Indian Removal -By the late 1820’s many Americans demanded the resettlement of Indians west of the Mississippi -Even many Americans who wanted to “save” Indians and their way of life felt they must be removed to reservations in order to survive in the face of alcoholism, financial exploitation, and cultural decline -Various treaties and numerous land cessions have already taken place in the South East US, but tribes still control vast amounts of lands

Indian Removal -Andrew Jackson proposes Indian Removal Act of 1830 in Congress -The Act did have a lot of opposition and only passed 102 to 97 -The Act created the “Indian Territory” on federal lands purchased in the Louisiana Purchase in present day Oklahoma and Kansas -It promised money and alternate lands to Indians who gave up their ancestral homelands and moved in Indian Territory

Indian Removal -Indian Territory land was marginal at best and could not really support the tribes if they stayed within their confined reservations -Jackson will send out a military force to expel tribes in a few areas -Blackhawk tribe in the Wisconsin Area -In the five years after the passage of the Indian Removal act (all under Jackson), over 70 tribes will be coerced into signing treaties and moving west into Indian Territory to reservations

Cherokee Nation -Tribal homeland is in North West Georgia -Many members of the nation had assimilated to American ways (but not all of the tribe) -Many members were mixed birth (White/Cherokee) -The tribe developed a style of government and constitution based on the American style -Many have adopted Christianity -Many have adopted American clothing and agriculture

John Ross Mixed Blood Cherokee Chief Leader of the Cherokee Nation through this ordeal

Cherokee Nation The State of Georgia and thousands of white settlers are encroaching on Cherokee lands Squatters and surveyors are moving in Some violence occurs The laws and sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation are being violated by Georgia

Cherokee Nation -The Cherokee Nation takes their fight against the State of Georgia to keep their lands all the way to the US Supreme Court -Worcester v. Georgia (1832) State of Georgia must respect the territorial boundaries of the Cherokee Nation where the Indians “have exclusive authority guaranteed by the US Government”

Trail of Tears -Instead of “Guaranteeing sovereignty” Jackson defies the Supreme Court’s order and continues to allow Georgia to violate Cherokee sovereignty -By the 1838 deadline, Cherokees still defy the order, and now President Martin Van Buren (Jackson Democrat) orders troops to remove them

Over 3,000 die from starvation and exposure to the elements Trail of Tears Roughly 14,000 members of the nation are marched over 1,200 miles to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) Over 3,000 die from starvation and exposure to the elements