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Indian Removal Act
Congress passed it with a vote of 103 to 97, and it was signed by Andrew Jackson. It stated that all of the Natives living east of the Mississippi River were required to move west of it. It was viewed as a way to obtain land and get rid of the natives that were occupying it. The Natives were promised food, shelter, and money for their travels. Andrew Jackson stated that, “It will place a dense and civilized population in large tracts of country now occupied by a few savage hunters”. -
Worcester vs Virginia
Was a legal case in which a Christian missionary named Samuel A. Worcester argued that Georgia went against the Constitution. It stated that the Cherokee was a sovereign nation, so Georgia’s laws had no effect on them -
Treaty of New Echota
John Ridge of the Cherokee nation signed the treaty of New Echota. This was because he and a small group of people believed that the removal was bound to happen so they decided to sell Cherokee land for $5 million, even though they had no right to represent the Cherokee nation. It was ratified by the Congress by 1 vote -
Refusal to SIgn
Chief Menominee of the Potawatomi tribe refused to sign the treaty, so Indiana sent armed people to round them up an hold them at gunpoint -
The Creek Removal
When the Creek’s were removed, the Chief and his people were forced to walk from eastern Alabama to Montgomery while being chained to each other. -
Real-Life Account
“The soldiers came and took us from our home. They. . . drove us out of doors and did not permit us to take anything with us, not even a second change of clothes.”-Ooloo-Cha, widow of Sweet Water -
The Cherokee Removal (Trail of Tears)
The Cherokees were forced to move to Oklahoma. All the things they were promised were never received.In May, an army was ordered to force the Cherokees out of their homes. They would do this by using bayonets.The natives that were rounded up were put into camps where they waited to be removed.By June, the Georgia militia general reported that there were no more Cherokees except for those imprisoned. 18,000 were removed and about 8,000 died. It was over 5,043 miles long and covered nine states. -
Cherokee Act of Union
Was passed by the Cherokees which united the different groups of Cherokees that were removed. It brought the Eastern and Western Cherokees together -
The International Indian Council
The International Indian Council was held at Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It included the Cherokee tribe and other and was used as a way for them to revive alliances and renew their customs -
Now
About a quarter of the Natives live on tribal lands, and over 90,000 are homeless. Those who live on reservations face overcrowding since multiple generations may live in a household, and lack utilities like electricity and running water.
