The Trail of Tears
A Story of the
Cherokee Nation
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Important Dates
1790 - 1830 Many Tribes signed Treaties with the U.S Government
1803 The Louisiana Purchase (828,000 square miles of new land, doubling the size of the U.S)
1824 Voluntary Relocation Plan became a Law
"A white-haired old man, Chief Going Snake, led the way on his pony, followed by a group of young men on horseback. Just as the wagons moved off along the narrow roadway, they heard a sound. Although the day was bright, there was a black thundercloud in the west. The thunder died away and the wagons continued their long journey westward toward the setting sun. Many who heard the thunder thought it was an omen of more trouble to come"
Important Dates
1827 Cherokee Nation Constitution made based off U.S Constitution
1828 Gold discovered on Cherokee Land in present day Georgia
1828 Andrew Jackson Elected President
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Visualize what you see and draw the details of the scene that come to you most, what stands out?
"The caravan was ready to move out. The wagons were lined up. The mood was somber. One who was there reported that, "there was a silence and stillness of the voice that betrayed the sadness of the heart." Behind them the makeshift camp where some had spent three months of a Tennessee summer that was already ablaze. There was no going back..."
Andrew Jackson v. The Cherokee Nation
Important Dates
http://www.history.com/topics/trail-of-tears/videos#jackson-cherokees-tariffs-and-nullification
"He (Jackson) view them (American Indians) as conquered subjects who lived within the boarders of the United States. He thought that Native Americans had one of two choices. They could adopt white culture and become citizens of the United States. Or they could move into the Western territories. They could not, however, have their own governments within the nation's borders."
1830 Indian Removal Act (called for the government to negotiate treaties that would require Native American's to relocate west)
1830 - 1850 U.S used forced treaties and Military Action to Move 100,000 American Indians to "Indian Territory" in present day Oklahoma. 1/5th died along the Trail.