1729November 28
The Natchez attack Fort Rosalie.
The Natchez Indians of Louisiana storm Fort Rosa-
lie, a French outpost, and kill more than 200 settlers
and soldiers. They also take captive several hundred
women, children, and African-American slaves.
The French governor of Louisiana had enraged the
Natchez by ordering that their largest village, which
Fort Rosalie overlooks, be turned into a plantation.
Although the Yazoo lend support for the Natchez up-
rising, the revolt is swiftly put down by the French
and their Choctaw allies. The war against the Nat-
chez nearly destroys the tribe. Many are killed, and
nearly 500 are taken as prisoners and sent to Santo
Domingo, where they are sold into slavery. The few
survivors scatter and join nearby tribes, such as the
Chickasaw, Creek, and Cherokee.
1730A French attack ends the Fox
(Mesquaki) resistance.
Trying to escape French raiders, a large group of Fox
Indians travel east to seek protection in Seneca lands.
Along the way they are set upon by French troops. In
the attack, 400 Fox are killed, and another 500 are
sold into slavery. Although isolated violence between
the Fox and the French will continue for several more
years, the massacre effectively ends decades of warfare
(see entry for 1712). The surviving Fox find refuge
among the Sac, who together escape from the French
by relocating to lands in what is now Iowa.
September 30
Cherokee leaders sign the Articles of
Agreement in London.
Alarmed that their Cherokee allies are being courted
by the French, the English send Sir Alexander Cum-
mings to Cherokee territory to confirm the tribe’s
loyalty to the British Crown. Cherokee leaders again
pledge their allegiance to the English but request that
they be allowed to meet with the king. Seven chiefs
are selected to accompany Cummings to London,
where they are presented to King George II. Dur-
ing their audience, the Cherokee sign the Articles of
Agreement, a document that sets out the terms of
their alliance with the British. Both groups promise
to live in peace. In addition, the English agree not to
occupy Cherokee lands, and the Cherokee pledge to
trade exclusively with the English and to help them
fight their European and Indian enemies.1736Benjamin Franklin begins publishing
Indian treaties.
Philadelphia printer Benjamin Franklin begins issuing
Indian treaties in small booklets, a publishing enter-
prise he will continue for nearly 30 years. Franklin’s
popular booklets will familiarize many non-Indians
with Indian oratory. They will also teach Franklin
about the organization and philosophy of the Iroquois
Confederacy (see entry for CA. 1400), which will later
influence his own ideas about the formation of the
United States (see entry for JUNE TO JULY 1754).1737September 19Pennsylvania enforces the Walking
Purchase treaty.
Thomas Penn, son of Pennsylvania’s founder Wil-
liam Penn, finds a treaty that his father negotiated
with three Lenni Lenape (Delaware) chiefs regard-
ing lands along the Delaware River. The treaty
granted Penn the woods extending from the river
“as far as a man can go in one day and a half.”
Eager to take over Lenni Lenape land north
of the river, Pennsylvania officials insist that the col-
ony’s boundaries be redrawn according to the terms
of the treaty. They hire the colony’s three best ath-
letes to measure the maximum distance a person can