1. The Trail of Tears
Photographs and information from discoveryed. com and pbs.org/teachers

2. When and What? 1836 -1839 Nearly 173 years ago
Over 16,000 Cherokee were forced to move west of the Mississippi River

3. Why? President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act 1830
This act required several Native American nations to move westward to Oklahoma
Their native land was valuable for white settlement
Population and settlement was growing
Gold was found on Cherokee land and the American government wanted that commodity

4. President Andrew Jackson
“ John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it! ... Build a fire under them. When it gets hot enough, they'll go. ” —-Andrew Jackson, 1832, The Trail of Tears Across Missouri

5. Where?
The Cherokee were moved from Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama
They were moved to “Indian Territory” which is now known as Oklahoma
This trip was about 2,500 miles.

6. Devastating Impact Somewhere between 4,000 and 15,000 Cherokee died
They faced hunger, exhaustion, disease
Cherokee were separated from their native lands
Had to adapt to new environment

7. Video

8. Think Pair Share What was significant about the Trail of Tears?
What was the impact on North Carolina after the relocation of the Cherokee?
How would you have reacted?