Trail of Tears8th Grade

Observations

What do you see? Be specific.

Who is in the picture? What are they doing?

 Describe expressions on their faces. What do they seem to be feeling?

Besides the Cherokee, who else do you see in the picture? Why do you think they are in the picture?

Based on what you see and know, why is this called the Trail of Tears?

Enter: Andrew Jackson

Born 3.15.1767 along the NC/SC border

Orphaned at a young age

Fought with the NC “Irregulars” during the revolution (Veteran by the age of 15!)

Quick political rise:First TN CongressmanTN SenatorJudge of TN Supreme

CourtLater President

America in the 1820s

By the 1820s, US population had grown to around 9,600,000, of which 1,5oo,ooo were slaves in the South.

The advent of the cotton gin made agriculture, slavery, and land the basis of the Southern economy

By 1820, cotton accounted for 39% of all American exports

Jackson: Indian Fighter

Jackson won fame leading militia against Creek Indians at Horseshoe Bend, 1813

Used Cherokee fighters to defeat the “Red Sticks”

Earned nickname: “Sharpknife”

Negotiated treaties with tribes for land in GA, AL, MS, and TN. (A LOT of personal gain!)

The Jackson Presidency

Nullification

South resisted taxes that benefitted the North

Threatened to secede (break away)

Jackson threatened to take troops into SC

Before war, Jackson negotiated “lower tariffs”

War was avoided (for now)

Cartoon showing the manufacturing North

getting fat at Southern expense.

Jackson support Jefferson’s “small farmer” ideal

Needed land to settle new generations of whites.

Forced tribes to “submit to State Law”, or move West of Mississippi River

Thousands died when the Cherokee were forced to march to OK

Indian Removal:

The Trail of Tears

Many Americans believed that their country should expand, or grow larger, toward the west.

Manifest Destiny