Learning Goals The students will understand how and why the Chickasaws ceded all of their land north of the Tennessee River and its effects on them. The students will understand how and why the Chickasaws ceded all of their land north of the Tennessee River and its effects on them. The students will understand the role that trading posts played in forcing the indian nation to cede land. The students will understand the role that trading posts played in forcing the indian nation to cede land. The students will understand the Chickasaw removals. The students will understand the Chickasaw removals.

Trail Of Tears Before the coming of whites, Indians enjoyed a kind of freedom that thrived on immense regions of fields and forests. Other than raids and battles between tribes, it was an idyllic existence. The white’s insatiable (never satisfied) appetite for land urged them westward. In 1830, after long and deliberate consideration, the government of the United States decreed the exile of all surviving eastern Indians to the plains of the Far West.

Trail of Tears Most tribes in the portions of land in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi had adopted the ways and manners of their white neighbors. They had become farmers instead of hunters. Some had even developed prosperous plantations and owned slaves. They educated their children and dreamed of equal opportunities and peaceful co-existence. This was crushed by the removal decree requiring them to abandon all that they had accomplished and to start over, forced to endure unrelenting hardship in the barren Far West.

The Choctaws The Choctaws were the first to move. In the fall of 1831, approximately 13,000 Choctaws undertook the dreaded journey. There were more than 20,000 Choctaws to be moved. President Andrew Jackson, who favored removal, gave the army the responsibility of supervising and organizing the exodus. Wagons pulled by oxen provided transportation for the old, the sick, the very young, and those unable to walk, as well as for some personal property. Anyone who had horses could ride them, but all others had to walk.

The Choctaws The removal decree had allotted one blanket for each family, but hardly anything else. They had to buy food at very high prices on the open market. Bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption delayed government funding for supplies. There were many instances when the exiles would have starved had it not been for compassionate white settlements and communities along the way.

The Chickasaws The Chickasaws were the aristocrats among the Indian tribesmen. They were shrewd bargainers and would gain every possible advantage The Chickasaws were kinsmen of the Choctaws and lived in northern Mississippi and reached a high level of civilization. Reluctantly, they agreed to cede their homeland to the United States if a satisfactory location could be found in the Territory. For two years, their leaders sought to find comparable land.

The Chickasaws Chicasaw and Choctaw sign the treaty of Doaksville. Chicasaw and Choctaw sign the treaty of Doaksville. This provided that the Chickasaws would purchase a large portion of land on the western part of the Choctaw Nation. They also agreed that members of both tribes were to have the right to settle in any part of the Choctaw Nation and that their governments would be combined

Treaty of Pontotoc Signed in 1832 the Treaty of Pontotoc ceded all Chickasaw land east of the Mississippi in exchange for lands in the west. More than six million acres of Chickasaw land was to be sold. Signed in 1832 the Treaty of Pontotoc ceded all Chickasaw land east of the Mississippi in exchange for lands in the west. More than six million acres of Chickasaw land was to be sold.

The Chickasaws There were plains of native grass for cattle and horses, tree-covered hills and valleys for homes, and abundant running streams as well as the Arbuckle Mountains. It was a land where they could prosper. Although the exodus ended in hardship and tragedy, they began their migration in comfort, well-supplied with equipment, food, and money. They were exposed to smallpox, and the disease reached epidemic proportions after their arrival. Although the exodus of the Chickasaws was also a hard one with many infants and elderly dying along the way, they still fared far better than other tribes.

Reduction of Chickasaw Lands Most Chickasaws had turned to farming only after reduction of tribal lands had made hunting unprofitable. Most Chickasaws had turned to farming only after reduction of tribal lands had made hunting unprofitable. The government had used various tactics to gain the lands. The government had used various tactics to gain the lands. In 1802 the federal government had set up “factories” or trading posts through which tribesmen could buy their goods on credit. The Chickasaws were encouraged to use the credit method to build up debts, so that pressure could be put exerted against them to cede their lands in payment. In 1802 the federal government had set up “factories” or trading posts through which tribesmen could buy their goods on credit. The Chickasaws were encouraged to use the credit method to build up debts, so that pressure could be put exerted against them to cede their lands in payment. In 1805 the Chickasaws ceded all their lands north of the Tennessee River in payment of their $12,000 debt to the government In 1805 the Chickasaws ceded all their lands north of the Tennessee River in payment of their $12,000 debt to the government

Chapter 7 Quiz 1.) What happened to Indians when they were given credit at Trading Posts? a.) They bought white land b.) They refused to use the credit c.) They piled up huge debts 2.) What treaty was signed that ceded all Chickasaw land east of the Mississippi in exchange for lands in the west? a.) Treaty of Pontotoc b.) Treaty of Paris c.) Treaty of Doaksville 3.) In what treaty did the Choctaws sell a portion of their land to their land to the Chickasaws? a.) Treaty of Pontotoc b.) Treaty of Doaksville c.) Treaty of Paris 4.) Which natives were moved out in the first removal? a.) Chickasaws b.) Choctaws c.) Seminoles 5.) Where did the Natives move from and where did they move to in the first removal? a.) From Tennessee to Oklahoma b.) From Memphis to Arkansas c.) From Memphis to Oklahoma 6.) Where were the Chickasaws placed before they were removed? a.) In jail b.) On reservations c.) In emigration camps 7.) How were the Chickasaws in the second removal going to be removed initially? a.) By foot b.) By Riverboat By Train 8.) Who gave the removal the name “The trail where they cried”? a.) The Choctaws b.) The Chickasaws c.) The Seminoles 9.) What estimate has been given in accordance to the death toll of the Native Americans who died during the removal? a.) about ¼ b.) about ½ c.) about ¾ 10.) What happened to the Native Americans after they arrived on their new land? a.) They found the land lush and easy to farm b.) They found that Western tribes were already living on the land c.) They found that the land did not exist 11.) What was the main disease killed several Chickasaws and Choctaws? a.) Smallpox b.) Cancer c.) Chicken Pox 12.) How long after the Treaty of Doaksville were preparations being made for the first emigration? a.) about a year b.) about a week c.) about a month

Chapter 7 Quiz 1.) What happened to Indians when they were given credit at Trading Posts? 2.) What treaty was signed that ceded all Chickasaw land east of the Mississippi in exchange for lands in the west? a.) Treaty of Pontotoc b.) Treaty of Paris c.) Treaty of Doaksville 3.) In what treaty did the Choctaws sell a portion of their land to their land to the Chickasaws? a.) Treaty of Pontotoc b.) Treaty of Doaksville c.) Treaty of Paris 4.) Where did the Natives move from and where did they move to in the first removal? 5.) Where were the Chickasaws placed before they were removed? a.) In jail b.) On reservations c.) In emigration camps 6.) How were the Chickasaws in the second removal going to be removed initially? a.) By foot b.) By Riverboat By Train 7.) Who gave the removal the name “The trail where they cried”? a.) The Cherokees b.) The Chickasaws c.) The Seminoles 8.) What estimate has been given in accordance to the death toll of the Native Americans who died during the removal? a.) about ¼ b.) about ½ c.) about ¾ 9.) What happened to the Native Americans after they arrived on their new land? 10.) What was the main disease killed several Chickasaws and Choctaws? a.) Smallpox b.) Cancer c.) Chicken Pox