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CHAPTER 10NATIVE AMERICAN

REMOVAL &

THE WAR OF 1812

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Conflicts over Native American Lands

Native Americans believed that no one can own land.

The resources of the earth were to be shared among the community.

Whites believed that land was something that one could own.

Land could be bought and sold.

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The Creeks

The Creeks were organized in a Chiefdom; a grouping of several different tribes under one MICO – Creek Chief.

Another name for the Creek is Muscogee.

Upper Creeks lived in towns and villages in Alabama.

Lower Creeks lived in the Western Alabama and the Southern areas of GA.

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Alexander McGillvray - 1790

He led the Upper Creeks who refused to give up land.

War erupted between the Upper Creeks and the whites.

McGillvray met with President

Washington in 1790 and agreed to a cession of land between the Ogeechee and Oconee rivers.

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Creeks Divided in the War of 1812

Upper Creeks sided with Great Britain.

Red Sticks – Wanted WAR

Upper Creeks Lower Creeks Lower Creeks

sided with the Americans

White Sticks – Wanted Peace

As a result of the War of 1812, no matter what side the Creek were

on, all Creek land was taken.

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War of 1812 – Creek Civil War Fort Mims, Alabama

1000 Red Sticks overran fort killing 500 people “Fort Mims Massacre”

Horseshoe Bend, Alabama American General Andrew Jackson,

a force of White Sticks & Cherokee killed 700 Red Sticks

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Fort Jackson, Alabama

Red sticks had lost the Creek Civil War

Jackson called on all Creeks desiring peace to meet with him.

Jackson forced Creeks to give up all land in South GA

The Whites wanted the FERTILE FARM LAND

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Creek Chief William McIntosh - 1825

Son of an Indian Mother and a Scottish Father

He was cousin to the Governor of GA.

Signed a treaty that ceded all Creek land to the U.S.

This was done without the support or knowledge of the Creek people.

Creek Warriors tracked him down and killed him for signing the treaty.

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The Creek Leave Georgia

The U.S. Government encouraged Indians to move west to Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Those that stayed adapted to white ways by hunting less and farming more.

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The Cherokee

The Cherokee had watched the Creek have their land taken.

The Cherokee made every attempt to adapt to White Society the best they could hoping that the Whites would let them keep their land.

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Adaptation to White Society

The Cherokee made a Constitution like the US Constitution.

A written language. A bilingual newspaper to

try and teach their people to read English as well.

They developed towns similar to White towns.

Also Large Scale Farming.

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Discovery of GOLD in GA

1828 Gold nuggets were found near present day Dahlonega.

This discovery made all changes the Cherokee had made worthless.

Now that Gold was on their land, the State of GA would stop at nothing to obtain that land.

President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act forcing Cherokee off their lands.

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Cherokee Rights Taken Away State of Georgia passes a series of

laws taking away the rights of the Cherokee.

Cherokee laws were not recognized by Georgia.

Indians were not allowed to be a witness against a white person in court.

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Worcester V/S Georgia

U.S. Supreme Court Case

Missionaries living on Cherokee land were arrested for refusing to take an oath to uphold laws of Georgia.

Supreme Court Justice, John Marshall decided: “Georgia laws do not apply within the Cherokee Nation – the missionaries should be freed from the GA prison.”

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Reaction to Worcester Case

Paid no attention to the Supreme Court.

Said that the Cherokee had no rights in Georgia and could not be an independent nation.

Jackson sided with Lumpkin & GA.

Jackson said: “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!”

Governor of GA: Wilson Lumpkin

U.S. President Andrew Jackson

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Cherokee Divided

Little by little, the Cherokee continued to try and fight for

their land.

Unfortunately, they were

fighting a losing

battle.

Some Cherokee want to give up and move West; sell their land now.

Other Cherokee wanted to stay and fight for their rights against the Whites.

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John Ross Faction

John Ross felt that it was their land; not the Whites!

He resisted any move west and had a good following of Cherokee.

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Ridge Faction

Major Ridge believed that it was better for their people to go ahead and move west.

“Sell Now or Be Forced Later!”

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Treaty of New Echota

In 1835 at New Echota the Ridge faction signed a treaty ceding all land and moving west for $5 million.

The majority of the Cherokee including Ross opposed the treaty.

Some Cherokee left for Arkansas. Others stayed and were driven from their land by the whites.

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Cherokee Removed – Trail of Tears

By the end of 1838, all remaining Cherokee in GA were forced west on the Trail of Tears.

Cherokee were forced to march in the winter with all their belongings for hundreds of miles.