they broke treaties and massacred Americans
Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia
Barbara L. Benge has written: 'The 1890 Cherokee Nation census, Indian Territory (Oklahoma)' -- subject(s): Census, 1890, Cherokee Indians, Genealogy 'The 1880 Cherokee Nation census, Indian Territory (Oklahoma)' -- subject(s): Census, 1880, Cherokee Indians, Genealogy
The Cherokee Indian removal, known as the Trail of Tears, ended in the late 1830s after a series of forced relocations that resulted in the suffering and death of thousands. The U.S. government, under President Andrew Jackson, implemented the Indian Removal Act of 1830, leading to the displacement of the Cherokee from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to designated Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. The removal process faced significant resistance and legal challenges, but ultimately, the federal government enforced the relocation, culminating in the tragic journey in 1838-1839. The aftermath left a lasting impact on the Cherokee Nation and its people.
About 200 years ago the Cherokee Indians were one tribe, or "Indian Nation" that lived in the southeast part of what is now the United States. During the 1830's and 1840's, the period covered by the Indian Removal Act, many Cherokees were moved west to a territory that is now the State of Oklahoma.
American westward expansion significantly impacted the lives of the Cherokee by leading to their forced removal from ancestral lands through policies like the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This culminated in the tragic Trail of Tears, where thousands of Cherokee were relocated to designated Indian Territory, suffering immense hardships and loss of life. The disruption of their traditional way of life and governance marked a profound cultural and social upheaval for the Cherokee Nation. Ultimately, westward expansion contributed to the erosion of their sovereignty and the fragmentation of their communities.
Many tribes signed the removal treaties. However, the Cherokee Nation refused and fought the government in courts.
In the case of Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the Cherokee Nation appeared to win a legal victory against removal. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state of Georgia had no authority to impose laws within Cherokee territory, affirming the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation. This decision, however, was largely ignored by both President Andrew Jackson and the state of Georgia, leading to the continued forced removal of the Cherokee people, known as the Trail of Tears.
The Cherokee land was originally owned by the Cherokee Nation, a Native American tribe that inhabited the southeastern United States. Following the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the U.S. government forcibly relocated the Cherokee people to designated Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River, primarily present-day Oklahoma. This led to the loss of their ancestral lands, a tragic event known as the Trail of Tears. Today, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized tribe, preserving its heritage and governance over its remaining lands.
The Cherokee Nation is known for traveling the farthest to reach Indian Territory during the Trail of Tears, covering approximately 1,200 miles. This forced relocation occurred in the 1830s as part of the Indian Removal policy, resulting in significant suffering and loss of life. Other tribes, such as the Creek and Seminole, also faced long journeys, but the Cherokee's trek is often highlighted for its distance and impact.
Reservations. The Trail of Tears was the Cherokee nation walking from Georgia to Oklahoma because of the removal to the reservation in Oklahoma.
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 30 US 1 (1831)Cherokee Chief John Ross fought the removal of native Americans through the US Supreme Court, and petitions to congress.For more information, see Related Questions, below.
The Cherokee Nation had been mistreated by Washington DC for decades. Their harsh removal to the "Oklahoma" territory was terrible. In October of 1861, they signed an agreement with the Confederacy in hopes of getting a better deal if the South could win its independence.