Conflict over Indian Lands ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why were the Indians removed from Georgia?

Struggles of the Creek Indians The Oconee War- There was a series of clashes between Creek and settlers who pushed into Creek Lands-they were fighting over territory. President Washington called the Creek leader, Chief Alexander McGillivray to New York for peace talks where he signed the Treaty of New York, by which the Creek gave up all land east of the Oconee River

The Creek Consisted of 2 distinct groups the Upper and Lower Creeks The Upper Creeks or Red Sticks and Lower Creeks known as the White Sticks were divided in their feelings toward the U.S. Red Sticks wanted war and the White Sticks wanted peace. During the War of 1812 with Great Britain, the Red Sticks sided with Britain and the White Sticks sided with the US. Ignited a civil war between the upper and lower creeks – known as the Creek War On August 30th, 1813 the Red Sticks attacked Fort Mims Fort Mims Massacre -1,000 Red Sticks over ran the fort and killed and scalped over 500 people, murdering innocent white & mixed blood families.

Chief McIntosh Leader of the Lower Creek, he had an Indian mother and Scottish father The US Government used him to get rest of the Creek land. Without consent of tribe, McIntosh signed the Treaty of Indian Springs ceding the remaining Creek lands to U.S. He was later shot down, stabbed to death and scalped by Red Stick Creeks for giving up the last Creek lands in Georgia. Interestingly, Chief McIntosh was a commissioned Brigadier General in the US Army and first cousin to then Georgia Governor, George M. Troup.

The Cherokees Joined together to form nation that crossed four states. Living in mountains they were out of main path of white migration. Went to war with whites and Creeks often. 1794 signed peace treaty with U.S.

What present day states were once part of the Eastern Cherokee Nation?

George Gist, Guest, or Guess… Sequoyah

Sequoyah’s major contribution to the Cherokee culture was developing a syllabary so the Cherokee could have a written language. The Cherokee chiefs sent him out to teach the people. Within six months, 90% of the Cherokee people were literate.

What Creek Chief was murdered for signing a treaty that gave away the last of Creek land to the federal government? William McIntosh

Cherokee Efforts to adapt to White Society Cherokee wrote a Constitution similar to U.S. Constitution three branches Supreme Court Executive branch was headed by an elected chief

Cherokee Efforts to adapt to White Society Had a permanent capitol city ---- New Echota Began a newspaper --- printed in both Cherokee and English --- titled the Cherokee Phoenix which was edited by Elias Boudinot

Cherokee Supreme Court

What was George Gist’s major contribution to the Cherokee culture? Cherokee Alphabet

Georgia General Assembly Even as the Cherokee tried to adapt to White man’s ways, the state of Georgia made relations difficult… They wanted to put an end to Cherokee Nation!!! Declared Cherokee laws null and void Passed an act extending authority of GA laws to Cherokee. Indians or descendants couldn’t testify in court

The state made all citizens sign an oath Oath made people swear to abide by all laws of state and to swear loyalty to the Governor State made laws to take away rights of Cherokees No white man was allowed to work for or with a Cherokee What do you think brought these laws about in the state?

The Reverend Samuel Worchester and others helped fight for the rights of the Cherokee --- refused to sign the oath Group was put in prison case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court

Where was the permanent Cherokee capital located? New Echota, Georgia

Worcester v. Georgia Chief Justice John Marshall of the Supreme Court ruled in that Georgia laws did not apply to the Cherokee.

Chief Justice Marshall vs. President Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson refused to enforce the Supreme Court decision. “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him Enforce it!”

What was the first Native American newspaper? The Cherokee Phoenix

There’s gold in them hills! Gold was discovered near Dahlonega (city) and on Cherokee land. This was another reason to remove the Cherokee and take their land. The discovery of Gold in Dahlonega led to the final Indian Removal from Georgia

The Indian Removal Act --- 1830 Passed by Congress License to take Cherokee lands Authorized the removal of all southeastern tribes Act required the consent of the tribes and offered compensation (money) Whether the tribes consented or not the tribes were forced to move

Chief John Ross John Ross was a Cherokee chief that fought the move West by taking a petition to Congress protesting the Cherokee removal from their land. Ross believed his people could work through the American system of law to keep their land.

Boudinot and the Ridges took Elias Boudinot Elias Boudinot, Major Ridge and John Ridge knew that a removal was inevitable and signed the Treaty Of New Echota, effectively signing over the remaining Cherokee lands. Boudinot and the Ridges took compensation ($5Million) from the US Government and moved with those that would follow them to the West. Ross and others stayed to fight within the system… but the end was coming for the rest. Major Ridge John Ridge

Soldiers came and took the remaining Cherokee They were placed into stockades where some died.

They were eventually removed from the stockades and forced to use several different routes and methods of travel to reach Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)

Trail of Tears – The US Government’s removal of the Cherokee from their ancestral lands and their forced trek to Indian Territory in the dead of winter.

4000 Native-Americans died in captivity and on the journey west.

Tahlequah, Oklahoma --- new Cherokee Capitol After Ross and the others who survived the removal made it to Oklahoma, Several bands of Cherokee murdered (law of retaliation) Elias Boudinot, John Ridge and Major Ridge For signing the Treaty of New Echota

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 What Congressional legislation allowed Georgia to push the Creek and the Cherokee out of the state and to seize their lands? The Indian Removal Act of 1830

Conflict over Indian Lands ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why were the Indians removed from Georgia?