In the United States of America, are all

men created equal?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by

their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the

Pursuit of Happiness.”

from The Declaration of Independence

The Cherokee NationThe Cherokee Nation

The Trail of TearsThe Trail of Tears

Yazoo Land FraudYazoo Land Fraud1795 – 1802 - Yazoo Land Fraud 1795 – 1802 - Yazoo Land Fraud – dishonest legislators passed a – dishonest legislators passed a law that allowed land speculators law that allowed land speculators to buy 35 million acres of land for to buy 35 million acres of land for 2 cents an acre and sell it to 2 cents an acre and sell it to innocent citizens. The U.S. innocent citizens. The U.S. government had to step in and government had to step in and assist Georgia with the resulting assist Georgia with the resulting lawsuits. In 1802, Georgia lawsuits. In 1802, Georgia transferred the contested transferred the contested territories to the federal territories to the federal government. government.

The United States government The United States government paid Georgia $1,250,000 and paid Georgia $1,250,000 and promised to remove all promised to remove all remaining Indians from remaining Indians from the state.the state.

Cherokee ConstitutionCherokee Constitution

In 1827 – The Cherokee In 1827 – The Cherokee wrote a constitution for wrote a constitution for their nation patterned their nation patterned after the U.S. Constitution after the U.S. Constitution including three branches including three branches of governments: of governments: legislative, executive and legislative, executive and judicial. They had eight judicial. They had eight districts. Each district districts. Each district sent an elected sent an elected representative to New representative to New Echota.Echota.

GOLDGOLD!!!!!!

1828 – gold nuggets were discovered in 1828 – gold nuggets were discovered in north Georgia sparking America’s first gold north Georgia sparking America’s first gold rush. Thousands of gold seekers rush. Thousands of gold seekers descended on the Cherokee Nation. descended on the Cherokee Nation. Cherokees asked and received help from Cherokees asked and received help from the federal government to drive the miners the federal government to drive the miners off Indian lands.off Indian lands.

Georgia Passes Laws that Strip Georgia Passes Laws that Strip Cherokee of their RightsCherokee of their Rights

1828 – Georgia General Assembly passed an 1828 – Georgia General Assembly passed an Act that:Act that:

Made Cherokee laws “null and void”Made Cherokee laws “null and void”

Claimed Cherokee lands fell under Georgia’s Claimed Cherokee lands fell under Georgia’s complete authoritycomplete authority

Appeals for Federal AssistanceAppeals for Federal Assistance

1829 – John Ross 1829 – John Ross and other Cherokee and other Cherokee representatives went representatives went to Washington to to Washington to protest Georgia’s protest Georgia’s laws and plead for laws and plead for federal justice and federal justice and protection. This protection. This “Memorial” was “Memorial” was addressed to addressed to Congress in March of Congress in March of 1829.1829.

President Jackson RespondsPresident Jackson Responds

1830 – Georgia appealed 1830 – Georgia appealed to President Andrew to President Andrew Jackson to withdraw Jackson to withdraw troops and allow the state troops and allow the state to handle the matter. to handle the matter. Soldiers were pulled out.Soldiers were pulled out.

1830 – The Indian 1830 – The Indian Removal Act of 1830 – Removal Act of 1830 – President Andrew President Andrew Jackson signed into law Jackson signed into law

Cherokee AlliesCherokee Allies

Samuel Worcester Samuel Worcester 1830 – Georgia Law – No 1830 – Georgia Law – No whites allowed to live on whites allowed to live on Cherokee land without Cherokee land without oath of allegiance to GA.oath of allegiance to GA.

Whites/missionaries living Whites/missionaries living on Cherokee land had to on Cherokee land had to sign an oath pledging to sign an oath pledging to uphold the laws of uphold the laws of Georgia. Several refused Georgia. Several refused and were arrested and and were arrested and sentenced to hard labor.sentenced to hard labor.

