SLIDE 1 Chapter 9: The Cherokee Nation and Removal 1800 1840 The Cherokee change their culture hoping to remain on their land, but the U.S. government forcibly moves them to new territory west of the Mississippi. SLIDE 2 Section 1: The Cherokee Section 2: Indian Removal SLIDE 3 Section 1: The Cherokee The Cherokee establish a culture that is much like the white settlers culture in order to live peacefully. SLIDE 4 Section 1: The Cherokee Settling the River Valleys Cherokee Background Cherokee settle in what are now Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi - these mountain river valleys full of resources: wildlife, fish, trees Cherokee is Choctaw name meaning people of the cave country - Cherokee call themselves Ani -Yun wiya, the principal people Cherokee Drive out the Creek Mountain terrain makes farming difficult for Cherokee Cherokee drive Creek from fertile farmland along river valleys SLIDE 5 The Colonists and the Cherokee British Trade Cherokee, British set up trade relationship after French and Indian War - Cherokee provide deerskin for leather, war captives for slaves - British provide guns, tools, fabric, other supplies The Cherokee Adapt to Changes Traditional Cherokee tribe council makes decisions democratically 1
Council too slow for Europeans, Cherokee leave decisions to warriors Colonies win independence in 1783, Cherokee situation changes SLIDE 6 The United States and the Cherokee Nation Moving the Cherokee New U.S. Congress treats Cherokee as conquered enemy - wants to move Cherokee to end warfare, gain land for settlers Government relocates Cherokee to new Cherokee Nation - covers parts of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama U.S. sends government agents to live with Cherokee, teach skills SLIDE 7 Continued The United States and the Cherokee Nation Civilizing the Cherokee Some settlers want to civilize Cherokee - read/write English, follow written code of laws - dress like whites, convert to Christianity Missionaries go to live and work with tribe Cherokee resist Christianity, welcome education and tools SLIDE 8 Sequoyah and the Cherokee Phoenix A Written Cherokee Language Cherokee Nation believes civilization program necessary to survive - hope to be left alone if they adopt white ways - see need to change lifestyles Nation buys printing press with English and Cherokee alphabet - press located in New Echota, the Cherokee Nation capital SLIDE 9 Continued Sequoyah and the Cherokee Phoenix A Written Cherokee Language Sequoyah sees European advantage in having written communication - develops 86-symbol alphabet based on Cherokee syllables, 1821 - simple enough for those who speak Cherokee to learn in days Cherokee Phoenix Cherokee Nation s first newspaper, starts in 1828 2
- printed in English and Cherokee - Elias Boudinot is editor young Cherokee educated in mission schools SLIDE 10 Changes in Lifestyle Cherokee Planters Cherokee soon imitate whites in other ways Many become wealthy, build lavish homes, run businesses Some become planters, raise cotton, own slaves Cherokee planters start taking over Cherokee politics SLIDE 11 A Government and Written Law Government Modeled After U.S. Eight districts send representatives to national Cherokee Council - Council protects individual, common property; decides criminal cases Cherokee National Council tells U.S. it will cede no more land, 1819 A supreme court is established to hear district court appeals, 1822 Concern over property rights grows, written laws established SLIDE 12 Continued A Government and Written Law Government Modeled After U.S. Light Horse Guard created in 1808 national police force New laws break from Cherokee tradition - wives may now inherit property from husbands The Cherokee Constitution Cherokee Constitution written in 1827; similar to U.S Constitution - establishes legislative, executive, judicial branches Defines Cherokee territory; land belongs to nation, not individuals SLIDE 13 Respected Cherokee Leaders Major Ridge and John Ross Two men become respected leaders of Cherokee Nation in 1820s Major Ridge leader in Creek War, successful planter, businessman John Ross one-eighth Cherokee; becomes chief, 1827 1866 3
