[1942]

The Trail of Tears Bell-ringer

▪ Describe what you know about the Trail of Tears in 3-5 complete sentences. ▪ Be prepared to discuss your answers in class. The Investigative Question

How did the Trail of Tears impact those who participated in it? Early Policies Towards American Indians

▪ Before the Act, white settlers had been trying to deal with the Indian “problem” for a while.

▪ Many believed that American Indians could be “civilized.”

▪ If they became civilized, they could join with American society.

▪ Several tribes embraced this idea: ▪ ▪ Creeks ▪ Chickasaw Unus Americanus ex Virginia. Aetat 23 Adopting American Culture: The Cherokee

▪ The Cherokee are one of • They developed an alphabet the more well known so they could write in their tribes that embraced own language. Western culture.

▪ Cherokee adopted • They even published their own American architecture newspaper, Cherokee and clothing. Phoenix.

▪ Many converted to • The Cherokee hoped that by . taking all these steps, they would be allowed to live in peace.

Wi-Jun-Jon - The Pigeon's Egg Head Going to Washington : Returning to his home / / Catlin del The Beginning

▪ The origin of the Trail of Tears can be found when white settlers realized the value of the land the Cherokee were living on. ▪ Cherokee land possessed gold and prime spots to plant cotton. ▪ White settlers began stealing livestock, burning Cherokee houses, taking land by force--anything to drive the Cherokee away. ▪ The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that these actions were illegal. ▪ However, there was no one to enforce the Court’s decision. Indian Removal Act

▪ favored Indian removal as an answer to the Indian “problem.” ▪ Jackson had partly made his name fighting the Creek Indians. ▪ The Indian Removal Act was passed in 1830. ▪ Passing this act allowed the U.S. government to exchange American Indian land in the East for land west of the . ▪ Although the law could not force American Indians off their property, this frequently happened. Andrew Jackson as The Great Father [ca. 1835] Illegitimate Treaty

▪ In 1835, self-appointed representatives from the signed the Treaty of . ▪ This treaty traded all Cherokee lands for $5 million and land west of the Mississippi. The U.S. was required to help with relocation. ▪ The Cherokee people did not feel that this treaty represented their wishes. ▪ There was an anti-treaty petition submitted to Congress with 16,000 Cherokee names listed. ▪ This petition was ignored. Removal was a done deal. The Trail of Tears

▪ By 1838, only a few Cherokee had left their lands. ▪ President sent soldiers to expedite the process. ▪ Cherokee were forced from their homes at bayonet point and some even in stockades. ▪ A forced march of over 1,200 miles began. ▪ An estimated 4,000 Cherokee died during this march as a result of exposure and disease. The Aftermath

▪ The displaced American Indians would have to adapt to a new environment. ▪ There were already established tribes in the West and as a result, displaced American Indian settlements came under attack. ▪ The U.S. promised the American Indians that their new land would be safe from further encroachment. ▪ Despite this promise, by 1907, much of the land promised to the American Indians was back in government hands. The removal process was complete. Map of the former territorial limits of the Cherokee "Nation of" Indians ; Map showing the territory originally assigned Cherokee "Nation of" Indians. Map showing the lands assigned to emigrant Indians west of Arkansas and Missouri. Bell-ringer

▪ Imagine that you are a member of Congress. Do you pass the Indian Removal Act? Why or why not? ▪ Be prepared to discuss answers in class. Important Notes: Group Work • Each group will complete both H.I.P.P.O.S. and turn them in. • Each student must take notes INDIVIDUALLY on their visiting Ambassador’s subject. • Each Ambassador will then take notes on the group’s subject they visited. 1. Team Leader: Responsible for keeping everyone on Group 5 track. 2. Ambassador: You will rotate to the other groups. 3. Provisioner: Responsible Group 8 Group 6 for picking up and turning in materials 4. Reader/Interpreter: Read aloud the source and Group 7 identify terms you are unfamiliar with.