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Early 1800s: Increasing White Settlement

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Early 1800s: Increasing White Settlement

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As white settlers moved into the southeastern United States, pressure mounted on Cherokee lands. The Cherokee had established successful farms, businesses, and even created their own written language and newspaper, but settlers wanted their territory.

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President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law. This act gave the federal government power to exchange Native-held lands in the Southeast for lands west of the Mississippi River. Jackson claimed this would 'protect' Native tribes, but it was clearly meant to take their lands.

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The Cherokee Nation sued the state of Georgia in the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that tribes were 'domestic dependent nations,' setting a precedent for future Native American law but not protecting Cherokee lands.

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The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cherokee, stating that Georgia had no right to impose its laws on Cherokee territory. President Jackson famously defied this ruling, reportedly saying 'John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!'

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A small group of Cherokee (not authorized by Cherokee Chief John Ross) signed the Treaty of New Echota, agreeing to give up all Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi River in exchange for $5 million. The majority of Cherokee people opposed this treaty.

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Chief John Ross collected over 15,000 Cherokee signatures (nearly the entire nation) on a petition to Congress protesting the Treaty of New Echota. Several humanitarian organizations, including Christian missionaries and Northern politicians, also opposed the removal.

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Under General Winfield Scott's command, U.S. troops began forcibly removing Cherokee people from their homes. About 16,000 Cherokee were rounded up and held in detention camps before the journey west.

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The first groups were forced to march westward during the hottest part of summer. Many died from heat, disease, and exhaustion. The Cherokee called this journey 'Nunna daul Tsuny' (The Trail Where They Cried).

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Chief John Ross convinced the government to let the Cherokee oversee their own removal. The remaining groups waited until fall to travel, hoping to avoid the summer heat, but faced harsh winter conditions instead.

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The last groups of Cherokee arrived in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). Of the approximately 16,000 Cherokee who were forced to make the journey, an estimated 4,000 died from disease, starvation, and exposure during the 1,000-mile march.