Treaty of St. Louis signed by Quashquame and Harrison (November 1804)

Background. In 1804, William Henry Harrison served as the governor of Indiana Territory, which included the area where the treaty was signed. Harrison possessed expanded authority to negotiate treaties with Native American tribes. Between 1802 and 1804, hostility between the Sauk and Meskwaki peoples and the United States increased, setting the stage for the diplomatic negotiations that resulted in the Treaty of St. Louis.

Terms and Signatories. The treaty was concluded by Harrison on behalf of the United States and five Sauk and Meskwaki chiefs, with Quashquame serving as the principal signer. Quashquame led the delegation to St. Louis. The agreement involved the cession of Sauk land to the U.S. government, a transaction that Quashquame later alleged involved being cheated out of mineral-rich territory.

Immediate Consequences. The treaty alienated the Sauk from the United States, encouraging them to ally with Britain. This dissatisfaction contributed to Sauk support for the British during the War of 1812. Black Hawk never recognized the treaty as valid, leading him to side with the British against settlers. Quashquame’s role in the disputed treaty reduced his status from a principal leader to a minor chief.