INDIAN REMOVAL AND THE TRAIL OF TEARS

1830 Indian Removal Act

President Jackson pushes Congress to force Indians to move west of the Mississippi

Congress established Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) as the new Indian homeland

US government creates Bureau of Indian Affairs

1830 Indian Removal Act

President Andrew Jackson wanted to encourage more white settlers to move West.

Many settlers were fearful of moving West because of conflict and fights with Natives.

President Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 which forced all Indians to move West (into present day Oklahoma) where reservations would be established.

The Indian Removal Act took Native American Indian tribes from all across the country and placed them in one reservation in present day Oklahoma.

1830 Indian Removal Act

John C. Calhoun

“One of the greatest evils to which they (Indians) are subject is the incessant (constant) pressure of our population.”

Cherokee Indians

Lived peacefully in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia and Tennessee

Adopted culture of whites - wrote and spoke English

Had own written language and newspaper

Based their government on the U.S. Constitution

Cherokee Sue For Land

Cherokee sued the government of Georgia for taking their land

Worcester vs. Georgia - Supreme Court rules Georgia’s actions are illegal and that the Cherokee can stay

Trail of Tears

Some Native American Indian tribes tried to resist President Jackson’s order.

These tribes engaged in battle with the U.S. and in all cases lost and were forced West.

The Cherokee tribe were forced West and 25% of them died on the way (the Trail of Tears).

Trail of Tears

In 1831 the Choctaw were the first to be removed, and they became the model for all other removals.

After the Choctaw, the Seminole were removed in 1832, the Creek in 1834, then the Chickasaw in 1837, and finally the Cherokee in 1838

Trail of Tears Georgia govt.

smashes in Cherokee printing press

US troops move 18,000 Cherokee at gunpoint 800 miles from 1838-1839

25% of Cherokee died - most elderly and children