Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

Summary

The Cherokee people, once thriving in the southeastern United States, faced forced relocation in the 1830s due to land greed and political pressures. Despite legal battles, including a Supreme Court victory, they were removed under the Indian Removal Act. The 'Trail of Tears' led to thousands of deaths and the loss of their homeland. Today, the Cherokee Nation endures, retaining its culture and sovereignty, with the Trail of Tears remembered as a tragic chapter in American history.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The Cherokee people had a stable life in the southeast United States, living in cabins, farming, and spinning cotton while maintaining their traditional ways.
• 🗺️ The Cherokee land once spanned eight states but was significantly reduced by over ninety percent due to cessions to the United States from 1721 to 1819.
• 😷 The 1700s saw the Cherokees endure smallpox epidemics and wars with colonists, but they began to rebuild and transform in the following century.
• 🏛️ The Cherokees established a formal government with a police force, court system, and wrote a constitution in 1827, holding a national election the following year.
• 📖 They created their own written alphabet by Sequoyah and published the first Indian newspaper in both English and Cherokee.
• 🌍 The Cherokees' prosperous lives were threatened by the desire for more land by their neighbors in Georgia and the election of Andrew Jackson, who advocated for their removal.
• 🏴‍☠️ The discovery of gold on Cherokee land led to an influx of settlers and the Georgia Guard's arrests of Cherokees mining on their own land.
• 📜 The Indian Removal Act of 1830 called for the relocation of five southern tribes, including the Cherokees, to lands west of the Mississippi River.
• 🏛️ The Supreme Court ruled in Worcester versus the State of Georgia that Georgia had no jurisdiction over Cherokee land or government, but this decision was ignored by President Jackson.
• 📜 Despite the majority of Cherokees opposing the New Echota Treaty of 1835, it was ratified by the Senate, leading to the forced removal of the Cherokees.
• 🚶‍♂️ The Trail of Tears, from 1838 to 1839, involved the forced march of thousands of Cherokees over 800 miles to new lands, resulting in the deaths of at least 2,000 Cherokees.
• 🌟 The Cherokee Nation has since rebuilt and transformed, becoming one of the largest Indian populations in the United States with restored sovereign rights and economic prosperity.

Q & A

What did the Cherokee people experience in the southeast United States in 1828?

In 1828, the Cherokee people had settled into a stable life in the southeast United States, living in cabins, farming, and spinning cotton. They built schools and churches, embracing aspects of European life while maintaining their traditional ways.

How did the Cherokee Nation's land size change from 1721 to 1819?

Between 1721 and 1819, the Cherokee Nation relinquished much of its territory to the burgeoning United States, reducing the size of the Cherokee Nation by over ninety percent.

What significant transformation did the Cherokees undergo during the 1700s?

During the 1700s, the Cherokees established a formal government with a police force and a court system. They wrote a constitution in 1827 and held a national election the following year. They also created their own written alphabet, invented by Sequoyah, and published the first Indian newspaper in English and Cherokee.

What was the impact of the discovery of gold on Cherokee land?

The discovery of gold on Cherokee land led to an influx of white intruders who began digging and panning for gold, escalating tensions and conflict with the Cherokee Nation.

What was the Indian Removal Act of 1830, and what did it entail?

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a law that called for the removal of all five southern tribes, including the Cherokees, to territories west of the Mississippi River. It was met with widespread condemnation from citizen groups across the United States.

What was the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Worcester versus the State of Georgia?

In the case of Worcester versus the State of Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee Nation was a distinct community with its own territories and that the laws of Georgia had no force there, affirming that Georgia had no jurisdiction over the land or the government of the Cherokee Nation.

Why did some Cherokee leaders negotiate the Removal Treaty in 1835?

Some Cherokee leaders negotiated the Removal Treaty in 1835 in a desperate effort to get the best deal possible for their nation, as they saw their nation crumbling under the oppressive laws of Georgia.

What was the response of the Cherokee people to the New Echota Treaty?

The Cherokee people strongly opposed the New Echota Treaty, with almost 90 percent signing a petition against it, which was then taken to Congress by Cherokee Chief John Ross.

How did the forced removal of the Cherokees, known as the Trail of Tears, begin?

The forced removal of the Cherokees, or the Trail of Tears, began in May 1838 when 6,000 federal and state militia troops entered Cherokee country, capturing men, women, and children, and marching them from their homes to prison camps near river docks.

What challenges did the Cherokees face during their journey along the Trail of Tears?

During the Trail of Tears, the Cherokees faced extreme weather conditions, lack of access to medicine and traditional food, outbreaks of disease, and harsh treatment by the militia. Conservative estimates indicate that at least 2,000 Cherokees died as a result of the removal.

How has the Cherokee Nation rebuilt and transformed since the Trail of Tears?

Since the Trail of Tears, the Cherokee Nation has rebuilt and transformed, becoming one of the largest Indian populations in the United States. They have regained many of their sovereign rights and are one of the largest employers in eastern Oklahoma, while remaining connected to their traditional values.