1-Where did the Cherokee originally live (geographical area not exact location)?

2-Why did the U. S. government want to move the Cherokees?

3-How did the white settlers plan to “civilize” the Cherokee?

4-What did Sequoyah invent and how did it help his people?

5-Why did the Cherokee decide to write a code of law and who did they have to enforce their laws?

6-What was the Cherokee Constitution modeled after and what were the branches?

7-Who were the Cherokee allied with during the American Revolutionary War?

8-What was the name of the permanent Cherokee capital and what newspaper was printed there?

9-Who was the principal Chief of the Cherokee from 1827-1866?

10- According to the Cherokee law, who owned the land?

11- Name the Cherokee leaders who became successful planters and businessmen.

The Indian RemovalThe Indian Removal

The Creek Confederacy,The Creek Confederacy,

the Cherokee Nation, and thethe Cherokee Nation, and the

Trail of TearsTrail of Tears

Creek ConfederacyCreek Confederacy•The Creek Indians were the most plentiful The Creek Indians were the most plentiful Indian tribe in GA when the colonist arrivedIndian tribe in GA when the colonist arrived

•Very traditional ways had them clashing with Very traditional ways had them clashing with the settlers who tried to take the land they lived the settlers who tried to take the land they lived onon

•Led by Led by Alexander McGillivaryAlexander McGillivary fighting against fighting against the settlers in the Oconee Warsthe settlers in the Oconee Wars

•Treaties, Wars Treaties, Wars (Yamasee, French & Indian, Oconee, (Yamasee, French & Indian, Oconee, etc.)etc.) and corrupt leadership doomed the Creeks. and corrupt leadership doomed the Creeks.

Creek ConfederacyCreek Confederacy•William McIntoshWilliam McIntosh was Creek Chief and was Creek Chief and first cousin to the Governor of Georgia.first cousin to the Governor of Georgia.

•He and He and George TroupGeorge Troup (Governor) (Governor) worked out the worked out the Treaty of Indian SpringsTreaty of Indian Springsthat sold the last of the Creek lands in that sold the last of the Creek lands in Georgia ($200,000)Georgia ($200,000)

•The Creeks set his house on fire, shot The Creeks set his house on fire, shot him, drug him out of the house, stabbed him, drug him out of the house, stabbed him and took his scalp as a warning to him and took his scalp as a warning to those who would deal with the whites.those who would deal with the whites.

The Cherokee BackgroundThe Cherokee Background

• Cherokee settle in what are now Cherokee settle in what are now Alabama, Georgia, MississippiAlabama, Georgia, Mississippi -- these these mountain mountain river valleys full ofriver valleys full of

wildlife, fish, treeswildlife, fish, trees

•• ““Cherokee” is Choctaw name meaning Cherokee” is Choctaw name meaning “people of “people of the cave country”the cave country”

Cherokee Drive out the CreekCherokee Drive out the Creek

•• Mountain terrain makes farming Mountain terrain makes farming difficult for Cherokeedifficult for Cherokee

• Traditional Cherokee tribe Traditional Cherokee tribe council makes decisions council makes decisions democraticallydemocratically

The Cherokee Adapt to ChangesThe Cherokee Adapt to Changes

• Had been allied with Britian due to Had been allied with Britian due to trade.trade.

•• Colonies win independence in 1783, Colonies win independence in 1783, Cherokee situation changesCherokee situation changes

Moving the CherokeeMoving the Cherokee

• New U.S. Congress treats Cherokee as New U.S. Congress treats Cherokee as conquered enemy conquered enemy -- move Cherokee to end warfare,move Cherokee to end warfare,

gain land for settlersgain land for settlers

•• Government relocates Cherokee to new Government relocates Cherokee to new Cherokee Nation Cherokee Nation -- covers parts of GA, NC,TN, and ALcovers parts of GA, NC,TN, and AL

•• SSends government agents to live with ends government agents to live with Cherokee, teach skills Cherokee, teach skills

““Civilizing” the CherokeeCivilizing” the Cherokee

•• Some settlers want to “Some settlers want to “civilizecivilize” Cherokee ” Cherokee -read/write English, follow written-read/write English, follow written

code of lawscode of laws --dress like whites, convert to Christianitydress like whites, convert to Christianity

•• Missionaries go to live and work with tribeMissionaries go to live and work with tribe

•• Cherokee resist Christianity, welcome Cherokee resist Christianity, welcome education and toolseducation and tools

A Written Cherokee Language

•• Cherokee Nation believes civilization Cherokee Nation believes civilization program necessary to surviveprogram necessary to survive -- hope to be left alone if they adopt hope to be left alone if they adopt

white ways white ways -- see need to change lifestylessee need to change lifestyles

