Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears

Black Hawk War 1827 - 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

“One of the greatest evils to which they (Indians) are subject is the incessant (constant) pressure of our population.” John C. Calhoun According to John C. Calhoun, why is the US government forcing the Native Americans to move off of their homelands? 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 they Cherokee can stay

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

Trail of Tears Georgia govt. smashes in Cherokee printing press US troops move 18,000 Cherokee at gunpoint 800 miles from 1838-1839 25% of Cherokee died - most elderly and children

 starter activity Slaves waiting for the auction to begin. Imagine you are one of the people waiting at auction. List the thoughts that are going through your mind. FIVE sentences…

Fighting Slavery in the U.S.

The Abolitionist Movement Helped bring about the Civil War Those who were against slavery William Lloyd Garrison called for the immediate emancipation of enslaved persons

African American Abolitionists Frederick Douglass Escaped from slavery in Maryland Published anti-slavery newspaper the North Star

Southerners Views Slavery was distinctive and vital to the South South was still mostly agricultural 1831, slave rebellion left 50 white Virginians dead Slave owners cracked down on slaves throughout the region

Missouri Causes a Mess 1819 the Union had 11 Free States and 11 Slave States Northerners opposed extending slavery west Missouri applies for statehood as a slave state

Maine to the Rescue Congress fought over admitting Missouri into the Union Then Maine applies for statehood as a free state Congress allows Missouri and Maine to become states

Missouri Compromise Settled the dispute over the western expansion of slavery All future slave states must be south of Missouri

Compromise of 1850 1848 Gold is found in California 1849 the Gold Rush begins 1849 California applies for statehood There were 15 free and 15 slave states at this time

Southerners dreaded losing power if CA was admitted as a free state Some southerners talked about secession Compromise CA would be free The rest of the newly acquired Mexican land would have no restrictions Stronger laws to recover runaway slaves

Fugitive Slave Act A slaveholder or slave catchers just had to point out an alleged runaway to have them taken into custody The slave could not testify for himself

Underground Railroad Informal but well-organized group of Abolitionists Helped thousands of slaves escape north Lead by Harriet Tubman, a runaway

Kansas-Nebraska Act Should land be free or slave? Worried the southern states would succeed if they did not get another slave state Nebraska was free Kansas was slave

What were conditions like on the plantations?

How were slaves prepared for auction? Washed with water Rubbed with oil Gunpowder, hot tar or rust rubbed into wounds Teeth inspected Brutal remedies Two methods of sale – auction & scramble What does this C19th poster tell us about the way slaves were treated by plantation owners?

What sort of lives did they lead? Branded on face, chest or back 3-4 year-olds work in ‘trash gangs’ (weeding) 9-12 year-olds work in fields with adults Elderly worked as domestic servants No legal rights – forbidden to read, write, marry own property Flogging & other punishments How would you feel if you were branded with one of these irons?

Punishments Rebellions – rebels nailed to ground, fire applied starting at the feet and moving upwards Running away – neck ring or iron muzzle Continued running away – removal of hand or foot Flogging – one lash for each year of slave’s life How old do you think this slave was? Average life expectancy was 26. Why do you think it was so low?

Working day 5:30 – go straight to field. Work until 8.00am. Latecomers whipped 8:00 – Stop work for breakfast: boiled yam & okra seasoned with salt & pepper 8:30 - Continue work 12:00 pm – Rest & lunch: salted meat or pickled fish 2:00pm – Start work again 6:00pm – Return to huts Night time – During harvest, work in mill or boiling houses through night

Slaves v. Indians Slaves Native Americans Limited Rights Harsh Punishments Could not read or write Lived here first No one can own land Made deals with U.S. Government Removed from home Treated as lower class Fought back Compare how we treated Native American and Slaves at this point in history

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