Conflicts Over Land

Moving Native Americans In the 1830’s Americans Expanded westward with a large number of native Americans stilling living the eastern portion of the country

Moving Native Americans In Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi & Florida lived the “5 Civilized Tribes.” Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creeks & Seminoles. They established farming societies in these states with successful economies

Moving Native Americans To settlers, areas west of the MS River seemed dry and useless for farming. Americans wanted the government to relocate native Americans who were living in the SE.

Moving Native Americans They proposed they move the Indians to land west of the MS River. Andrew Jackson supported their demands.

Indian Removal Act Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830. US paid Native Americans to move west. Jackson sent officials to negotiate treaties with the NA

Indian Removal Act Most tribes felt compelled to take payments. In 1834 Congress created the Indian territory which is present day OK for Indians coming from the SE

Cherokee Nation The Cherokee refused to give up their land 1790 Treaty recognized the Cherokee as a separate nation in GA. They had their own laws

Cherokee Nation GA refused to accept Cherokee law. The Cherokee sued in Worcestor vs GA Supreme Ct ruled GA had no right to interfere with the Cherokee, only the Federal government could.

Cherokee Nation Jackson supported GA’s right to remove the Cherokee and vowed to ignore the ruling.

Trail of Tears In 1835 The US Gov. persuaded a few Cherokee to sign a treaty giving up their land. Most of the Cherokee, 17,000, refused to abide by the treaty.

Trail of Tears Jackson persisted in the removal and sent Gen. Winfield Scott and an army of 7,000 to forcibly remove the Cherokee. Filled with anger and sadness the Cherokee moved west to he Oklahoma Territory.

Trail of Tears The weather along the way claimed thousands of lives . The forced march of the Cherokee became known to them as the Trail of Tears.

Native American Resistance In 1832 Chief Black Hawk lead the Sauk & Fox tribe back into IL. Their Homeland with the intent of recapturing the area.

Native American Resistance The IL. Militia and fed. Troops responded by pushing the Sauk & Fox back to the MS. River where they were slaughtered by the militia.

Native American Resistance The Seminole were the only native Americans who successfully resisted removal by the US Gov. The Seminoles refused to sign any treaty and went to war with the US Gov.

Native American Resistance In 1835 the Seminole joined forces with run away slaves and attacked white settlements along the coast of FL. Using guerilla war tactics (Hit & Run)

Native American Resistance Many Seminoles died over time and along with the US soldiers. Some Seminoles were captured and others moved west.

Native American Resistance After 1842 only a few scattered tribes remained east of the MS River. The end result was the Native Americans gave up over 100 Million acres of land.

Native American Resistance In return they received about $68 million in compensation and 32 million acres of land west of the MS River. The 5 civilized Tribes relocated to OK in the eastern half along with several other plains group native Americans.

Native American Resistance The 5 tribes settled in peace, improved their farms, built schools, and developed their governments. They also developed a law enforcement unit called the Lighthorsemen to keep the peace & maintain safety for the region.