Indian Removal

Cherokee Nation  Some whites hoped Natives would adapt (assimilate) Way to avoid conflict  The Cherokee adapted well to white society  Adopted white way of dress  Owned prosperous farms and ranches  Sequoya’s invention of a system of written language  Drew up a constitution  Gold was discovered one year later

Indian Removal  For years many had supported removing Indians  About 100,000 American Indians lived east of the Mississippi River Mainly in the Southeast  Jackson urged Congress to set aside “an ample district west of the Mississippi” Jackson believed the govt. had the right to regulate where they could live He viewed them as conquered

Indian Removal Act Indian Removal Act – Passed by Congress – Negotiate treaties requiring them to relocate west Indians forced to relocate Indians forced to relocate –Congress created the Indian Territory – Present-day Oklahoma 7,000 troops removed the American Indians 7,000 troops removed the American Indians – Jackson called it “just and liberal” – November 1831 – The march became known as the “Trail of Tears”

Worcester v. Georgia  Georgia had created a separate Cherokee nation within the state  GA eventually ignored Cherokee laws  Cherokee appealed to the Supreme Court to keep their land from seizure

Opinion and Reaction  Supreme Court ruled only federal govt could make laws over the Cherokee  “Justice John Marshall has made his decision…Now let him enforce it.” – Andrew Jackson  Jackson supported the state & ignored Supreme Court ruling He did not believe they could have their own govt within U.S. borders (become citizens or move west)

Where did the Trail of Tears take place?

WHY DID THE TRAIL OF TEARS OCCUR? WHY DID THE TRAIL OF TEARS OCCUR? INCREASED U.S. POPULATION

U.S. DESIRE FOR WESTWARD EXPANSION

BENEFIT OF NATIVE AMERICANS ASSETS AND RESOURCES… like gold, land for cotton, etc.