|
When you think of Native Americans, you
usually think of the “Hollywood” portrayal of horrible dark skinned
people spreading terror throughout the West. This is not true. The
Cherokee were not nomadic savages, but a very civilized nation with
customs modified after ours. For Example the established churches,
schools, roads, their women wore European styled gowns. Many became
farmers or ranchers. They had their own representational government
and a written language thee “Talking Leaves”.
Despite the Cherokees peaceful and well
adapted ways. In 1830 the Congress passed the Indian removal act
which was authorized by Andrew Jackson (whose life was save in the
battle of Horseshoe Bend by 500 Cherokee allies). Also authorized
the treaty. After this was passed the Cherokees fought back
fiercely and legally in the Supreme Court by establishing themselves
as an
independent nation.
In the case Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia, the
court refused to hear the case claiming the Cherokee did not
represent a sovereign nation. In 1832 Reverent Samuel Worcester, the
Cherokee Missionary challenged the attempt to take away Cherokee
land in Worcester vs. Georgia. The Supreme Court ruled the Cherokee
Nation was sovereign and would first have to sign a treaty before
being which the Senate would then ratify. Despite the Worcester vs.
Georgia case, President Andrew Jackson defied the court and ordered
the Cherokees removal using the Treaty of New Echota of 1835 to
justify his actions.
The 100 Cherokee Leaders (the treaty Party) whom
illegally signed this treaty also signed their death warrant. They
signed in giving away all lands east of the Mississippi in exchange
for: land in Indian Territory, money, tools, livestock, and other
various provisions, etc.
In 1838 they began moving the native American
west to Oklahoma including a group of Old Cherokees settlers who
moved to Arkansas in 1817 and had an established government.
After being ordered to move in on the
Cherokees, General John Wool handed in his resignation and General
Winfield Scott took over.
Scott arrived at New Echota on May 17, 1838,
with 7,000 men and began the invasion. They were moved into prison
camps with little food and lack of facilities. Their food
intended for the Cherokee was given to was sold to the locals. The number of losses
in the first group was so high that John Ross made an urgent appeal
to Scott Requesting that the General let the Cherokees lead the
way. Scott granted his request.
Ross split the large group into smaller ones
and led them separately to their new home in Oklahoma. This
dramatically decreased the death rate. 3000
Cherokee others were
forced to march 1,000 miles and then loaded onto boats with
facilities equally horrible to the prison camps. A known 4000 died
on this horrible journey known as the “Trail of Tears”.
|
