The law you’re referring to is the Nonintercourse Act of 1790, which was reaffirmed and modified in 1793 and 1796, not 1795. This set of laws, passed by the United States Congress, regulated commerce between Native American tribes and non-Native individuals. Here’s the key part relevant to your question:
The Nonintercourse Acts prohibited the purchase of Indigenous lands by individuals or companies unless the transaction was authorized by a treaty or convention entered into pursuant to federal law and supervised by federal agents.
Key Provisions:
Only the federal government could negotiate land transactions with Native nations.
Private citizens were prohibited from directly purchasing land from Native Americans.
Any land transaction not ratified by a federal treaty was void.
This gave a legal basis for Native peoples to reclaim lands that had been taken in violation of this law.
Important Case:
The Nonintercourse Act was later the basis for legal victories for Indigenous land claims, especially in the 20th century, such as:
Oneida Indian Nation v. County of Oneida (1974)
Joint Tribal Council of the Passamaquoddy Tribe v. Morton (1975)
These cases showed that the federal government had a continuing trust responsibility to protect tribal lands and that lands taken in violation of the Act could be subject to return or compensation.
So while the specific statute wasn’t passed in 1795, you’re right about its effect: it invalidated unauthorized purchases and became a powerful tool for Indigenous peoples seeking justice under U.S. law.
