NEXT

John Ross, Chief of Cherokee Nation (1827–1839) and of United Cherokee Nation (1839–1866).

The Cherokee Nation and Removal1800–1840

The Cherokee change their culture hoping to remain on their land, but the U.S. government forcibly moves them to new territory west of the Mississippi.

NEXT

The Cherokee Nation and Removal1800–1840

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

The Cherokee

Indian Removal

NEXT

Section 1

The Cherokee The Cherokee establish a culture that is much like the white settlers’ culture in order to live peacefully.

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Settling the River Valleys

The Cherokee

Cherokee Background• Cherokee settle in what are now Alabama,

Georgia, Mississippi- these mountain river valleys full of resources:

wildlife, fish, trees• “Cherokee” is Choctaw name meaning “people of

the cave country”• Cherokee call themselves Ani’-Yun’wiya, “the

principal people

SECTION

1

Cherokee Drive out the Creek• Mountain terrain makes farming difficult for

Cherokee• Cherokee drive Creek from fertile farmland along

river valleys

NEXT

SECTION

1

The Colonists and the Cherokee

British Trade• Cherokee, British set up trade relationship after

French and Indian War- Cherokee provide deerskin for leather, war

captives for slaves- British provide guns, tools, fabric, other supplies

The Cherokee Adapt to Changes• Traditional Cherokee tribe council makes decisions

democratically• Council too slow for Europeans, Cherokee leave

decisions to warriors• Colonies win independence in 1783, Cherokee

situation changes

NEXT

SECTION

1

Moving the Cherokee• New U.S. Congress treats Cherokee as conquered

enemy - wants to move Cherokee to end warfare, gain land

for settlers• Government relocates Cherokee to new Cherokee

Nation - covers parts of Georgia, North Carolina,

Tennessee, Alabama• U.S. sends government agents to live with

Cherokee, teach skills

The United States and the Cherokee Nation

Continued . . .

NEXT

SECTION

1

“Civilizing” the Cherokee• Some settlers want to “civilize” Cherokee

- read/write English, follow written code of laws- dress like whites, convert to Christianity

• Missionaries go to live and work with tribe• Cherokee resist Christianity, welcome education

and tools

continued The United States and the Cherokee Nation

NEXT

SECTION

1

A Written Cherokee Language• Cherokee Nation believes civilization program

necessary to survive- hope to be left alone if they adopt white ways - see need to change lifestyles

• Nation buys printing press with English and Cherokee alphabet- press located in New Echota, the Cherokee

Nation capital

Sequoyah and the Cherokee Phoenix

Continued . . .

NEXT

SECTION

1

A Written Cherokee Language• Sequoyah sees European advantage in having

written communication- develops 86-symbol alphabet based on

Cherokee syllables, 1821 - simple enough for those who speak Cherokee

to learn in days• Cherokee Phoenix—Cherokee Nation’s first

newspaper, starts in 1828 - printed in English and Cherokee

• Elias Boudinot is editor—young Cherokee educated in mission schools

continued Sequoyah and the Cherokee Phoenix

Image

NEXT

SECTION

1

Cherokee Planters• Cherokee soon imitate whites in other ways• Many become wealthy, build lavish homes, run

businesses• Some become planters, raise cotton, own slaves• Cherokee planters start taking over Cherokee

politics

Changes in Lifestyle

NEXT

SECTION

1

Government Modeled After U.S.• Eight districts send representatives to national

Cherokee Council• Council protects individual, common property;

decides criminal cases• Cherokee National Council tells U.S. it will cede no

more land, 1819• A supreme court is established to hear district court

appeals, 1822• Concern over property rights grows, written laws

established

A Government and Written Law

Continued . . .

NEXT

SECTION

1

Government Modeled After U.S.• Light Horse Guard created in 1808—national

police force • New laws break from Cherokee tradition

- wives may now inherit property from husbands

continued A Government and Written Law

Image

The Cherokee Constitution• Cherokee Constitution written in 1827; similar to

U.S Constitution- establishes legislative, executive, judicial

branches• Defines Cherokee territory; land belongs to nation,

not individuals

NEXT

SECTION

1

Major Ridge and John Ross• Two men become respected leaders of Cherokee

Nation in 1820s• Major Ridge—leader in Creek War, successful

planter, businessman• John Ross—one-eighth Cherokee; becomes

chief, 1827—1866• Ridge and Ross come into conflict in 1830s

Respected Cherokee Leaders

NEXT

White settlers are determined to have all of the Southeastern land occupied by the Cherokee. They eventually succeed.

