The Choctaw Nation
Treaties
Treaties negotiated between the federal government and the Choctaw Indian Tribe provided a vehicle for the transfer of millions of acres of Indian lands to the United States. These lands became an economic base, as well as a source of power, for the U.S. in the westward expansion movement during the 18th and 19th centuries. Beginning with the Hopewell Treaty of 1786 and others continuing through 1866 approximately 25,385,238 million acres of Indian lands were ceded to the U.S. in exchange for approximately 5,000,000 acres of land in the Indian Territory. With the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek (September 15 (27) 1830, remaining Choctaw lands in Mississippi were ceded thus paving the way for the Choctaw Nation removal to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.
Constitutions
The Constitution is the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it. A written government instrument embodying the rules of a political or social organization.
These Constitutions, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in
persuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority
of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state
shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.
--Article 6, U.S. Constitution