In the United States of America, are all men created equal?

“We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” from The Declaration of Independence

The Cherokee Nation The Trail of Tears

Yazoo Land Fraud 1795 – Yazoo Land Fraud – dishonest legislators passed a law that allowed land speculators to buy 35 million acres of land for 2 cents an acre and sell it to innocent citizens. The U.S. government had to step in and assist Georgia with the resulting lawsuits. In 1802, Georgia transferred the contested territories to the federal government. The United States government paid Georgia $1,250,000 and promised to remove all remaining Indians from the state.

Cherokee Constitution In 1827 – The Cherokee wrote a constitution for their nation patterned after the U.S. Constitution including three branches of governments: legislative, executive and judicial. They had eight districts. Each district sent an elected representative to New Echota.

GOLD!!! 1828 – gold nuggets were discovered in north Georgia sparking America’s first gold rush. Thousands of gold seekers descended on the Cherokee Nation. Cherokees asked and received help from the federal government to drive the miners off Indian lands.

Georgia Passes Laws that Strip Cherokee of their Rights 1828 – Georgia General Assembly passed an Act that: Made Cherokee laws “null and void” Made Cherokee laws “null and void” Claimed Cherokee lands fell under Georgia’s complete authority Claimed Cherokee lands fell under Georgia’s complete authority

Appeals for Federal Assistance 1829 – John Ross and other Cherokee representatives went to Washington to protest Georgia’s laws and plead for federal justice and protection. This “Memorial” was addressed to Congress in March of 1829.

President Jackson Responds 1830 – Georgia appealed to President Andrew Jackson to withdraw troops and allow the state to handle the matter. Soldiers were pulled out – The Indian Removal Act of 1830 – President Andrew Jackson signed into law

Cherokee Allies Samuel Worcester 1830 – Georgia Law – No whites allowed to live on Cherokee land without oath of allegiance to GA. Whites/missionaries living on Cherokee land had to sign an oath pledging to uphold the laws of Georgia. Several refused and were arrested and sentenced to hard labor.

Worcester vs. Georgia 1832 – Worcester vs. Georgia - Chief Justice John Marshall announced the Supreme Court’s decision: “Georgia laws did not apply in the Cherokee nation.” The Cherokee celebrated believing their laws and nation would be saved. Georgia Governor Wilson Lumpkin ignored the ruling. President Jackson refused to enforce it.

Cherokee Land Given to White Settlers 1832 – The Great Land Lottery – 10 counties were marked out and given to white settlers who forced the Cherokee from their homes.

1834 – The Cherokee continued to resist and offered to give up their own government and some of their territory for the ability to become U. S. citizens. President Jackson said no and encouraged them to move west. Leaders in the Cherokee nation were divided. Chief John Ross resisted the move west. Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot felt that it was better for their people to move West.

Treaty of New Echota 1835 – Major Ridge and his supporters signed a treaty, the Treaty of New Echota, with the United Stated to give up their lands and move west in return for $5 million. Chief John Ross and the majority of the Cherokees opposed this treaty and refused to move.

Cherokee Protest Treaty of New Echota Chief John Ross took a petition to Congress with 15,000 names protesting the treaty. Petition ignored.

1838 – President Van Buren ordered U.S. Army troops, under General Winfield Scott, to remove the remaining 15,000 Cherokees from their land in Georgia.

Cherokee Removal Begins May 1838 Under orders from President Van Buren, the U.S. Army began enforcement of the Removal Act. Around 3,000 Cherokees were rounded up in the summer of 1838 and loaded onto boats that traveled the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas Rivers into Indian Territory.

Many were held in prison camps awaiting their fate. In the winter of , 14,000 were marched 1,200 miles through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas into rugged Indian Territory.

An estimated 4,000 died from hunger, exposure and disease. Cherokee -"trail where they cried" = “The Trail of Tears.”

What was it like for the Cherokee?

What was it like for a Soldier?

What was it like for a Land Lottery Winner?