Indian Removal

SS8H5 The student will explain significant factors that affected the development of Georgia as part of the growth of the United States between 1789 and 1840.

d. Analyze the events that led to the removal of Creeks and Cherokees; include the roles of Alexander McGillivray, William McIntosh, Sequoyah, John Ross, Dahlonega Gold Rush, Worcester v. Georgia, Andrew Jackson, John Marshall, and the Trail of Tears.

Indian Removal

The Native American way of life was disrupted by the arrival of the colonists.The settlers wanted the land that Native Americans lived on and the resources and wealth that could be found on that land.

Post Revolutionary War

After the Revolutionary War, the U.S. government felt it was important to restore peace with the Native Americans.In 1783, the Cherokee gave up more than 1 million acres to the state of Georgia in a treaty. The Creeks were less willing to give up their land…

Alexander McGillvray

VIDEO

Alexander McGillvray- Creek

Son of a European settler and a Creek Indian… later became a chief of the CreeksRepresented the Creek Nation throughout the Revolutionary War.

Tensions grew as the pioneers pushed into Creek territory. Sent warriors to attack pioneers. Indians burned houses, stole horses and

cattle, and killed or captured over 200 settlers.

Georgia settlers were told to kill on sight any Creek not members of friendly tribes.

Conflicts became known as Oconee War… not an all out war.

Alexander McGillvray - Creek

Conflicts continued for several years.In 1790, President Washington called him to New York… there he signed the Treaty of New York. Creeks gave up their lands east of

the Oconee River. US government promised no whites

would go on the Creek land.Georgians felt the government had taken the side of the Native Americans and that they had been betrayed… neither side paid any attention to treaty.

William McIntosh - Creek

Son of European Settler and Native American.Led Creek Nation between 1810 and 1820.

During this time, Creek tribes became separated from each other as their land was being taken from the government.Some groups signed treaties without asking other tribes to agree.

William McIntosh - Creek

February 12, 1825, Chief McIntosh and his first cousin, Georgia Governor George Troup had created the Treaty of Indian Springs. U.S. paid $200,00 to give up the last

Creek lands in Georgia to the federal government.The government gave use of the

land to Georgia.

William McIntosh - Creek

Groups of Creek that disagreed with the treaty met secretly to decide how to punish McIntosh.According to Creek law, he should die.They allowed the women and children to leave and then set fire to his home. McIntosh was dragged from the house and stabbed him in the chest. His scalp was taken as a warning to others who might want to give Creek land to white men.

Dahlonega Gold Rush

VIDEO

Dahlonega Gold Rush

Gold was discovered in Dahlonega in the summer of 1829.Benjamin Parks was given credit for its discovery even though the Cherokee new it was there.Over 10,000 miners moved onto Cherokee land… taking the land and gold away from the Cherokee.

Dahlonega Gold Rush

Georgia passed a law that placed part of the Cherokee land under state control.The law also… Cherokee laws were no longer

recognized The Cherokee could not speak against

a white man in a court of law. A white man could hurt or even kill a

Cherokee without fear of punishment.

Dahlonega Gold Rush

A second law was passed on December 19, 1829. Cherokee did not have

any right to the gold found in Dahlonega.

Miners searched for gold while Cherokees were losing their homes, lands, and legal rights.

Day 2

Civilizing

Cherokee had to change to fit in with the white man. They hoped that if they adopted a life style like that of the white Americans, they could continue to live on their land in peace.

Civilizing

Many had to… Dress like white people Follow a written code of law Read and write English Follow Christian faith

Many Cherokee resisted converting to Christianity. But they welcomed the education, tools, and training that was offered to them. Some also built big houses, ran businesses, and became plantation owners.Some even became slave owners.

Sequoyah

Born George Gist to a Virginia scout/soldier and a Indian Princess. His Cherokee name was Sequoyah which meant lonely lame one.He was crippled and learned to be a blacksmith and work with silver because hunting and farming was too difficult.

Sequoyah

He became interested in the white man’s written language... Allowed information to be sent for miles on paper and people understood what the message was.Created a syllabary- symbols represent whole syllables.

Sequoyah

He was made fun of until his daughter and young chiefs were able to write and read within a few days.90% of the Cherokee could read and write.First Indians to have their language in written form. Showed that Native Americans could communicate without the white man’s language.Cherokees create a newspaper in both English and Cherokee know as the Cherokee Phoenix

Worcester v. Georgia/John Marshall

Georgia law required that a white person could not live on Cherokee land without taking an oath of allegiance to the state of Georgia and obtaining a permit to live in the territory. In 1831, the government ordered the Georgia Guard to arrest several missionaries who were trying to help the Cherokee because they refused to swear the oath and/or refused to leave.The missionaries were sentenced to four years in prison.

Worcester v. Georgia/John Marshall

The governor agreed to pardon any of the missionaries that would sign the oath. All but 2 signed the oath.

Missionaries Samuel Worcester and Elizur Butler took their cases to the Supreme Court.Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the previous decision could not stand because the Cherokee territory was not subject to state law.

Worcester v. Georgia/John Marshall

Chief Justice John Marshall ordered the two mean set free, but the Georgia judge refused.Georgia’s governor would not take a stand.President Andrew refused to follow the Supreme Court order.The two men eventually gave up and were ordered to leave the state and never return.Cherokee land was divided into lots of 40 and 160 acres. The state held a lottery to give away the land to white men.

Day 3

John Ross

Only 1/8 Cherokee… but kept close ties with the Cherokee.Ross became principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1827 following the establishment of a Cherokee government modeled after the United States. Remained the leader until his death in 1866.The Cherokees were being forced to leave their land, whipped, and even killed.Chief John Ross made several trips to Washington to ask Congress for help. He wanted the Cherokee protected and

past treaties honored and believed that Cherokee rights would be protected.

John Ross

Fought for the Cherokee with words not weapons… press and courts. When the Land Lottery of 1832 divided

Cherokee land among the whites he filed suit in the white man's courts and won, only to see the ruling go unenforced.

He continued to fight removal until it was clear that there was no alternative.At this point, he then began to negotiate with the government on how to handle the move.He accompanied his people on the Trail of Tears.Once in Indian Territory, he led the Cherokee in establishing farms, businesses, schools, and colleges.

Andrew Jackson

Elected President of the United States in 1828.He was originally friendly with the Cherokee when he needed their help in fighting the Red Stick Creek. However, he was politically smart and knew that the white voters wanted Native American Indians removed from the southern states.

Andrew Jackson

Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which required that all Native Americans be removed to the western territories.When the Supreme Court issued its order protecting the rights of the Cherokee, President Jackson refused to honor their decision.

Removal of Cherokee/Trail of Tears

Georgians wanted to settle the Cherokee land and to mine the gold that had been found there.The Cherokee were told to come to New Echota and sign a treaty giving up all Cherokee land in the region. The Cherokee killed Major Ridge, his son

and Elias Boudinot for signing the Treaty of New Echota… This was was an unusual act for the Cherokee who had been peaceful and tried to fit into the white man’s world.

The Cherokee agreed to sign the treaty and move west and in return Georgia would give the Cherokee a little money and food for the trip.

Removal of Cherokee/Trail of Tears

Many Cherokees refused to leave their home. They rounded up and put the Cherokee into stockades to house them until they could be moved… many died there due to the conditions.Many were put onto boats and sent on rivers to their new home.The remaining began the 700-800 mile walk to Indian Territory.

Removal of Cherokee/Trail of Tears

The harsh winter weather and lack of food led to the deaths of thousands.The Cherokee called the move Anuna-da-ut-sun’y which means “the trail where they cried.”