Cherokee Indian Removal

Cornell Note Questions: What was the Dahlonega Gold Rush? What was the role of the General Assembly? Why was Reverend Samuel Worchester important? What was the importance of the Worchester v. Georgia court case? How did John Ross fight for Cherokee rights? What events led up to the Trail of Tears?

The Dahlonega Gold Rush 1829- Benjamin Parks discovers gold on Cherokee land in Dahlonega, Georgia. In a short time over 10,000 miners from all over the United States descended onto Cherokee lands in Georgia.

The Role of the General Assembly The Georgia General Assembly quickly passed laws that stripped the Cherokee of their legal rights. Declared Cherokee Laws “null and void” Forbid Cherokees from speaking against whites in court Declared that the Cherokee had NO RIGHTS to any gold mined in Dahlonega.

Rev. Samuel Worchester 1830- The General Assembly forbid whites from living on Cherokee land, unless they signed an oath of allegiance to the state of Georgia. Rev. Samuel Worchester, a white missionary living in New Echota, refused to sign the oath of allegiance. Sentenced to four years in prison Worchester’s conviction was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court

Worchester v. Georgia Chief Justice John Marshall said that the Cherokee Nation was not subject to Georgia State law. Worchester was to be set free The Cherokee thought the ruling would allow them to keep their lands President Andrew Jackson refused to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling, clearing the way for the removal of the Cherokee tribes.

Chief John Ross Chief John Ross made several trips to Washington, D.C. Wanted the U.S. government to protect the Cherokee from white settlers Wanted past treaties to be honored December 1835- The Cherokee are forced to sign the treaty of New Echota, giving their remaining lands in the Southeast to the U.S. Government.

The Trail of Tears Part of the Treaty of New Echota said that the Cherokee had to move to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma). 1838- U.S. Army troops start rounding up the Cherokee at New Echota. 4,000 Cherokee died along the 700 mile march to the Indian Territory.

Ticket out the door Now that you have heard from both primary and secondary sources the conditions of the Cherokee removal, write a one page persuasive essay or letter to President Jackson in an effort to allow the Cherokee to remain on their lands.