1861 treaty between the United States and representatives of the Cheyenne and Arapaho
This treaty ceded most Cheyenne and Arapaho lands in Colorado, but its disputed legitimacy contributed directly to the Colorado War and the Sand Creek Massacre.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- February 18, 1861
- Cheyenne chiefs who signed
- 6
- Arapaho chiefs who signed
- 4
- Conflict triggered
- Colorado War of 1864
- Notable atrocity linked
- Sand Creek Massacre
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
U.S. expansion into Colorado Territory placed increasing pressure on Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho lands. The United States sought to formally acquire these territories through a negotiated agreement, approaching a small number of tribal chiefs willing to negotiate rather than securing broad tribal consensus.
On February 18, 1861, the United States concluded the Treaty of Fort Wise with six Southern Cheyenne chiefs and four Southern Arapaho chiefs, formally ceding the majority of their traditional lands in exchange for a reduced reservation. A significant portion of Cheyenne tribal members rejected the treaty, arguing it lacked legitimate authorization from the broader tribe.
The treaty's disputed legitimacy deepened tensions between Native tribes and white settlers in Colorado. Cheyenne members who had not consented to the agreement continued using their traditional lands, creating confrontations that escalated into the Colorado War of 1864 and culminated in the Sand Creek Massacre.
Political Outcome
Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho lands largely ceded to the United States; treaty disputed by majority of Cheyenne, fueling subsequent armed conflict.
Cheyenne and Arapaho held broad territorial claims across Colorado
Tribes legally confined to a reduced reservation; U.S. gained formal title to ceded lands