The first American treaty

For the July 4th weekend, here's word on the first treaty the US signed with Indians as an independent nation:

The 1st American Treaty:  The Treaty of Watertown 1776Following another appeal on May 15, 1776, six delegates of the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and St. John's Tribes sailed in late June from Machias to Salem, Mass., and then traveled by carriage to Watertown, where they met in conference with the Massachusetts Provincial Council, headed by Captain James Bowdoin. While they were conferring, the first copy of the newly-penned Declaration of Independence was delivered to the Meetinghouse, and was immediately translated for the Indians who are noted to have said "We like it well." Captain Bowdoin pronounced them "brothers," and presented them with a treaty of alliance and friendship and proclaimed, "the United States now form a long and strong chain, and it is made longer and stronger by our brethren of the Maliseet and Mi'kmaq Tribes joining with us, and may the Almighty God never suffer the chain to be broken." Thus, on July 19th, 1776, just 15 days after the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Watertown was the first international treaty made on behalf of the new republic of the United States of America, as well as one of the earliest expressions of equality and brotherhood among all peoples.Comment:  This wasn't just the first treaty the US signed with Indians, but the first treaty the US signed, period.

Did the tribes like the part in the Declaration about the "merciless Indian savages" too? I wonder.

This wasn't the first treaty the white man signed with Indians, of course. The British signed treaties with them, and the Spanish signed the very first treaty in the "New World."

For more on the subject, see Fun 4th of July Facts.

P.S. No word on whether this was the first treaty broken as well as signed.