American Treaties and Diplomacy from William Reese Co.
American Treaties and Diplomacy from William Reese Co.
By Michael Stillman
The latest William Reese Company catalogue (238) is a collection of "American Treaties and Diplomacy." The focus is on treaties involving the American continent made over a period of almost 500 years, plus other diplomatic material associated with them. While much involves the nation on the North American continent that would declare its independence in 1776, there are many treaties involving South and Central American nations, and other European treaties which affected the Americas.
While the formation and expansion of the United States is only part of what is dealt with by these treaties, we will limit ourselves to those items. Otherwise, there is far too much to cover. We will mention some of the items in this catalogue which show the development of the British colonies in North America, and after the Revolution, the expansion of the new nation formed from them.
The Twelve Years' Truce signed in 1609 between Holland and Spain was significant to North America because it was the first time Spain acknowledged the right of a non-Iberian nation to sail to the Americas, and opened the door to such nations' having colonies. Up to that point, the new world was dominated by Spain, except for Brazil, ceded to Portugal. Item 2 is a copy of this treaty, Tractaet Van 'T Bestant... Priced at $2,250. That would be followed by the Treaty of Madrid, which allowed the British free trade in North America, and to establish colonies in uninhabited areas (as had already begun). Item 3 is the first Lisbon edition of this 1630 treaty, printed in 1633, Capitulacoes de Paz Feita... $3,250.
Item 9 is a copy of the Treaty of Westminster, Articuli Pacis & Amicitiae... In this 1674 treaty, the weakened Dutch ceded New York City to the British for the final time. It would allow England to take complete control of the Mid-Atlantic region. The seeds were now sown for the creation of a series of colonies with the same language and background that, a century later, would be able to unite to form a new country. $2,250.
The main competition in North America for the next century would be between the British and French. In 1686, an interesting treaty was signed by those two powers, the Treaty of Whitehall. The European powers were constantly fighting among themselves, so to prevent these rivalries from spilling over to America, they agreed that their European wars would not be carried on in America. Whatever battles they might be engaged in at home, business was to carry on as usual in America. It may have helped, but by the middle of the next century, these two European powers would be back at each other's throats on the American continent. Item 13, Treaty of Peace, Good Correspondence & Neutrality in America.... $2,750.
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American Treaties and Diplomacy from William Reese Co.
This 1686 treaty attempted to keep European disputes off of American soil.
The next major confrontation would be called the French and Indian War (by Americans), or the Seven Years' War (by Europeans). The French and British would battle it out in America, and ultimately, the British would get the better of the fight. In 1763, the combatants would sign The Definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship..., better known as the Treaty of Paris. There would be little peace, and even less friendship between these two sides in the years ahead, but for the Americas, it meant the virtual end of France's colonial role, and established Britain as the major North American power. England received all of America east of the Mississippi, all but two small islands of Canada, and Spain ceded East and West Florida (which then included parts of Alabama and Mississippi) to the British. Spain, in turn, received Louisiana, which in those days went as far north as the Canadian border, from France. Item 50. $5,000.
Things could not be better for the British colonial empire in North America. What could possibly go wrong? As we all know, it was the British themselves that accomplished what neither the French nor the Spanish could do. Between overreaching by their authorities at home, and rebelliousness by their unhappy colonists in America, the British would soon find themselves removed from all of North America south of the Canadian border (except, perhaps, some disputed territory in the Pacific Northwest). Item 57 is the first treaty of this new nation. It was signed by the rebellious colonies and England's old nemesis, France. This is the official French printing from 1778 of Traite d'Amitie at de Commerce, Conclu entre le Roi et Les Etat-Unis de l'Amerique... This first treaty signed by the United States provided the nation with recognition from a foreign power. $25,000.
Of course, what comes next is the most important treaty of all. It is the treaty signed between England and the United States ending the Revolution, and recognizing the United States as a sovereign, independent nation. Item 74 is the first American newspaper printing, and possibly the first U.S. publication in any form, of the preliminary treaty. It appeared in the Pennsylvania Packet of April 10, 1783. $5,000.
