Indian Indian RemovalRemoval

Cherokee NationCherokee Nation Some whites hoped Natives

would adapt (assimilate)• Way to avoid conflict

The Cherokee adapted well to white society

Adopted white way of dress Owned prosperous farms

and ranches Sequoya’s invention of a

system of written language

Drew up a constitution Gold was discovered one

year later

Indian RemovalIndian Removal For years many had

supported removing Indians

About 100,000 American Indians lived east of the Mississippi River• Mainly in the Southeast

Jackson urged Congress to set aside “an ample district west of the Mississippi”• Jackson believed the govt.

had the right to regulate where they could live

• He viewed them as conquered

• Indian Removal ActIndian Removal Act– Passed by CongressPassed by Congress– Negotiate treaties requiring them to relocate westNegotiate treaties requiring them to relocate west

• Indians forced to relocateIndians forced to relocate– Congress created the Indian TerritoryCongress created the Indian Territory– Present-day OklahomaPresent-day Oklahoma

• 7,000 troops removed the American 7,000 troops removed the American IndiansIndians– Jackson called it “just and liberal”Jackson called it “just and liberal”– November 1831November 1831– The march became The march became known as the “Trail of Tears”known as the “Trail of Tears”

Worcester v. GeorgiaWorcester v. Georgia Georgia had

created a separate Cherokee nation within the state

GA eventually ignored Cherokee laws

Cherokee appealed to the Supreme Court to keep their land from seizure

Opinion and Reaction Supreme Court ruled

only federal govt could make laws over the Cherokee

“Justice John Marshall has made his decision…Now let him enforce it.” – Andrew Jackson

Jackson supported the state & ignored Supreme Court ruling• He did not believe they

could have their own govt within U.S. borders (become citizens or move west)

Where did the Trail of Tears take place?

• WHY DID THE TRAIL OF TEARS WHY DID THE TRAIL OF TEARS OCCUR? OCCUR? INCREASED U.S.

POPULATION

U.S. DESIRE FOR WESTWARD EXPANSION

BENEFIT OF NATIVE AMERICANS ASSETS AND RESOURCES… like gold,

land for cotton, etc.