The Cherokee Nation and Removal
1800–1840
The Cherokee
change their culture
hoping to remain on
their land, but the
U.S. government
forcibly moves them
to new territory west
of the Mississippi.
John Ross, Chief of Cherokee Nation
(1827–1839) and of United Cherokee
Nation (1839–1866).
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The Cherokee Nation and Removal
1800–1840
SECTION 1
The Cherokee
SECTION 2
Indian Removal
NEXT
Section 1
The Cherokee
The Cherokee establish a culture that is much like
the white settlers’ culture in order to live peacefully.
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SECTION
1
The Cherokee
Settling the River Valleys
Cherokee Background
• Cherokee settle in what are now Alabama,
Georgia, Mississippi
- these mountain river valleys full of resources:
wildlife, fish, trees
• “Cherokee” is Choctaw name meaning “people of
the cave country”
• Cherokee call themselves Ani’-Yun’wiya, “the
principal people
Cherokee Drive out the Creek
• Mountain terrain makes farming difficult for
Cherokee
• Cherokee drive Creek from fertile farmland along
river valleys
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SECTION
1
The Colonists and the Cherokee
British Trade
• Cherokee, British set up trade relationship after
French and Indian War
- Cherokee provide deerskin for leather, war
captives for slaves
- British provide guns, tools, fabric, other supplies
The Cherokee Adapt to Changes
• Traditional Cherokee tribe council makes decisions
democratically
• Council too slow for Europeans, Cherokee leave
decisions to warriors
• Colonies win independence in 1783, Cherokee
situation changes
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SECTION
1
The United States and the Cherokee Nation
Moving the Cherokee
• New U.S. Congress treats Cherokee as conquered
enemy
- wants to move Cherokee to end warfare, gain land
for settlers
• Government relocates Cherokee to new Cherokee
Nation
- covers parts of Georgia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Alabama
• U.S. sends government agents to live with
Cherokee, teach skills
Continued . . .
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SECTION
1
continued The
United States and the Cherokee Nation
“Civilizing” the Cherokee
• Some settlers want to “civilize” Cherokee
- read/write English, follow written code of laws
- dress like whites, convert to Christianity
• Missionaries go to live and work with tribe
• Cherokee resist Christianity, welcome education
and tools
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SECTION
1
Sequoyah and the Cherokee Phoenix
A Written Cherokee Language
• Cherokee Nation believes civilization program
necessary to survive
- hope to be left alone if they adopt white ways
- see need to change lifestyles
• Nation buys printing press with English and
Cherokee alphabet
- press located in New Echota, the Cherokee
Nation capital
Continued . . .
NEXT
SECTION
1
continued Sequoyah
and the Cherokee Phoenix
A Written Cherokee Language
• Sequoyah sees European advantage in having
written communication
- develops 86-symbol alphabet based on
Cherokee syllables, 1821
- simple enough for those who speak Cherokee
to learn in days
• Cherokee Phoenix—Cherokee Nation’s first
newspaper, starts in 1828
- printed in English and Cherokee
• Elias Boudinot is editor—young Cherokee
educated in mission schools
Image
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SECTION
1
Changes in Lifestyle
Cherokee Planters
• Cherokee soon imitate whites in other ways
• Many become wealthy, build lavish homes, run
businesses
• Some become planters, raise cotton, own slaves
• Cherokee planters start taking over Cherokee
politics
NEXT
SECTION
1
A Government and Written Law
Government Modeled After U.S.
• Eight districts send representatives to national
Cherokee Council
• Council protects individual, common property;
decides criminal cases
• Cherokee National Council tells U.S. it will cede no
more land, 1819
• A supreme court is established to hear district court
appeals, 1822
• Concern over property rights grows, written laws
established
Continued . . .
NEXT
SECTION
1
continued A
Government and Written Law
Government Modeled After U.S.
• Light Horse Guard created in 1808—national
police force
• New laws break from Cherokee tradition
- wives may now inherit property from husbands
The Cherokee Constitution
• Cherokee Constitution written in 1827; similar to
U.S Constitution
- establishes legislative, executive, judicial
branches
• Defines Cherokee territory; land belongs to nation,
not individuals
Image
NEXT
SECTION
1
Respected Cherokee Leaders
Major Ridge and John Ross
• Two men become respected leaders of Cherokee
Nation in 1820s
• Major Ridge—leader in Creek War, successful
planter, businessman
• John Ross—one-eighth Cherokee; becomes
chief, 1827—1866
• Ridge and Ross come into conflict in 1830s
NEXT
Section 2
Indian Removal
White settlers are determined to have all
of the Southeastern land occupied by the
Cherokee. They eventually succeed.
