Treaty reflect the changing attitudes towards Native American tribes during westward expansion?
  • The 1855 Yakama Treaty exemplified a shift in U.S. policy toward Native Americans, moving from coexistence towards containment within reservations. By creating a designated reservation for the Yakama, the U.S. aimed to control Native populations and limit their movements, reflecting a belief that assimilation was necessary. This treaty also highlighted the federal government's willingness to negotiate treaties while simultaneously undermining Indigenous sovereignty through broken promises and land dispossession.
• Analyze the long-term impacts of the 1855 Yakama Treaty on the Yakama Nation and their rights.
  • The long-term impacts of the 1855 Yakama Treaty are significant for the Yakama Nation as it laid the foundation for their current land rights and governance. Despite initial promises made in the treaty, many provisions were not honored by the U.S., leading to ongoing legal battles over fishing rights and land use. The persistence of these issues demonstrates how treaties can serve as both legal frameworks for Indigenous rights and points of contention in relations with federal authorities.
• Evaluate how the 1855 Yakama Treaty fits into the broader context of Native American treaties during the mid-19th century.
  • The 1855 Yakama Treaty is a critical part of a larger pattern of Native American treaties made during the mid-19th century as settlers pushed westward. These treaties often involved significant land cessions under pressure from the U.S. government while promising certain rights to tribes. However, like many other treaties from this era, it exemplifies how such agreements were frequently violated by federal authorities, revealing systemic injustices faced by Native Americans. This historical context emphasizes ongoing struggles for recognition and respect for treaty rights among Indigenous peoples today.

Related terms

Treaty of Fort Laramie: An 1851 agreement between various Native American tribes and the U.S. government, establishing territory for each tribe and aiming to ensure peace among tribes and settlers.

Reservation System: A federal policy that designated specific areas of land for Native American tribes, often resulting in forced relocation and loss of ancestral lands.

Indian Appropriations Act: A series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in the 1850s and beyond that aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society, leading to the establishment of reservations.