View source for Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851

Although many European and [[European-American]] migrants to western [[North America]] had previously passed through the [[Great Plains]] on the [[Oregon Trail|Oregon]] and [[Santa Fe Trail]]s, the [[California gold rush]] greatly increased traffic. The [[United States government]] undertook negotiations with the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] Plains tribes living between the [[Arkansas River|Arkansas]] and [[Missouri River]]s to ensure protected right-of-way for the migrants.

The ''Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851'' was signed on September 17 between United States treaty commissioners and representatives of the [[Cheyenne]], [[Sioux]], [[Arapaho]],  [[Crow Nation|Crow]], [[Assiniboine people|Assiniboine]], [[Mandan]], [[Hidatsa]], and [[Arikara]] nations. The treaty sets forth traditional territorial claims of the tribes as among themselves. The Indians guaranteed safe passage for settlers on the [[Oregon Trail]] in return for promises of an annuity in the amount of fifty thousand dollars for fifty years. The Native American nations also allowed roads and forts to be built in their territories. 

The United States Senate ratified the treaty, adding Article 5, to adjust compensation from fifty to ten years, if the tribes accepted the changes. Acceptance from all tribes, with the exception of the Crow, was procured. Several tribes never received the commodities promised as payments. The treaty produced a brief period of peace, but it was broken by the failure of the United States to prevent the mass emigration of settlers and miners during the [[Pike's Peak Gold Rush]] into the territories of the native nations as identified.  The US government chose not to enforce the treaty to keep out the emigrants, although its economic wealth certainly allowed it to do so.

A later treaty ([[Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868]] was also negotiated at Fort Laramie.

==References==
{{reflist}}
* [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler/Vol2/treaties/sio0594.htm "Treaty of Fort Laramie with Sioux, Etc., 1851."] 11 StatsAffairs: Laws and Treaties — Vol. II: Treaties.'' Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1904, pp. 594-596 . Through Oklahoma State University Library, Electronic Publishing Center.

[[Category:United States and Native American treaties|Fort Laramie]]
[[Category:Sioux Wars]]
[[Category:1851 treaties]]