D- Analyze Creeks and Cherokee removal, specifically the roles of: Alexander McGillvray, William McIntosh, Sequoya, John Ross, Dahlonega Gold Rush, Worcester v/s Ga., Andrew Jackson, John Marshall, and Trail of Tears.

 Thomas Jefferson is President  Bought La. Territory from France ( Napoleon)  He Felt that the Indians could move west of the Miss. River and live peaceable without white hostilities.  Later Ga. leaders would use this idea to force Indians out of the state of Ga. As promised by the U.S. gov’t. in the Compact of 1802.

 Both Creek and Cherokee fought on the side of Britain during the Am. Rev. War.  Creeks were divided in two groups -Upper Creeks and lower Creeks.  Lower creeks ceded land to the whites.  Upper Creek Leader Alexander Mcgillvray was very upset about this!  Mcgillvray and Upper Creeks attacked white settlers.  Indians did not believe in land ownership - but whites did.

 Bad relations grew between Creeks and Ga. settlers during the late 1700’s.  Creek chief ALEXANDER McGILLVRAY waged war against American settlers. (1790)  These conflicts - called the Oconee war.  Finally in 1790 President George Washington called McGillvray to N. York.  Treaty of New York was signed in  Here…………………… Creek would give up all land east of the Oconee river

Creek gave up all land east of the Oconee River in the Treaty of New York.

 Remember, when the US government took over GA land after the Yazoo Land Fraud, the US agreed to remove ALL Indians from GA.  This had not happened yet, and Georgians were getting impatient and mad.  France and England went to war in The US was trying to stay neutral, but by 1812, Great Britain was trying to block US trading with France. The US declared war on Great Britain ---- The War of 1812  Many Creek tribes once again sided with Great Britain! Americans grew even angrier with the Indians.

 Governor George Troup and Chief William McIntosh were first cousins.  McIntosh and Troup made a deal --- The USA paid McIntosh and a few other Creeks $200,000 for the remaining Creek land in GA.  Deal was called the Treaty of Indian Springs  Creeks were angry and a war party murdered McIntosh and many of the others.  By 1827 the Creeks had left GA and relocated across the Mississippi River.

 Creek were gone but the Cherokee still lived in NW GA.  Ga. Wanted them removed from their lands for two reasons: To end the warfare & to get the land for white settlement and farming.  Created a constitution and independent government.  One of the leaders was Sequoyah. He created the Cherokee alphabet that enabled them to read, write, and publish their newspaper---the bilingual Cherokee Phoenix

 In 1791, the US government signed a treaty guaranteeing that the Cherokee Nation could be independent and have its own government.  The US went back on this agreement and said that GA law was now in effect in Cherokee lands.  Then gold was discovered on Cherokee land!

 Gold discovered in Ga. In 1828  Found on Cherokee Nation land.  White settlers rush to Ga. to find gold.  Cherokees asked U.S. Gov’t. For help.  U.S. soldiers were sent to get lawless whites out of Cherokee Nation lands.  Ga. gov’t upset that U.S. interfering with state affairs.  Ga. gov’t. Said that the Cherokee Nation no longer existed ( since 1830)  Congress passed the Indian Removal Act which ordered ALL Indians west of the Mississippi River

 Ga. guard ( police force) arrested a Cherokee man accused of killing another member of the Cherokee Nation  Ga. court tried the case and convicted the suspect for violating Ga. law.  Cherokee said that Ga. laws should not apply within the Cherokee nation.  U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cherokee ……well………….kinda anyway.  Chief Justice John Marshall ruled against of the Cherokee saying “ the Cherokee nation is a domestic dependent nation and had no right to sue.” Although they should receive protection from the federal government.

 Ga. asked U. S. President Andrew Jackson to remove the U.S. Troops from Ga.  Jackson agreed to let Ga. handle the issue  Ga. told any whites ( Samual Worcester and others ) living in Cherokee lands that they must sign an oath to uphold Ga. law.  Law was aimed at missionaries living and working with and helping Cherokees.  Some missionaries opposed the law and refused to sign the oath.  Several missionaries were arrested.

 The Missionaries were tried, convicted and sentenced - 4 yrs. hard labor.  Their case went to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Case Known as WORCESTER V/S GA.

 U.S. Supreme Court Justice.  Ruled in favor of the missionaries in Worcester V/S GA.  Said “ Ga. law does not apply in the Cherokee Nation.”  Said the missionaries should be freed!  Ga. Governor and U.S. President Andrew Jackson ignored John Marshall’s order.  Jackson said “ John Marshall has made his decision, now let HIM enforce it.”

GGa.’s Land Lottery forced many Cherokees off their land. PPrinciple Cherokee Chief John Ross fought against government actions made against the Cherokees. RRoss went to the U.S. government several times hoping to get assistance requiring whites to keep their word on past treaties. NNo help was given. MMany killed, beaten, run off their land.

 Indian Removal Act made law in  Many conflicts between whites & Natives.  U.S. Gov’t said they were “ protecting ” the Natives by moving them west of Miss. Riv.  Federal troops round up Indians all around the nation  Kept them in stockades until they could walk to Oklahoma.  Trail of Tears left 4000 Cherokees dead.