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Primary sourceDocument8 September 1815

Treaty of Springwells

8 September 1815

An 1815 peace treaty between the United States and several Native American nations, co-negotiated by Harrison, ending War of 1812 hostilities.

Harrison was one of the U.S. commissioners who negotiated this treaty, closing out his War of 1812 service.

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Digital illustration of a historical treaty signing outdoors. A large wooden table with a parchment document sits on barrels in grass. Men in early 19th-century dress stand and sit around it, with a crowd of Native American figures behind, some in traditional dress.
Illustration depicting the Treaty of Springwells negotiations, 1815.

About this source

What it is

The Treaty of Springwells was signed on September 8, 1815, near present-day Detroit, Michigan, between the United States and the Wyandot, Lenape, Seneca, Shawnee, Miami, Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi nations. It ended their conflict with the U.S. during the War of 1812. The U.S. commissioners were William Henry Harrison, Duncan McArthur, and John Graham; Native leaders who signed included Tarhe, Pacanne, and Black Hoof.

Why it matters

The treaty restored prewar possessions and rights to the Native nations in exchange for their loyalty solely to the United States, rejecting any ties to Britain. It also reaffirmed an earlier treaty from 1795. For Harrison, it marked the end of his military role in the war and his continuing involvement in American relations with Native nations.

Look closer

  • Who benefited most from the terms of this treaty, and who had less power in the negotiation?
  • Why would the U.S. want to secure the loyalty of these nations after the war?
  • What does the treaty's language about pardoning 'chiefs and warriors' suggest about how the U.S. viewed the conflict?

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