Worcester vs. GeorgiaWorcester vs. Georgia

1832 – Worcester vs. Georgia - Chief Justice 1832 – Worcester vs. Georgia - Chief Justice John Marshall announced the Supreme Court’s John Marshall announced the Supreme Court’s decision: “Georgia laws did not apply in the decision: “Georgia laws did not apply in the Cherokee nation.” The Cherokee celebrated Cherokee nation.” The Cherokee celebrated believing their laws and nation would be saved.believing their laws and nation would be saved.

Georgia Governor Wilson Lumpkin ignored the Georgia Governor Wilson Lumpkin ignored the ruling. President Jackson refused to enforce it.ruling. President Jackson refused to enforce it.

Cherokee Land Given to White Cherokee Land Given to White Settlers Settlers

1832 – 1832 – The Great Land The Great Land LotteryLottery – 10 counties – 10 counties were marked out and were marked out and given to white settlers given to white settlers who forced the Cherokee who forced the Cherokee from their homes.from their homes.

1834 – The Cherokee 1834 – The Cherokee continued to resist continued to resist and offered to give up and offered to give up their own government their own government and some of their and some of their territory for the ability territory for the ability to become U. S. to become U. S. citizens. President citizens. President Jackson said no and Jackson said no and encouraged them to encouraged them to move west.move west.

Leaders in the Cherokee Leaders in the Cherokee nation were divided. Chief nation were divided. Chief John Ross resisted the move John Ross resisted the move west. Major Ridge, John west. Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot felt Ridge, and Elias Boudinot felt that it was better for their that it was better for their people to move West.people to move West.

Treaty of New EchotaTreaty of New Echota

1835 – Major Ridge and his supporters 1835 – Major Ridge and his supporters signed a treaty, the signed a treaty, the Treaty of New Treaty of New EchotaEchota, with the United Stated to give , with the United Stated to give up their lands and move west in return for up their lands and move west in return for $5 million$5 million. Chief John Ross and the . Chief John Ross and the majority of the Cherokees opposed this majority of the Cherokees opposed this treaty and refused to move.treaty and refused to move.

Cherokee Protest Treaty of New Cherokee Protest Treaty of New EchotaEchota

Chief John Ross took Chief John Ross took a petition to Congress a petition to Congress with 15,000 names with 15,000 names protesting the treaty.protesting the treaty.

Petition ignored.Petition ignored.

1838 – President Van Buren ordered U.S. 1838 – President Van Buren ordered U.S. Army troops, under General Winfield Army troops, under General Winfield Scott, to remove the remaining 15,000 Scott, to remove the remaining 15,000 Cherokees from their land in Georgia.Cherokees from their land in Georgia.

Cherokee Removal Begins Cherokee Removal Begins May 1838May 1838

Under orders from Under orders from President Van Buren, the President Van Buren, the U.S. Army began U.S. Army began enforcement of the enforcement of the Removal Act. Around Removal Act. Around 3,000 Cherokees were 3,000 Cherokees were rounded up in the summer rounded up in the summer of 1838 and loaded onto of 1838 and loaded onto boats that traveled the boats that traveled the Tennessee, Ohio, Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, and Arkansas Mississippi, and Arkansas Rivers into Indian Territory. Rivers into Indian Territory.

Many were held in prison camps awaiting their Many were held in prison camps awaiting their fate. In the winter of 1838-39, fate. In the winter of 1838-39, 14,00014,000 were were marched 1,200 miles through Tennessee, marched 1,200 miles through Tennessee,

Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas into Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas into rugged Indian Territory. rugged Indian Territory.

An estimated 4,000 died An estimated 4,000 died from hunger, from hunger, exposure and exposure and disease. disease.

Cherokee -"trail where Cherokee -"trail where they cried" = “The they cried" = “The Trail of Tears.” Trail of Tears.”

What was it like for the What was it like for the Cherokee?Cherokee?

What was it like for a Soldier?What was it like for a Soldier?

What was it like for a Land What was it like for a Land Lottery Winner?Lottery Winner?