Created by Lindsay Johnson

Table of Contents Introduction Pre-Test Pre-Test Answers Vocabulary Words

Table of Contents History behind the Trail of Tears Post-Test Post-Test Answers Activity 1 Activity 2 Activity 3

Introduction Before turning to the next page, turn on the tape player. Follow along with the tape player to learn the history of the Trail of Tears. You will be taking a pre- test and learning vocabulary words before you begin.

Pre-Test 1. Why did the Europeans come to the New World? 2. What was the typical response of the Indians when the Europeans first came? 3. The Europeans wanted to _________ the Indians to make them more civilized.

Pre-test 4. What Indian tribe was particularly affected by the Europeans? 5. President Andrew Jackson passed the ___________ that forced the Indians out west.

Pre-Test Answers 1. Land and gold 2. The Indians adopted European ways 3. Assimilate 4. Cherokee 5. The Indian Removal Act

Vocabulary Civilized: converting people from a barbarian state to a more sophisticated state Missionaries: Individuals sent to convert others to a particular program or religion.

Vocabulary Assimilate: to make similar or cause to resemble Louisiana Purchase: In 1803, the U.S. purchased Louisiana territory from France.

Vocabulary Mortality: death, especially of large numbers Frontier: a region just beyond settled areas Trade goods: articles that can be exchanged for other objects (i.e. clothes, food, tobacco)

The History behind the Trail of Tears "There were ten million Native Americans on this continent when the first non-Indians arrived. Over the next 300 years, 90% of all Native American original population was either wiped out by disease, famine, or warfare imported by the whites."

Since the Discovery of the New World in the 1500’s, Europeans have caused endless problems for the American Indians. The Europeans took them captive for slaves, while others were abused.

The frontier contact lasted from During this time, the European presence increased while the Indian’s land deteriorated. Indian land was exchanged for trade goods.

European diseases spread through Indian villages and devastated native populations. Over the next two centuries, more European settlers came to look for land and gold.

American Indians responded by adopting Europeans ways, which lead to the deterioration of their own culture. Indian tribes became involved in the European colonial wars.

Political figures (including Thomas Jefferson) decided that the Indians should be civilized. Europeans thought that if they could civilize the Indians they could live amongst each other. Missionaries were sent among the tribes to accomplish this goal.

The Europeans were able to assimilate most Indian tribes, but the transformation did not happen quick enough. The Europeans greed over Indian land led to a policy for removing unwanted inhabitants.

A national policy was made after the Louisiana Purchase and its purpose was to move Indians west of the Mississippi River. President Andrew Jackson, once an ally of the Cherokees, passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830.

This act overwhelmed the southeastern Indians. The Cherokee Indians were perhaps the most culturally devastated.

The Cherokee Indians inhabited the southern Appalachians: present day Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, northern Georgia, and northeastern Alabama.

Before European contact, the Cherokee culture thrived for over 1,000 years.

The U.S. Government used the Treaty of Echota (1835) to justify the removal. The treaty stated that all Indians give up lands east of the Mississippi river, in exchange for lands out west. The Government also promised livestock, money, and tools.

President Martin Van Buren sent U.S. Army troops to round up the Indians. The troops moved the Indians into temporary housing or camps. By 1838, over 8,000 Cherokee Indians were removed from their homes.

Some Indian tribes moved west to Indian territory on boats that traveled through the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi,and Arkansas Rivers.

Around 14,000 Indian tribes moved west by traveling on land for 1,200 miles.

Road conditions, illness, lack of food and water, and the distress of winter made death a daily occurrence. Mortality rates were substantial, totaling about 8,000.

“The journey became an eternal memory as the "trail where they cried" for the Cherokees and other removed tribes. Today it is remembered as the Trail of Tears”.

Most Cherokee Indians inhabited Oklahoma Some awaited for land assignments given by the Army.

Post-Test 1. Why did the Europeans come to the New World? 2. What was the typical response of the Indians when the Europeans first came? 3. The Europeans _________ the Indians to make them more civilized.

Post-Test 4. What Indian tribe was particularly affected by the Europeans? 5. President Jackson passed the ___________ that forced the Indians out west.

Post-Test Answers 1. Land and gold 2. The Indians adopted European ways 3. Assimilate 4. Cherokee 5. The Indian Removal Act

Activity 1 Locate the vocabulary words listed below in the following crossword puzzle. ASSIMILATE CIVILIZED FRONTIER LOUISIANAPURCHASE MISSIONARIES MORTALITY TRADEGOODS

Activity 2 The next activity is a maze. See if you can find your way to the west.

EASTEAST WESTWEST

Activity 3 Fill in the answers of the crossword puzzle

Across 1.The river that the Indians had to move west of 3. Indian land was traded for this 6. The most devastated Indian culture Down 2.President Jackson passed this policy that forced Indians to move out west 4. Name the individuals sent to the Indian tribes to civilize them 5. Treaty that justified the removal of Indians 7. Group of people that caused the Indians distress

References Farrow, D., & Rose, N. (2005). The Cherokee trail of tears timeline Retrieved July 3, 2006, from ine.html ine.html

References The trail where they cried. Retrieved July 5, 2006, from story/trail.htm story/trail.htm Brief history of the trail of tears. Retrieved July 5, 2006, from /history.html /history.html