•• Nation buys printing press with English Nation buys printing press with English and Cherokee alphabetand Cherokee alphabet -- press located in press located in New EchotaNew Echota, the , the

Cherokee Nation capital Cherokee Nation capital

A Written Cherokee LanguageA Written Cherokee Language

•• SequoyahSequoyah sees European advantage in sees European advantage in having having written communicationwritten communication

-develops 86-symbol alphabet based on -develops 86-symbol alphabet based on Cherokee syllables, 1821 Cherokee syllables, 1821 -simple enough for those who speak -simple enough for those who speak

Cherokee to learn in daysCherokee to learn in days

•• Cherokee Phoenix-Cherokee Phoenix- Cherokee Nation’s Cherokee Nation’s first newspaper, starts in 1828 first newspaper, starts in 1828 -printed in English and Cherokee-printed in English and Cherokee

TranslationTranslation

Eng. WordEng. Word CherokeeCherokee PronunciationPronunciation

ChickenChicken tsa-ta-gatsa-ta-ga chaw tah gahchaw tah gah

HorseHorse so-qui-liso-qui-li sew kwi leesew kwi lee

PigPig si-qua si-qua see kwasee kwa

Changes in LifestyleChanges in Lifestyle

•• Cherokee soon imitate whites in other waysCherokee soon imitate whites in other ways

•• Many become wealthy, build lavish homes,Many become wealthy, build lavish homes,some some become planters, raise cotton, own become planters, raise cotton, own slavesslaves

•• Cherokee planters start taking over Cherokee planters start taking over Cherokee politicsCherokee politics

Government Modeled After U.S.Government Modeled After U.S.

•• Cherokee National Council tells U.S.Cherokee National Council tells U.S. it will cede no more landit will cede no more land

•• Concern over property rights grows, Concern over property rights grows, written laws establishedwritten laws established

• Established the Established the Light Horse GuardLight Horse Guard as their as their police to enforce the laws.police to enforce the laws.

The Cherokee ConstitutionThe Cherokee Constitution

•• Cherokee ConstitutionCherokee Constitution written in written in 1827; similar to U.S Constitution1827; similar to U.S Constitution -- establishes legislative, establishes legislative, executive,executive,

judicial branchesjudicial branches

•• Defines Cherokee territory; Defines Cherokee territory; land land belongs to nationbelongs to nation, not individuals, not individuals

Respected Cherokee LeadersRespected Cherokee Leaders

•• Two men become respected leaders of Two men become respected leaders of Cherokee Nation in 1820sCherokee Nation in 1820s

•• Major RidgeMajor Ridge —leader in Creek War, —leader in Creek War, successful planter, businessmansuccessful planter, businessman

•• John RossJohn Ross —one-eighth Cherokee; —one-eighth Cherokee; becomes chief, 1827—1866becomes chief, 1827—1866

•• Ridge and Ross come into conflict in Ridge and Ross come into conflict in 1830s1830s

Indian Removal Indian Removal

• White settlers are determined to have White settlers are determined to have all of the Southeastern land all of the Southeastern land occupied occupied by the Cherokee. They eventually by the Cherokee. They eventually succeedsucceed

VIDEO 1

Early Removal of Creek and CherokeeEarly Removal of Creek and Cherokee

•• Removal of Native Americans from Georgia Removal of Native Americans from Georgia starts with starts with Compact of 1802Compact of 1802

•• U.S. promises Native Americans land in U.S. promises Native Americans land in Arkansas, Oklahoma if they leaveArkansas, Oklahoma if they leave

•• Most CrMost Creek are relocated to Oklahoma by eek are relocated to Oklahoma by 18271827

The Cherokee Refuse to LeaveThe Cherokee Refuse to Leave

•• Cherokee surrender some land, but will not Cherokee surrender some land, but will not give up more after 1819give up more after 1819

•• U.S. cannot honor Compact of 1802; white U.S. cannot honor Compact of 1802; white Georgians furious Georgians furious

•• Georgia orders missionaries to leave, Georgia orders missionaries to leave, removes Cherokee supportersremoves Cherokee supporters -creates -creates Georgia GuardGeorgia Guard to enforce laws to enforce laws against Cherokeeagainst Cherokee

The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme CourtCourt

•• President Andrew JacksonPresident Andrew Jackson elected in 1828 elected in 1828now wants to take their land now wants to take their land

•• Jackson persuades Congress to pass Jackson persuades Congress to pass Indian Removal ActIndian Removal Act, 1830, 1830 -Cherokee can live within Georgia laws or -Cherokee can live within Georgia laws or

move west of Mississippimove west of Mississippi

-Cherokee do not accept this; take two-Cherokee do not accept this; take two cases to U.S. Supreme Courtcases to U.S. Supreme Court

The Cherokee Sue GeorgiaThe Cherokee Sue Georgia•• Cherokee sue in Cherokee sue in Cherokee Nation v. Cherokee Nation v.

