Treaty of Tuscaloosa
The Treaty of Tuscaloosa was made in October, 1818 between the Chickasaw Indians and the United States, represented by Senator Andrew Jackson and ex-governor, Isaac Shelby. It resulted in the acquisition of the Jackson Purchase (including extreme western Kentucky, and most of the West Tennessee division).
Treaty
On October 19, 1818, state senator Jackson and former Governor of Kentucky Shelby, made the Treaty of Tuscaloosa (resulting in the Jackson Purchase) with the Chickasaw Indians.[1] Prior to the signing of the treaty, Levi Colbert (who, along with his brother George had taken over the leadership of the Chickasaw tribe), agreed to the land transfer, purportedly due to the acceptance of a bribe.[1] An uninhabited woodland area the tribe controlled (10,700 square miles of territory between the Mississippi River and the western valley of the Tennessee River) was traded for $300,000, to be paid in twenty annual installments.[1]
Aftermath
There was an immediate rush of settlement to the area. Jackson, along with John Overton and James Winchester, founded Memphis soon after. By 1824, there were sixteen counties established in the acquired region.[1]