Running head: FALL OF CHEROKEE 1

The Fall of the Cherokee Nation: A Review of Literature

Irma Moreno
University of Texas at El Paso
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Abstract

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was signed by President Andrew Jackson who agree with the

expansion to the west. Many of native tribes were affected and removed from their land but one

tribe went through a long journey, the Cherokee. They were the most affected by the Removal

Act but also through the Trail of Tears. The Trail of Tears was devastating for the Cherokee

Nation almost a year walking through unknown land with no resources to survive. However,

President Jackson knew that the land in which the Cherokees were living was very profitable for

cotton agriculture and the discovery of gold. There was abuse of power from the President and

the military groups who removed the Cherokee who resisted to move. Citizens agree with the

Indian Removal Act because at that time settlers were expanding helping to create a stable

economy for the nation. The Cherokee is now living in a part of what is known now as

Oklahoma but they still remember the unjustified government of Jackson.

The Fall of the Cherokee Nation: A Review of Literature

Uniquely treated Cherokees had to continue to survive as a nation from The Indian

Removal Act and eventually the Trail of Tears. President Andrew Jackson use excessive power in

the Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears. Both events change history and the life style of many

Native Americans tribes who were removed without justification. The Cherokee Nation was one

of the largest who lost many of its population through this difficult years. For these reasons, there

should be a great understanding and consideration through the review of these three questions:

1. What is the Indian Removal Act?

2. How did the Cherokee Nation feel about the Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears?
3. What does the trail of tears symbolize for the nation?

These questions will explain the background of the Indian Removal Act and Trail of tears

through the Cherokee nation. The purpose of this Literature Review is to talk about the excessive
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use of power from President Andrew Jackson, removing indigenous people from their

homelands. President Andrew Jackson had the power to make laws an implement them but his

administration did not understand what the law required in order to be taken into place.

What is the Indian Removal Act?

In the 1830 President Andre Jackson abused of his presidential power violating Native

Americans right with the Indian Removal Act. Back then laws where been built and there was an

article which Jackson and his administration misinterpreted forcing the removal of Natives

(Cave, 2003). The Indian Removal Act purpose was to negotiate with the tribes to move to

another land. Jackson eventually used military force to relocate Cherokees east of the Mississippi

river after he saw that the Natives were not moving (Lefeber 2013). President Andrew Jackson

should not have use military force but he was a military hero which many follow. There were

five major tribes affected which were the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole.

These tribes were seen by President Andrew Jackson as the most civilized tribes (History,

2009). Native Americans were forced to assimilate and concede the law which excluded them

from their homelands. President Jackson wanted to expand America and grow the economy with

the use of railroads. There had been settlers who moved to the land before the Act and they were

abusing from the Natives. The settlers influenced Jackson to see Natives as an obstacle to

progress (TheFTDizzle 2011). At that time, there was a division between Native Americans and

Whites. Slavery was still very powerful which indicated that white supremacy was very strong

social and political. It gave President Andrew Jackson the power he needed to make Indian

Removal Act. Some oppose to the decision President Andrew Jackson had made but the system

back then was barely starting which gave the President more power. Then after removing the
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Natives they walked through the Trail of Tears in which many lost their lives including civilians

and indigenous.

Source: Standley, Max. (1995). Indian Removal Act. Retrieved

from http://www.maxdstandley.com/trail_of_tears_series/the_trail_of_tears.html.
How did the Cherokee Nation feel about the Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears?

Cherokees did not want to abandon their homes because it was a land that had belong to

them for many decades. About 2,000 Cherokees resigned themselves and singed the removal act

to the west but there were others who did not signed. Those who had resigned were promised to

have more land and eventually get money for the land they were giving to the government.

However, that never happen which made the Cherokees disappointed. Approximately 46,000

Native Americans were forced to abandon their homes. Native Americans felt that they where

been treated worse than a dog or any other animal (Enochsart 2007). Some say they were locked
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in chains and had to walk in lines. At first, they saw white people as a destruction for their beliefs

which later became true. After been removed from their home land they had to walk miles to get

to their new home which is known as Trail of Tears (History, 2009). Cherokee saw and see the

Trail of Tears as something cruel and injustice. The Cherokees were not the only ones affected

but also another 40 tribes which suffer from the Indian Removal Act (Parins 2012). The tribes

were separated during the Trail of Tears because they did not know the land and could not go

back. Cherokees have created books about the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears. In

those books, they express the way they saw the government and President Andrew Jackson

destroyed their lives. They are written by Cherokees in order for the information not to be bias

but come from another member of the tribe.

What does the trail of tears symbolize for the nation?

At last the Trail of Tears was a bloody killing approximately 3,000 or more Cherokee

people. They walked 900 miles to complete the removal act mad by president Jackson

(Blackburn 2012). In our society, we remember the Cherokees as one of the greatest nation who

was most affected by the Removal Act. They were walking through lands they did not knew

which made it harder for them to know the way. Cherokees were robbed and cheated by

contractors, lawyer, agents, and local police abuse power. There were no resources to help them

survive through the in-climate weather. They had no food supply to continue alive and eventually

died of starvation or were left in the trail (Parins 2012). In 1987, the Congress designated the

Trail of Tears as a National Historic Trail in memory of those who suffered and died. It is

specifically for the removal of the Cherokees in 1838. The Trail is still there but due to the strong

storms and the location it closes sometimes. However, they still have the sings and is a symbol

through that region for those who lost their lives in the Trail of Tears. Now there are museums
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and organizations which are exclusive for Cherokees. Oklahoma is now known to be the land of

Cherokees after the removal and for the future.

Weiser, Kathy. (2005). Trail of Tears Monument. Retrieved from

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-jerometears.html.

Conclusion

To conclude, the Indian Removal Act was an act that changed a whole community

forever. The Indian Removal Act eventually brought Trail of Tears changed history and the life

style of many Native Americans tribes who were removed without justification. Throughout the

years, they still feel the pain of their families who were desperate to survive throughout the Trail

of Tears. The tribe did not only survive but learn to endured during the tough times. The tribes
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history is often kept of sights from our history due to the way it could affect the President

Jackson presidency view.

References
Blackburn, M. (2012). Return to the Trail of Tears. (cover story). Archaeology, 65(2), 53-64.
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Cave, A. A. (2003). ABUSE OF POWER: ANDREW JACKSON AND THE INDIAN

REMOVAL ACT OF 1830. Historian, 65(6), 1330-1353. Doi:10.1111/j.0018-
2370.2003.00055.x
Enochsart. (2007, April 10). Cherokee Nation. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grVVC6BgxK4.
History.com Staff. 2009. Trail of Tears. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/native
american-history/trail-of-tears.
Lefeber, Jake. (2013, May 27). Indian Removal Act of 1830. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X76l6fwQAV0.
Lindneux, Robert. 1942. Trail of Tears. Retrieved from http://www.native-net.org/images/trail
of-tears-cherokee.jpg.
Parins, J. W. (2012). Full Scope of the Trail of Tears. Achaeology, 65(3), 8.
Standley, Max. (Photograph) 1995. Retrieved
from http://www.maxdstandley.com/trail_of_tears_series/the_trail_of_tears.html.
TheFTDizzle. (2011, January 11). Trail of Tears Documentary. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rJr4kgDdqU.