Georgia Georgia (1831) (1831)

--Cherokee argue that Georgia laws Cherokee argue that Georgia laws should not apply to Nationshould not apply to Nation

•• Supreme Court says Cherokee have no Supreme Court says Cherokee have no right to sue (state they are a “dependent right to sue (state they are a “dependent nation)”nation)”

The Cherokee Sue GeorgiaThe Cherokee Sue Georgia

•• Different outcome in Different outcome in Worcester v. GeorgiaWorcester v. Georgia (1832)(1832)

--Georgia orders missionaries to swearGeorgia orders missionaries to swear oath and get permits or leaveoath and get permits or leave

-orders Georgia Guard to imprison-orders Georgia Guard to imprison missionaries who disobeymissionaries who disobey

•• John MarshallJohn Marshall (Supreme Court Chief Justice)(Supreme Court Chief Justice): : Georgia laws Georgia laws

notnot valid in independent Cherokee valid in independent Cherokee Nation Nation

Georgia Defies Court RulingGeorgia Defies Court Ruling•• Georgia refuses to accept Georgia refuses to accept WorcesterWorcester v. v. GeorgiaGeorgia

decisiondecision-sets up land lottery awarding Cherokee land -sets up land lottery awarding Cherokee land

to to GeorgiansGeorgians-thousands move onto Cherokee land-thousands move onto Cherokee land

•• Federal government refuses to enforce Supreme Federal government refuses to enforce Supreme Court decisionCourt decision

-says Supreme Court lacks enforcement -says Supreme Court lacks enforcement powerpower

--Jackson encourages Georgians to defy Jackson encourages Georgians to defy order order

Negotiating with the Federal Negotiating with the Federal GovernmentGovernment

•• Major Ridge, John Ross disagree on Major Ridge, John Ross disagree on how to proceedhow to proceed

•• Ridge, son John Ridge, Elias Boudinot Ridge, son John Ridge, Elias Boudinot form form Treaty PartyTreaty Party to negotiate to negotiate Treaty Treaty of New Echotaof New Echota

-cedes Southeastern Cherokee land -cedes Southeastern Cherokee land for land in Oklahomafor land in Oklahoma

•• Ross, 15,000 Cherokee sign petition Ross, 15,000 Cherokee sign petition disavowing Treatydisavowing Treaty

•• U.S. ratifies Treaty of New Echota; U.S. ratifies Treaty of New Echota; Cherokee must move in two yearsCherokee must move in two years

Opposition to the TreatyOpposition to the Treaty

•• Ross opposes TreatyRoss opposes Treaty-proposes alternatives, none -proposes alternatives, none

acceptedaccepted

•• Cherokee hope things will change Cherokee hope things will change when Jackson leaves officewhen Jackson leaves office

-decide to wait, do not move-decide to wait, do not move

The Trail of TearsThe Trail of Tears

•• U.S. fears whites may kill Cherokee if tribes U.S. fears whites may kill Cherokee if tribes stay in Georgiastay in Georgia

-claim moving Cherokee west is for their-claim moving Cherokee west is for their own own protectionprotection

•• Federal troops put Cherokee in prison Federal troops put Cherokee in prison stockades, 1838 stockades, 1838

-burn Cherokee settlements, crops to-burn Cherokee settlements, crops to prevent escapeprevent escape

-stockade conditions terrible, hundreds -stockade conditions terrible, hundreds diedie

Imprisonment and Forced Imprisonment and Forced MovementMovement

•• Chief Ross asks to let Cherokee handle own Chief Ross asks to let Cherokee handle own relocationrelocation

--President Martin Van BurenPresident Martin Van Buren denies request denies request

•• Federal troops escort Cherokee west in winter of Federal troops escort Cherokee west in winter of 1838–39 1838–39

-route known as the -route known as the Trail of TearsTrail of Tears •• Many Cherokee die along route, including Ross’s Many Cherokee die along route, including Ross’s

wifewife

•• Cherokee re-elect John Ross as chief once they Cherokee re-elect John Ross as chief once they arrive in Oklahoma arrive in Oklahoma

Cost of RemovalCost of Removal

•• Accounts of Trail of Tears deaths varyAccounts of Trail of Tears deaths vary

•• U.S. government records 500 deathsU.S. government records 500 deaths-missionary accounts close to 4,000; -missionary accounts close to 4,000;

generally generally accepted as accurateaccepted as accurate

•• Cherokee removal part of larger pattern of Cherokee removal part of larger pattern of Native American removal Native American removal

VIDEO 2VIDEO 2