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SECTION
2
Indian Removal
Early Removal of Creek and Cherokee
Promises of Land to the West
• Removal of Native Americans from Georgia starts
with Compact of 1802
• U.S. promises Native Americans land in Arkansas,
Oklahoma if leave
• Creek agree to leave Georgia; most relocate to
Oklahoma by 1827
• Thomas Jefferson offers land in Louisiana Territory
- offers to Native Americans who do not want to
join white society
- many tribes, some Cherokee accept offer; get
compensation
NEXT
SECTION
2
The Cherokee Refuse to Leave
Conflicts with Georgia Government
• Cherokee surrender some land, but will not give
up more after 1819
• U.S. cannot honor Compact of 1802; white
Georgians furious
• Georgia orders missionaries to leave, removes
Cherokee supporters
- creates Georgia Guard to enforce laws against
Cherokee
• Legislature says Georgia and Cherokee
constitutions are in conflict
• President James Monroe refuses to repeal
Compact of 1802
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SECTION
2
The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court
The Indian Removal Act
• President Andrew Jackson elected in 1828
- ally of Cherokee in War of 1812; but now wants
to take their land
• Jackson persuades Congress to pass Indian
Removal Act, 1830
- Cherokee can live within Georgia laws or move
west of Mississippi
- Cherokee do not accept this; take two cases to
U.S. Supreme Court
Image
Continued . . .
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SECTION
2
continued The
Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court
The Cherokee Sue Georgia
• Cherokee sue in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia
(1831)
- murder within Cherokee Nation; Georgia court
tries, convicts suspect
- Cherokee argue that Georgia laws should not
apply to Nation
• Supreme Court says Cherokee have no right to
sue
- call Cherokee a “domestic dependent nation”
Continued . . .
NEXT
SECTION
2
continued The
Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court
The Cherokee Sue Georgia
• Different outcome in Worcester v. Georgia
(1832)
- Georgia orders missionaries to swear oath and
get permits or leave
- orders Georgia Guard to imprison missionaries
who disobey
• Court rule: Georgia laws not valid in independent
Cherokee Nation
Continued . . .
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SECTION
2
continued The
Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court
Georgia Defies Court Ruling
• Georgia refuses to accept Worcester v. Georgia
decision
- sets up land lottery awarding Cherokee land to
Georgians
- thousands move onto Cherokee land
• Federal government refuses to enforce Supreme
Court decision
- says Supreme Court lacks enforcement power
- Jackson encourages Georgians to defy order
NEXT
SECTION
2
Negotiating with the Federal Government
The Treaty Party
• Major Ridge, John Ross disagree on how to
proceed
• Ridge, son John Ridge, Elias Boudinot form
Treaty Party to negotiate
• Party members sign Treaty of New Echota,
December 1835
- cedes Southeastern Cherokee land for land in
Oklahoma
• Ross, 15,000 Cherokee sign petition disavowing
Treaty
• U.S. ratifies Treaty of New Echota; Cherokee
must move in two years
Continued . . .
NEXT
SECTION
2
continued Negotiating
with the Federal Government
Opposition to the Treaty
• Ross opposes Treaty; fears U.S. will make more
demands later
- proposes alternatives, none accepted
• Cherokee hope things will change when Jackson
leaves office
- decide to wait, do not move
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SECTION
2
The Trail of Tears
Imprisonment and Forced Movement
• U.S. fears whites may kill Cherokee if tribes stay
in Georgia
- claim moving Cherokee west is for their own
protection
• Federal troops put Cherokee in prison stockades,
1838
- burn Cherokee settlements, crops to prevent
escape
- stockade conditions terrible, hundreds die
Continued . . .
NEXT
SECTION
2
continued The
Trail of Tears
Imprisonment and Forced Movement
• Chief Ross asks to let Cherokee handle own
relocation
- President Martin Van Buren denies request
• Federal troops escort Cherokee west in winter of
1838–39
- route known as the Trail of Tears
• Many Cherokee die along route, including Ross’s
wife
• Cherokee re-elect John Ross as chief once they
arrive in Oklahoma
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SECTION
2
Evaluating Indian Removal
Both Sides Thought They Were Right
• Georgians saw Cherokee as foreign enemy
• Cherokee felt they were unfairly forced off land
- adapted to white ways, but treaties broken,
court rulings ignored
Breaking Promises
• U.S. underestimated Cherokee loyalty to land;
trauma of relocation
• U.S. made promises it could not keep without
using force
• Compact of 1802, Indian Removal Act promised
land to whites
Continued . . .
NEXT
SECTION
2
continued Evaluating
Indian Removal
Cost of Removal
• Accounts of Trail of Tears deaths vary
• U.S. government records 500 deaths
- missionary accounts close to 4,000; generally
accepted as accurate
• Cherokee removal part of larger pattern of Native
American removal
Map
NEXT
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