Trail Of Tears

I decided to write about The Trail Of Tears. I feel so saddened by this event. I hope you will enjoy reading this. Thank you.

Between 1790 and 1830, the population of Georgia increased six fold. That is quite a lot. The western push of the settlers created a problem. Georgians kept taking Native American lands and forced them into the frontier. By 1825, the Lower Creek had been completely removed from the state under provisions of the Treaty of Indian Springs. By 1827, the Creek was gone.

Cherokee called Georgia home for years. The Cherokee Nation continued in this enchanted land until 1828. Rumor had it that gold was discovered in the North Georgia mountains. When the Europeans arrived, killing, enslavement and stealing Cherokee land was way out of hand. Cherokee people were becoming civilized. Their children attended white men schools and churches. The Cherokee made every attempt to live like the white men and keep peace.

In 1830, the Congress of the United States passed the "Indian Removal Act." Many Americans including Davy Crockett fought against this act but Andrew Jackson quickly signed the Bill! Nice guy! I am being sarcastic but this was so mean. The Cherokees attempted to fight removal laws and tried to establish an independent Cherokee Nation in the Supreme Court but to no avail.

By 1835, the Cherokee were divided and despondent. The Treaty New Echota signed by Major Ridge, his son and Elias Boudinot advocated removal. This was the legal document Jackson needed to remove the First Americans. The Treaty was ratified and sealed the fate of the Cherokee people. Daniel Webster and Henry Clay spoke out against the Treaty but it passed by a single vote. In 1838, the United States began the removal to Oklahoma. General Wool resigned his command delaying the action. His replacement, General Winfield Scott arrived with 7000 men and began the invasion of the Cherokee Nation.

In the saddest event of the Cherokee people, Native American men, women and children were taken from their land and given minimal food and forced to march thousands of miles. Some walked the land and others arrived in boats but the conditions were horrible either way. John Ross{he felt sorry for the Cherokees} organized the Cherokees into smaller groups and let them move separately through the wilderness so they could forage for food. 4000 Cherokees died as a result of the removal due to lack of food and brutal winter elements which caused sickness. The route and journey became known as The Trail Of Tears. The Cherokees called it "The Trail Where They Cried." I would have cried, too. So much for all men being created equal which had been established as a written law 50 years earlier.

The Cherokee killed Major Ridge, his son and Elias Boudinot for signing the removal Treaty of New Echota.

Roses grew where tears were shed by Cherokee women who cried for the children and people they lost and the ones they had loved. The roses are white for the mother's tears. The Cherokee White Rose is the official flower of the State Of Georgia.

I got my info from Google.



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