THE CONFEDERATE CHEROKEE IN THE CIVIL WAR JOSHUA GOLDMAN HISTORY 121 DECEMBER 1, 2015

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE CHEROKEE NATION’S PARTICIPATION IN THE CIVIL WAR YOU MUST EXPLORE: INDIAN REMOVAL POLITICAL DISSENTION NEUTRALITY SUPPORTING THE CONFEDERACY

INDIAN REMOVAL The Cherokee Nation originally inhabited Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Kentucky, and Tennessee European colonization forced the Cherokee to leave their ancestral homeland and move westward Cherokees who resisted removal were victimized or sometimes killed

A NATION DIVIDED The Cherokee Nation was divided as a result of political dissention The rivalry between the parties resulted in fighting and murder The nation consisted of two major factions Ross Party Ridge Party

RIDGE OR TREATY PARTY Originally led by John Ridge and later led by Stand Watie Minority party Wanted the Cherokee Nation to sign a treaty with the US to acquire new land in the West

ROSS PARTY Led by John Ross, leader of the Cherokee nation Majority party Was not in favor of moving West and signing a treaty with the US

TRAIL OF TEARS In 1835, Stand Watie negotiated a treaty with the United States The Treaty of Echota forced the Cherokee people off of their homeland to Indian Territory in Oklahoma Cherokee people traveled by foot, horses, and wagons and became ill. 4,000 died during the forced march

POLITICAL DISSENTION The political dissention escalated after Watie negotiated the Treaty of Echota Members of both parties were murdered The Treaty of 1846 finally ended the bloodbath between the parties

NEUTRALITY John Ross leader of the Cherokee nation wanted them to remain neutral Ross issued a neutrality proclamation Ross wanted the tribe to fulfill treaty obligations with the U.S

WHY SUPPORT THE CONFEDERACY The Cherokee had more in common with the South The US failed to protect their rights US had not fulfilled treaty obligations Opposed northern aggression by abolitionists

DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR THE CONFEDERACY In 1861 Ross signed a treaty with the Confederacy Bordering states joined the Confederacy Confederacy had won key victories The treaty gave food and protection to the Cherokee They had representation in the Confederate Congress

THE CIVIL WAR The Cherokee were in the middle of warring nations Watie wanted the nation to support the Confederacy Ross preferred the nation to remain neutral

MOUNTED REGIMENTS After the treaty two regiments were formed The first Cherokee mounted rifles was formed and led by Stand Watie The second Cherokee mounted rifles was formed by John Ross and led by John Drew

CONFEDERATE CHEROKEE PARTICIPATION Confederate Cherokee won a key battle at Pea Ridge Most of Drew’s regiment fled and joined the Union Cherokee participation in the war was negatively affected by internal dissention Stand Watie was an excellent leader with expertise in guerilla warfare Watie was the only native American brigadier general in the Confederate Army

CONFEDERATE CHEROKEE PARTICIPATION Cherokee suffered the most lost in the Civil War Population was 21,000 in 1860 and 13,566 in 1867 After the civil war the Cherokee homeland was left in poor economic state

WORKS CITED American Indians.Tumbler.com. 27 November Cherokee Flag. Tulsacc.edu. 27 November 2015.HTTP :// :// Cherokee Indians Civil War.Blogspot.com. 27 November Chief John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee.Britannica.com. 27 November Craig W. Gaines. “The Confederate Cherokee: John Drew’s Regiment of Mounted Rifles. Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University Press, John Drew.findagrave.com.27 November Map of Cherokee Homeland.native-net.com.27 November Stand Watie.Rebelcivilwar.wordpress.com. 27 November Trail of Tears. National Geographic.com 27 November