Now that the U.S. was independent, it would start to expand. The greatest expansion would come in 1803, with what is known as the Louisiana Purchase. France had regained Louisiana from the Spanish the previous year. Now, Thomas Jefferson would approach the French about buying New Orleans to provide secure navigation of the Mississippi. Instead, the French, with expansionist ideas of their own in Europe, and a need for cash, offered to sell the entire territory. With a stroke of a pen, the territory of the United States doubled overnight. Item 124, a Message from the President of the United States, Inclosing a Treaty...Relative to the Cession of Louisiana... From 1803. $30,000.
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American Treaties and Diplomacy from William Reese Co.
This treaty ended the French and Indian War, a major, but short-lived, British triumph.
During the Revolution, the Floridas had been returned to Spain. However, by the 1820s, Spain had become weakened, and faced numerous battles with the residents of its empire to the south. Fearing the British might take advantage of this weakness to regain the Floridas, the U.S. convinced Spain to sell the territory. With John Quincy Adams heading up the negotiators, the Adams-Onis Treaty was signed, ceding the Floridas to the United States. This treaty also set out the boundaries between the land obtained in the Louisiana Purchase and the Spanish colony of Mexico to the south. That line followed the Sabine, Red, and Arkansas Rivers, leaving Texas and the Southwest in Spanish possession. Item 154 is a Message from the President...Transmitting a Copy of a Ratified Treaty of Amity, Settlement, and Limits... $1,250.
In 1842, the Webster-Ashburton Treaty set out the border between Canada and the United States in the East. Item 188 is the Treaty Between Her Majesty and the United States... $1,000. However, resolving the western boundary would be more contentious. The cry of "fifty-four forty or fight" would have incorporated much of Canada into the U.S. However, in the year of 1846, America was involved with expansion into Mexican territory, and could not afford confrontation with the British as well. The Americans settled for the 49th parallel, the border today. Item 191 is the Treaty...for the Settlement of the Oregon Boundary. $4,000.
Now the U.S. could focus fully on the Mexican War, and it would be an overwhelming American victory. Texas had already declared its independence from Mexico and been accepted by the U.S. This would be recognized, and what is now the American Southwest and California would be ceded by Mexico. This Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement..., better known as the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, would create the third largest expansion in U.S. history (after Louisiana and Alaska). Item 197. $8,500.
Just one more small piece would be needed to complete the boundaries of the continental states. The southwestern border with Mexico was still farther north at the time than it is today. The U.S. wanted additional land to afford a southern route for a transcontinental railroad. In 1854, land along the southern border of New Mexico and Arizona was purchased for $10 million in what is known as the Gadsden Purchase. Item 202 is a Treaty...United States and Mexico. $225.
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American Treaties and Diplomacy from William Reese Co.
The first treaty between the U.S. and a foreign power (France, 1778).
That leaves one more purchase to go: Alaska. It was called "Seward's Folly" by those opposed to the purchase. Who would pay $7.2 million for a frozen wasteland? Fortunately for his country, Secretary of State William Seward would. Item 215 is ...A Treaty Between the United States and His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias...from 1867. $500.
This completes the chronological expansion of the United States through wars and treaties, and yet something is left out. What is missing is the part that is least pleasant to recall. The aforementioned wars and treaties for territory involved foreign powers, primarily European ones with no justification for ruling these lands in the first place. However, there were others with prior and far more legitimate claims to the land than any European nation, the Native Americans or American Indians. There were numerous treaties with the various Indian tribes, but sadly, the American government frequently ignored these treaties as the nation's population expanded and moved west, hungry for more land. Ultimately, Indian treaties would be replaced with new treaties reducing their lands, forced down the throats of a shrinking native population lacking the firepower to hold back the tide. Only a tiny fraction of what once was ceded by treaty to the Indians remains in their hands. The Reese catalogue includes copies of many of these treaties. Item 236 is the most interesting Indian lot as it contains a collection of 125 treaties between the U.S. and the Indian tribes between the 1830s and 1870. There are few collections of such treaties of this size. $75,000.
The William Reese Company is located online at www.reeseco.com and can be reached by phone at 203-789-8081.
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