As the population grew, the colonists pushed farther west into the territories occupied by the American Indians.

I NEVITABLY, THIS MOVEMENT LED TO CLASHES OVER LAND.

By the time Andrew Jackson became President in 1829, the native population east of the Mississippi River had dwindled to 125,000.

In contrast, the non-Indians population had risen to 13 million.

C HEROKEE N ATION

C HEROKEE L AST T RIBE E AST OF M ISSISSIPPI Other tribes slowly been moved Westward Cherokees not like other tribes Established communities Churches, houses, stores Learned to talk on paper like White man Accepted God, had translated version of Bible Held elections and own Constitution

C HEROKEE HAD T REATY WITH US FOR HOMELAND IN G EORGIA

G OLD D ISCOVERED Many people began to encroach on native land.

G EORGIA DECLARED ALL C HEROKEE LAWS NULL AND VOID - SAID MUST LEAVE THE LAND

Cherokee vs. Georgia- dispute of Georgia's attempt to extend its right and jurisdiction over Cherokee Nation. C HEROKEES FIGHT BACK USING WHITE MANS US LEGAL S YSTEM

Chief Judge John Marshall ruled for Cherokees against Georgia. Upheld the US treaty- the Nation was independent of Georgia.

A NDREW J ACKSON IGNORES S UPREME C OURT “John Marshal made his decision, now let him enforce it!” Jackson felt natives not worthy of concern or protection and not smart enough to own land.

“ It is impossible to civilize Indians because they were essentially inferior to the Anglo-Saxon race”

I NDIAN R EMOVAL A CT 1830 The Federal Government had the authority to tell the natives what to do. Told to trade their lands for lands West.

J ACKSON SAW I NDIAN R EMOVAL AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE WHITE FARMERS AND BUSINESSMEN. H E ALSO CLAIMED THAT REMOVAL WAS ALSO IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE I NDIANS. W HY ?

J ACKSON TO THE I NDIANS “Where you now are, you and my white children are too near to each other to live in harmony and peace. Your game is gone, and many of your people will not work and till the earth... The land beyond the Mississippi belongs to the President and no one else, and he will give it to you forever.”

Many members of the “Five Civilized Tribes” (including the Cherokee, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles) wanted to stay in their lands east of the Mississippi River.

“T HE R OUNDUP ” Summer (May 26 th ) soldiers marched into the villages and told to grab what needed. Forced to leave by gun point- leaving their homes and life as they knew it.

C HEROKEES N ATION WERE TO BE P AID 9 MILLION HOWEVER 6 MILLION WAS CHARGED FOR REMOVAL AND PROMISED THE REST. ( NEVER GOT IT )

P RISON C AMPS ESTABLISHED FOR ROUND UP

T HE M ARCH … “T RAIL OF T EARS ” 16,000 forced to walk

“ I fought through the Civil War and have seen men shot to pieces and slaughtered by the thousands, but the Cherokee removal was the cruelest work I ever knew.” Georgia Soldier involved in removal process

H ARSHEST W INTER IN Y EARS

T RAIL OF T EARS Not allowed to bury their dead, but must morn as they walk. 4,000 died during the March. Starvation, exposure, disease

N EW START - RESERVATIONS Cherokee began the slow process of reconstructing society

R EPRESENTATIVE OF OTHER TRIBES