1. What was so controversial about Jackson’s decision?
Indian Removal Act:
What was so controversial about Jackson’s decision?

2. Lesson: Indian Removal
Essential Question
How do economic and political factors affect disenfranchised groups? (e.g. Creeks and Cherokees)

3. Creek Indians
Series of clashes between Creek and settlers who pushed into their land known as Oconee War
Treaty of New York: Creek Chief Alexander McGillivray signed the treaty giving up all land east of the Oconee River, but could keep land on the west side; this angered Georgia settlers, who felt betrayed by their government
Land treaties were often broken
Red Stick Creeks endorsed war to fight for their land claims; White Stick Creeks wanted peace

4. The Creek War
Red Sticks attacked Fort Mims, killing more than 400 people
The Battle of Horseshoe Bend, in Alabama, ended the Creek War in 1814; Andrew Jackson led the U.S. troops
The Creeks were forced to give up nearly all their land to the U.S. government
The Treaty of Indian Springs gave up last Creek lands in Georgia to the U.S.; Chief William McIntosh was later murdered by rival Creeks for signing the treaty

5. Describe the circumstances surrounding the death of William McIntosh.
According to the Treaty of Indian Springs (1825), what were the reasons for the removal of the Creek Indians?
Describe the circumstances surrounding the death of William McIntosh.

6. Removal of the Creeks
Treaty of Washington (1832) resulted in 5 million acres of Creek land ceded to the United States
U.S. agreed to allow Creeks who wished to remain and live on 2 million of those acres; the U.S. promised to protect those who stayed
Those who didn’t wish to stay would have to move to the western territories
The treaty was broken; by 1840, nearly all Creeks were forced to move west

7. Cherokee Culture
Most advanced of Georgia’s tribes; learned quickly from white settlers
Some, like Chief James Vann, lived in large houses
Chief Vann encouraged Christianity
Sequoyah developed a syllabary, a group of symbols that stand for whole syllables; it gave Cherokees a written form of their language
Government modeled on that of United States; capital at New Echota by 1825

8. Watch this!
Sequoyah, a Cherokee Indian with ties to Georgia and Oklahoma, did something no other person in recorded history has done. He created a system of writing for an unwritten language. In 1819, Sequoyah started work on a written version of the Cherokee language. He developed a character for each syllable in the language.

9. Worcester v. Georgia
What did the Supreme Court decide regarding the Cherokee people?
What do you need to know about this case?

10. Cherokee Removal
Indian Removal Act of 1830 – Signed by President Andrew Jackson; made the practice of forcibly removing Native Americans legal.
Dahlonega Gold Rush – Gold was discovered on Cherokee land in north Georgia near the city of Dahlonega; heightened demand for Cherokee land
The Supreme Court of the United States and Chief Justice John Marshall decided that the Cherokee were a sovereign nation and should be allowed to rule themselves (Worcester v. Georgia).
Without the support of Chief John Ross, a rebellious Cherokee group signed a treaty giving away all Cherokee land

11. John Ross
From 1828 to 1860, the Cherokee people were led by the remarkable Native American John Ross. During a 32-year period that ended with his death, Ross presided over the birth of Cherokee Nation, the removal of his people from their homeland, and the founding of a new nation in a distant place. Ten times he was elected chief of the Cherokee Nation. It is no wonder that many regard him as the greatest chief in the history of the Cherokee people.

12. In Conclusion… Identify 3 significant facts about Indian Removal
Explain the role of 2 of the most important figures in the removal of Indians from Georgia
Write 1 sentence that tells if you feel that the Indians were treated fairly in this entire process