1. Sequoyah ( a.k.a George Gist) Inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet

2. Sequoyah Born near Tuskeegee, Tennesee in 1776 Born near Tuskeegee, Tennesee in 1776 Died near Tyler, Texas in 1843 Died near Tyler, Texas in 1843 His mother was the daughter of a Cherokee chief and his father was a Virginia fur trader named Nathaniel Gist. His mother was the daughter of a Cherokee chief and his father was a Virginia fur trader named Nathaniel Gist.

3. Fleeing Tennessee Sequoyah fled Tennessee because of the encroachment of whites as a youth. Sequoyah fled Tennessee because of the encroachment of whites as a youth. He moved to Georgia where he became a silversmith. He moved to Georgia where he became a silversmith.

4. How it all began While Sequoyah was working as a silversmith, a man asked him to sign his work, as the white silversmiths had done. While Sequoyah was working as a silversmith, a man asked him to sign his work, as the white silversmiths had done. Sequoyah, however, did not know how to write his name. Sequoyah, however, did not know how to write his name. This sent him to Charles Hicks, a wealthy farmer, to teach him how to write his name. This sent him to Charles Hicks, a wealthy farmer, to teach him how to write his name.

5. The beginning of a new language: Hicks showed Sequoyah how spell his name by writing the letters on a piece of paper. Hicks showed Sequoyah how spell his name by writing the letters on a piece of paper. In 1809 Sequoyah began developing the idea of a Cherokee writing system. In 1809 Sequoyah began developing the idea of a Cherokee writing system.

6. Cherokee War Then he moved to Willstown, Alabama and joined the Cherokee Regiment in a battle against the Creeks. Then he moved to Willstown, Alabama and joined the Cherokee Regiment in a battle against the Creeks. This battle became known as the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. This battle became known as the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. During this battle, Sequoyah realized the importance of a writing system because the Cherokees were unable to communicate with their families during the war. During this battle, Sequoyah realized the importance of a writing system because the Cherokees were unable to communicate with their families during the war.

7. Characteristics of the writing system Sequoyah used a phonetic system, where each sound made in speech was represented by a symbol. Sequoyah used a phonetic system, where each sound made in speech was represented by a symbol. He called it “Talking Leaves”, 85 letters that make-up the Cherokee syllabary He called it “Talking Leaves”, 85 letters that make-up the Cherokee syllabary

8. Implementation of the Cherokee Syllabary Sequoyah went before the council to propose his new syllabary. Sequoyah went before the council to propose his new syllabary. After the completion of the syllabary in 1821, it was rapidly adopted by many Cherokees. After the completion of the syllabary in 1821, it was rapidly adopted by many Cherokees. Within two years many Cherokees had learned the syllabary and it made it possible for them to print books and newspapers in their language. Within two years many Cherokees had learned the syllabary and it made it possible for them to print books and newspapers in their language.

9. Life after developing the syllabary After Sequoyah developed the Cherokee syllabary, he went into politics. After Sequoyah developed the Cherokee syllabary, he went into politics. He was elected as a Cherokee delegate to the United States government in Washington, D.C. He was elected as a Cherokee delegate to the United States government in Washington, D.C. In 1824, the National Council at New Echota struck a silver medal in Sequoyah’s honor. In 1824, the National Council at New Echota struck a silver medal in Sequoyah’s honor.

10. Sequoyah’s Impact The impact made by Sequoyah’s development of the Cherokee alphabet can be seen throughout the Cherokee history. The impact made by Sequoyah’s development of the Cherokee alphabet can be seen throughout the Cherokee history. It made it possible for them to document their experiences and increase their communications between each other. It made it possible for them to document their experiences and increase their communications between each other.

11. Resources http://ngeorgia.com/ang/Sequoyah(a.k.a_ George_Gist) http://ngeorgia.com/ang/Sequoyah(a.k.a_ George_Gist) http://ngeorgia.com/ang/Sequoyah(a.k.a_ George_Gist) http://ngeorgia.com/ang/Sequoyah(a.k.a_ George_Gist) http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/bi ographies/sequoyah/ http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/bi ographies/sequoyah/ http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/bi ographies/sequoyah/ http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/bi ographies/sequoyah/ http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/ Article.jsp?id=h-618&hl=y http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/ Article.jsp?id=h-618&hl=y http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/ Article.jsp?id=h-618&hl=y http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/ Article.jsp?id=h-618&hl=y