U.S. History Flashcards
Trail of Tears - Britannica
The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation of Eastern Woodlands Indians, including the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole, during the 1830s. An estimated 100,000 indigenous people were displaced to lands west of the Mississippi River, with around 15,000 dying during the journey. The removal was part of a broader effort driven by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which aimed to open native lands to Euro-American settlers, particularly after a gold rush on Cherokee land in Georgia. Despite resistance, including legal action by the Cherokee and armed resistance from some Seminole, the U.S. government forcibly removed tribes, often under harsh conditions. The physical trail spanned over 5,000 miles and crossed nine states.
Each tribe faced different challenges during relocation. The Choctaw, Creek, and Chickasaw signed removal agreements early on but still suffered due to bureaucratic incompetence, resulting in many deaths from disease and exposure. The Chickasaw financed their own move, facing fewer difficulties. The Creek endured fraudulent land sales and conflicts, delaying their journey. The Seminole resisted fiercely, leading to the Second Seminole War, while some managed to remain in Florida. The Cherokee sought legal protection but were eventually forced from their homes in 1838, with about 4,000 dying during the relocation. Many smaller groups in the Upper Midwest and Northeast were also displaced, with some attempting armed resistance, such as the Sauk leader Black Hawk in 1832.
The primary figure behind the Trail of Tears and the broader policy of Indian removal was President Andrew Jackson. He was a strong advocate for the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to territories west of the Mississippi River. Jackson had long been involved in conflicts with Native Americans during his military career and saw their removal as a way to open up land for American settlers and economic expansion.
In 1830, Jackson pushed Congress to pass the Indian Removal Act, which granted the president authority to negotiate removal treaties with Native tribes. Jackson and his administration viewed the relocation as a solution to conflicts between settlers and Native Americans, and Jackson justified the policy as a way to “civilize” the tribes by moving them away from American society.
Additionally, land speculators, miners, and settlers were influential in pushing for the removal, especially after the discovery of gold on Cherokee land in Georgia in 1829. Their pressure on the U.S. government helped fuel the drive to displace the Native populations. Congress supported the removal through legislation, but Jackson’s forceful advocacy and implementation of the policy played the largest role in the tragic events of the Trail of Tears.