Section 2

Indian Removal

NEXT

Early Removal of Creek and Cherokee

Indian Removal

Promises of Land to the West• Removal of Native Americans from Georgia starts

with Compact of 1802• U.S. promises Native Americans land in Arkansas,

Oklahoma if leave• Creek agree to leave Georgia; most relocate to

Oklahoma by 1827• Thomas Jefferson offers land in Louisiana Territory

- offers to Native Americans who do not want to join white society

- many tribes, some Cherokee accept offer; get compensation

SECTION

2

NEXT

The Cherokee Refuse to Leave

Conflicts with Georgia Government• Cherokee surrender some land, but will not give

up more after 1819• U.S. cannot honor Compact of 1802; white

Georgians furious • Georgia orders missionaries to leave, removes

Cherokee supporters- creates Georgia Guard to enforce laws against

Cherokee• Legislature says Georgia and Cherokee

constitutions are in conflict • President James Monroe refuses to repeal

Compact of 1802

SECTION

2

NEXT

The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court

The Indian Removal Act• President Andrew Jackson elected in 1828

- ally of Cherokee in War of 1812; but now wants to take their land

• Jackson persuades Congress to pass Indian Removal Act, 1830- Cherokee can live within Georgia laws or move

west of Mississippi- Cherokee do not accept this; take two cases to

U.S. Supreme Court

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

Image

NEXT

The Cherokee Sue Georgia• Cherokee sue in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

(1831) - murder within Cherokee Nation; Georgia court

tries, convicts suspect- Cherokee argue that Georgia laws should not

apply to Nation• Supreme Court says Cherokee have no right to

sue - call Cherokee a “domestic dependent nation”

SECTION

2

continued The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court

Continued . . .

NEXT

The Cherokee Sue Georgia• Different outcome in Worcester v. Georgia

(1832)- Georgia orders missionaries to swear oath and

get permits or leave- orders Georgia Guard to imprison missionaries

who disobey• Court rule: Georgia laws not valid in independent

Cherokee Nation

SECTION

2

continued The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court

Continued . . .

NEXT

Georgia Defies Court Ruling• Georgia refuses to accept Worcester v. Georgia

decision- sets up land lottery awarding Cherokee land to

Georgians- thousands move onto Cherokee land

• Federal government refuses to enforce Supreme Court decision- says Supreme Court lacks enforcement power- Jackson encourages Georgians to defy order

SECTION

2

continued The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court

NEXT

Negotiating with the Federal Government

The Treaty Party• Major Ridge, John Ross disagree on how to

proceed• Ridge, son John Ridge, Elias Boudinot form

Treaty Party to negotiate• Party members sign Treaty of New Echota,

December 1835- cedes Southeastern Cherokee land for land in

Oklahoma• Ross, 15,000 Cherokee sign petition disavowing

Treaty• U.S. ratifies Treaty of New Echota; Cherokee

must move in two years

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

NEXT

Opposition to the Treaty• Ross opposes Treaty; fears U.S. will make more

demands later- proposes alternatives, none accepted

• Cherokee hope things will change when Jackson leaves office- decide to wait, do not move

SECTION

2

continued Negotiating with the Federal Government

NEXT

The Trail of Tears

Imprisonment and Forced Movement• U.S. fears whites may kill Cherokee if tribes stay

in Georgia- claim moving Cherokee west is for their own

protection• Federal troops put Cherokee in prison stockades,

1838 - burn Cherokee settlements, crops to prevent

escape- stockade conditions terrible, hundreds die

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

NEXT

Imprisonment and Forced Movement• Chief Ross asks to let Cherokee handle own

relocation- President Martin Van Buren denies request

• Federal troops escort Cherokee west in winter of 1838–39 - route known as the Trail of Tears

• Many Cherokee die along route, including Ross’s wife

• Cherokee re-elect John Ross as chief once they arrive in Oklahoma

SECTION

2

continued The Trail of Tears

NEXT

Evaluating Indian Removal

Both Sides Thought They Were Right• Georgians saw Cherokee as foreign enemy• Cherokee felt they were unfairly forced off land

- adapted to white ways, but treaties broken, court rulings ignored

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

Breaking Promises• U.S. underestimated Cherokee loyalty to land;

trauma of relocation• U.S. made promises it could not keep without

using force• Compact of 1802, Indian Removal Act promised

land to whites

NEXT

Cost of Removal• Accounts of Trail of Tears deaths vary• U.S. government records 500 deaths

- missionary accounts close to 4,000; generally accepted as accurate

• Cherokee removal part of larger pattern of Native American removal

SECTION

2

continued Evaluating Indian Removal

Map

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