President Andrew Jackson The Trail of Tears

The First Tennessee President On March 4, 1829, Andrew Jackson took the oath of office and became the seventh President of the United States. President Jackson had been given the nickname “Old Hickory”. He earned the nickname while he was a soldier. Many said he was tough as hickory.

President Jackson The election that made Jackson President was the first in which all white men could vote. Before that time, voting was reserved for only white men who owned land. Many of the new voters chose Jackson because they felt he was a common man like them.

New States for the Union The Union had grown from the original 13 states to 24 states. Vermont, Maine, Kentucky, and Tennessee had become states. Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana formed states from the Northwest Territory. Louisiana and Missouri had been formed from the Louisiana Purchase. Mississippi, Alabama, were added to the Union and Florida was a territory.

Indian Removal of 1830 In 1830 Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. This law said that all Indians living east of the Mississippi River must leave their lands and move to Indian Territory. (Current day Oklahoma) President Jackson signed the law and ordered the Choctaws, Creeks, Seminoles, Chickasaws, Cherokees, and other tribes to leave their lands.

The Fight Against Removal Many tribes fought against removal. The Seminoles of Florida with the help of runaway slaves struggled to keep their land. Many of the Seminoles were either killed or forced to leave their homes.

The Cherokee Nation The 15,000 Cherokees made up one of the ricMany Cherokees owned small farmshest tribes in the U.S. , and a few had large plantations where Africans were enslaved. They had their own government with a Constitution and elected leaders. Gold was discovered on Cherokee lands in 1829. Settlers poured in to stake their claims.

Cherokees Fight Removal The Cherokee nation, led by Chief John Ross, fought back in the U.S. courts. Their case went all the way to the Supreme Court. In 1832, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the U.S. should protect the Cherokees and their land in Georgia.

Jackson’s Response Instead of supporting the court ruling, President Jackson ignored it. President Jackson sent soldiers to remove the Cherokees to the Indian Territory. By late 1838, soldiers had forced the last group of Cherokees to leave their lands. Their journey to the Indian Territory became known as the Trail of Tears.

Trail of Tears – A 116 Day Journey The Cherokees traveled more than 800 miles through North Carolina and Georgia through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. The journey ended on March 26, 1839. More than 4,000 Cherokees had died of cold, disease, and lack of food during the 116-day journey.

Indian Territory

Workbook Page 78

Important Dates 1791 – The United States government agrees to accept the independence of the Cherokee nation. 1829 – Gold is discovered on Cherokee lands; settlers pour in to stake their claims.

Important Dates 1829 – Andrew Jackson becomes the seventh President of the United States. 1830 – Congress passes the Indian Removal Act, forcing all Indians living east of the Mississippi River to move to the Indian Territory.

Important Dates 1832 – Chief Justice John Marshall gives the Court’s ruling that the United States should protect the Cherokees and their lands in Georgia, but President Jackson ignores the ruling.

Important Dates 1838 – A large group of Cherokees begin the journey that has come to be known as the Trail of Tears; more than 4,000 Cherokees die.