Editing Treaty of Shackamaxon (section)

== Historical Debate ==

Modern historians have questioned many aspects of the traditional Treaty of Shackamaxon narrative. No signed treaty document has ever been found, and the earliest detailed accounts of the meeting were written decades after it occurred. Some scholars suggest that what happened at Shackamaxon was not a single formal treaty but rather one or more of the many land transactions Penn conducted with various Lenape groups. Others argue that the legendary treaty is largely a later invention, embellished over time to create a heroic founding myth for Pennsylvania. The debate continues, with historians disagreeing about what exactly occurred, when it occurred, and what it meant to the participants.<ref name="jennings"/>

What is not in doubt is that Penn did pursue peaceful relations with the Lenape and did conduct land purchases through negotiation rather than conquest. Multiple deeds survive from Penn's time documenting transactions between the proprietor and various Lenape groups. Penn's letters and those of his agents confirm his commitment to fair dealing with indigenous peoples. Whether or not a single dramatic meeting beneath an elm tree occurred exactly as legend describes, Penn's approach to native relations was distinctive and, within its limitations, genuinely attempted to balance colonial development with indigenous rights. The tragedy is that this approach could not survive the pressures that followed Penn's death, culminating in the infamous Walking Purchase of 1737.<ref name="harper"/>