Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears

The US government passed a law in 1830 called the Indian Removal Act. This allowed the US government the right to force Indian tribes to vacate their land and move to reservation lands, geographical areas the government had put aside for their use. Most Indian tribes did not want to leave their land. It was their spiritual and physical home. But the government sent in the army to force tribes to move.

The Cherokee, like other tribes and nations, were told to leave. The US government gave them land in Oklahoma. The Cherokee refused to leave. They had no desire to live in Oklahoma. They wanted to live in the land of their ancestors, where they had always lived.

The Cherokee took their case to the US Supreme Court. And they won! The Supreme Court said the Cherokee were right - the US government could not force them to move. The Cherokee people were so happy. They thought they had won the battle to live on their own land. But they were mistaken.

President Andrew Jackson ignored the Supreme Court ruling. He directed the US Army to capture all the Cherokee they could find and force them to move. The US Army followed the president's direction. The Supreme Court did nothing.

This was an incredibly sad time in American history. Most Cherokee had to walk the whole way. They walked through rain and cold and incredible heat. More than 4000 Cherokees died on the journey. That is why this forced eviction was called "The Trail of Tears."

Black Hawk War US govt says all Native Americans must leave Illinois Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk refuses, saying no one can own land US settlers moved into village when they were away hunting After Sauk attacks, US troops drive out Indians

Indian Removal Act President Jackson pushes Congress to force Indians to move west of the Mississippi Congress established Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) as the new Indian homeland US govt creates Bureau of Indian Affairs

John C. Calhoun “One of the greatest evils to which they (Indians) are subject is the incessant (constant) pressure of our population.” 1)According to John C. Calhoun, why is the US government forcing the Native Americans to move off of their homelands? 2)What is wrong with this statement?

Cherokee Indians Lived peacefully in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia and Tennessee Adopted culture of whites - wrote and spoke English Had own written language and newspaper Based their government on the U.S. Constitution

Cherokee Sue For Land Cherokee sued the government of Georgia for taking their land Worcester vs. Georgia - Supreme Court rules Georgia’s actions are illegal and that the Cherokee can stay

President Andrew Jackson “Chief Justice John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.” 1)What is the job of the Supreme Court? 2)What is the job of the President? 3)What should happen if a government official refuses to do his job?

Trail of Tears US troops move 18,000 Cherokee at gunpoint 800 miles from % (4,000) of Cherokee died - most elderly and children

Trail of Tears Assignment Write a three entry diary about your experiences on the Trail of Tears and how your life was/will be affected by the move from Georgia to Oklahoma. Entry One - Before you leave (court case) Entry Two - On the Trail (struggles during the trip) Entry Three - When you arrive in Indian Territory (how life has changed) Detail earns points - cover emotion, fears, pain, successes with colorful adjectives and adverbs Due next class