Georgia’s Native Nation And The Trail of Tears SS8H5: Significant factors that affected the development of Georgia as part of the growth of the United States between 1789-1840 Jmann.mabry.2006.2007. Perspective narrative

In the United States of America, are all men created equal?

from The Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” from The Declaration of Independence

Setting the Stage: Yazoo Land Fraud 1795 – 1802 Dishonest legislators passed a law that allowed land speculators to buy 35 million acres of land for 2 cents an acre and sell it to innocent citizens. The U.S. government had to step in and assist Georgia with the resulting lawsuits. In 1802, Georgia transferred the contested territories to the federal government. The United States government paid Georgia $1,250,000 and promised to remove all remaining Indians from the state.

Creek vs. Georgia Settlers Most Creek lived in the southern and central part of the state Georgian settlers hoped that Creek would become part of the plantation economy Settlers intermarried with Creek and became members of Creek tribes Most Creek wanted to keep traditional ways TENSION INCREASED as settlers pushed further onto Creek land toward Oconee River

Creek Leaders William McIntosh Creek mother / Scottish father Creek Chief who often sided with USA government Wanted Creek to assimilate to ways of the white settlers Signed the Treaty of Indian Springs in 1825 which gave the remaining creek lands to Georgia McIntosh was killed by his own people Creeks were removed http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/stories/story_of_chief_william_mcintosh

Assimilation Attempt: Cherokee Constitution In 1827 – The Cherokee wrote a constitution for their nation patterned after the U.S. Constitution including three branches of governments: legislative, executive and judicial. They had eight representative districts. Each district sent an elected representative to New Echota (Cherokee capital).

Assimilation Attempt: Cherokee Language Syllabary = symbols that represent syllables Designed by Sequoyah 1809-1821 Changed a spoken (oral) language into a written language Included 85 symbols 90% of Cherokee could read by 1830 Cherokee Phoenix newspaper created

GOLD!!! 1828 – gold nuggets were discovered in north Georgia (Dahlonega, GA) Sparked America’s first gold rush Thousands of gold seekers descended on the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee lands. Cherokees asked and received help from the federal government to drive the miners off Indian lands.

Georgia Passes Laws that Strip Cherokee of their Rights 1828 – Georgia General Assembly passed laws that: Made Cherokee laws “null and void” Claimed Cherokee lands fell under Georgia’s complete authority

Appeals for Federal Assistance 1829 – Cherokee Chief John Ross and other Cherokee representatives went to Washington to protest Georgia’s laws They pleaded for federal justice and protection His “Memorial” was addressed to Congress in March of 1829.

President Jackson Responds 1830 – Georgia appealed to President Andrew Jackson to withdraw troops and allow the state to handle the matter. Soldiers were pulled out. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 President Andrew Jackson signed into law

Cherokee Allies Samuel Worcester 1830 – Georgia Law: - No whites allowed to live on Cherokee land without oath of allegiance to GA. - Whites/missionaries living on Cherokee land had to sign an oath pledging to uphold the laws of Georgia. Several refused and were arrested and sentenced to hard labor.

Worcester vs. Georgia 1832 – Worcester vs. Georgia - Chief Justice John Marshall announced the Supreme Court’s decision: “Georgia laws did not apply in the Cherokee nation.” The Cherokee celebrated believing their laws and nation would be saved. Georgia Governor Wilson Lumpkin ignored the ruling. President Jackson refused to enforce it. "John Marshall has made his decision; let him enforce it now if he can.“ ~Andrew Jackson

Cherokee Land Given to White Settlers 1832 – The Great Land Lottery – 10 counties were marked out and given to white settlers who forced the Cherokee from their homes.

Leaders in the Cherokee nation were divided. 1834 – The Cherokee continued to resist and offered to give up their own government and some of their territory for the ability to become U. S. citizens. President Jackson said no and encouraged them to move west. Leaders in the Cherokee nation were divided. Chief John Ross resisted the move west. Major John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot felt that it was better for their people to move West.

Treaty of New Echota 1835 – Major Ridge and his supporters signed a treaty with the United States, the Treaty of New Echota, to give up their lands and move west in return for $5 million. Chief John Ross and the majority of the Cherokees opposed this treaty and refused to move.

1838 – (8 years after the Indian Removal Act) President Van Buren ordered U.S. Army troops, under General Winfield Scott, to remove the remaining 15,000 Cherokees from their land in Georgia. http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/stories/thirst_for_new_land

Cherokee Removal Begins May 1838 Under orders from President Van Buren, the U.S. Army began enforcement of the Removal Act. Around 3,000 Cherokees were rounded up in the summer of 1838 and loaded onto boats that traveled the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas Rivers into Indian Territory.

Many were held in prison camps awaiting their fate Many were held in prison camps awaiting their fate. In the winter of 1838-39, 14,000 were marched 1,200 miles through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas into rugged Indian Territory.

The Trail of Tears An estimated 4,000 died from hunger, exposure and disease. Cherokee called it "trail where they cried" = “The Trail of Tears” Georgia Stories: Trail of Tears (7 mins)

What was it like for the Cherokee? PERSPECTIVES What was it like for the Cherokee? What was it like for a US Soldier? What was it like for a Land Lottery Winner who won Cherokee land?