Ridge and Ross come into conflict in 1830s SLIDE 14 Section 2: Indian Removal White settlers are determined to have all of the Southeastern land occupied by the Cherokee. They eventually succeed. SLIDE 15 Section 2: Indian Removal Early Removal of Creek and Cherokee Promises of Land to the West Removal of Native Americans from Georgia starts with Compact of 1802 - U.S. promises Native Americans land in Arkansas, Oklahoma if leave Creek agree to leave Georgia; most relocate to Oklahoma by 1827 Thomas Jefferson offers land in Louisiana Territory - offers to Native Americans who do not want to join white society - many tribes, some Cherokee accept offer; get compensation SLIDE 16 The Cherokee Refuse to Leave Conflicts with Georgia Government Cherokee surrender some land, but will not give up more after 1819 U.S. cannot honor Compact of 1802; white Georgians furious Georgia orders missionaries to leave, removes Cherokee supporters - creates Georgia Guard to enforce laws against Cherokee Legislature says Georgia and Cherokee constitutions are in conflict President James Monroe refuses to repeal Compact of 1802 SLIDE 17 The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court The Indian Removal Act President Andrew Jackson elected in 1828 - ally of Cherokee in War of 1812; but now wants to take their land Jackson persuades Congress to pass Indian Removal Act, 1830 - Cherokee can live within Georgia laws or move west of Mississippi - Cherokee do not accept this; take two cases to U.S. Supreme Court 4
SLIDE 18 Continued The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court The Cherokee Sue Georgia Cherokee sue in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) - murder within Cherokee Nation; Georgia court tries, convicts suspect - Cherokee argue that Georgia laws should not apply to Nation Supreme Court says Cherokee have no right to sue - call Cherokee a domestic dependent nation SLIDE 19 Continued The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court The Cherokee Sue Georgia Different outcome in Worcester v. Georgia (1832) - Georgia orders missionaries to swear oath and get permits or leave - orders Georgia Guard to imprison missionaries who disobey Court rule: Georgia laws not valid in independent Cherokee Nation SLIDE 20 Continued The Cherokee Turn to the Supreme Court Georgia Defies Court Ruling Georgia refuses to accept Worcester v. Georgia decision - sets up land lottery awarding Cherokee land to Georgians - thousands move onto Cherokee land Federal government refuses to enforce Supreme Court decision - says Supreme Court lacks enforcement power - Jackson encourages Georgians to defy order SLIDE 21 Negotiating with the Federal Government The Treaty Party Major Ridge, John Ross disagree on how to proceed Ridge, son John Ridge, Elias Boudinot form Treaty Party to negotiate Party members sign Treaty of New Echota, December 1835 - cedes Southeastern Cherokee land for land in Oklahoma Ross, 15,000 Cherokee sign petition disavowing Treaty 5
U.S. ratifies Treaty of New Echota; Cherokee must move in two years SLIDE 22 Continued Negotiating with the Federal Government Opposition to the Treaty Ross opposes Treaty; fears U.S. will make more demands later - proposes alternatives, none accepted Cherokee hope things will change when Jackson leaves office - decide to wait, do not move SLIDE 23 The Trail of Tears Imprisonment and Forced Movement U.S. fears whites may kill Cherokee if tribes stay in Georgia - claim moving Cherokee west is for their own protection Federal troops put Cherokee in prison stockades, 1838 - burn Cherokee settlements, crops to prevent escape - stockade conditions terrible, hundreds die SLIDE 24 Continued The Trail of Tears Imprisonment and Forced Movement Chief Ross asks to let Cherokee handle own relocation - President Martin Van Buren denies request Federal troops escort Cherokee west in winter of 1838 39 - route known as the Trail of Tears Many Cherokee die along route, including Ross s wife Cherokee re-elect John Ross as chief once they arrive in Oklahoma SLIDE 25 Evaluating Indian Removal Both Sides Thought They Were Right Georgians saw Cherokee as foreign enemy Cherokee felt they were unfairly forced off land - adapted to white ways, but treaties broken, court rulings ignored Breaking Promises 6
U.S. underestimated Cherokee loyalty to land; trauma of relocation U.S. made promises it could not keep without using force - Compact of 1802, Indian Removal Act promised land to whites SLIDE 26 Continued Evaluating Indian Removal The Cost of Removal Accounts of Trail of Tears deaths vary - U.S. government records 500 deaths - missionary accounts close to 4,000; generally accepted as accurate Cherokee removal part of larger pattern of Native American removal 7