A Brief History of the Trail of Tears
Migration from the original Cherokee Nation began in the early 1800’s as Cherokees, wary of white encroachment, moved west and settled in other areas of the country.
Parties leaving under their own supervision:
From the Thornton Starr State Papers, a list of those Cherokee emigrants who left under their own supervision.
Major General Scott's Ultimatum
From the Cherokee Agency, Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott delivered an ultimatum to the Cherokees remaining in northern Georgia they had to go west, and they had to go now!
Ralph Waldo Emerson's Letter. . .
. . .to President Martin VanBuren (1836)
Memorial of the Cherokee
"We are aware that some persons suppose it will be for our advantage to remove beyond the Mississippi. We think otherwise. Our people universally think otherwise. Thinking that it would be fatal to their interests, they have almost to a man sent their memorial to Congress, deprecating the necessity of a removal. . . .
John Burnett's Story of the Trail of Tears
John Burnett, a soldier during the Trail of Tears, told his children and grandchildren this sad story.
Removal Act of 1830
An act to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the states or territories, and for their removal west of the river Mississippi.
Treaty of New Echota
Articles of a treaty, concluded at New Echota in the State of Georgia on the 29th day of Decr. 1835 by General William Carroll and JohnF. Schermerhorn commissioners on the part of the United States and the Chiefs Head Men and People of the Cherokee tribe of Indians.
Letter from John Ross
Letter from John Ross upon arrival at Beatties Prarie, 1839
Letter from Chief John Ross,
"We are overwhelmed! Our hearts are sickened, our utterance is paralized, when we reflect on the condition in which we are placed, by the audacious practices of unprincipled men, who have managed their stratagems with so much dexterity as to impose on the Government of the United States, in the face of our earnest, solemn, and reiterated protestations. . ."
1835 Census
1835 Census of Cherokees East of the Mississippi
Cherokee Nation v. State of Georgia
Chief Justice John Marshall's Opinion of the 1831 case.
Objection to Removal - 1829
To the Cherokee people, from Turkey Town.
Indian Memorial
Submitted by the people of Massachusetts and published in the Cherokee Phoenix, April 7, 1830.
Cherokees feel they are to be sacrificed
Published in Cherokee Phoenix and Indians' Advocate
Wednesday, March 17, 1830 , Vol. II, no. 48.
Page 2, col. 5a-Page 3, col. 2b
Memorial of the Creek Indians
The Cherokees presented their own memorial to Congress, and here is a look at the efforts of another tribe, also later forced to march on the Trail of Tears. Published in the Cherokee Phoenix March 17, 1830.
Did the Cherokee Really Want to Emigrate?
Prior to the Removals, Cherokees, called "Old Settlers," emigrated to Arkansas. Stories at the time in newspapers, or reports to government, erroneously stated the 'full' and traditional Cherokees wanted to emigrate. This articles shows differently. Published in the Cherokee Phoenix, March, 1830.
Friends' Memorial
The Society of Friends, a religious organization, presented this memorial to U.S. Congress. Published in the Cherokee Phoenix, March 5, 1830.
Philadelphia Memorials
The memorial on behalf of the Cherokee, adopted by Philadelphia. Published in the Cherokee Phoenix, 1830.
Boston Memorial
A memorial on behalf of the Cherokees, made by the people of Boston. Published in the Cherokee Phoenix, 1830.
Resolution of Council
Describes the effects of emigrating to Arkansas Territory; published in the Cherokee Phoenix, 1829
Tennessee House of Representatives Speech
By Mr. Mitchell, published in the Cherokee Phoenix, 1828.
Old Districts
Districts of the old Cherokee Nation, in the Eastern Homelands.
A Cherokee Law from 1822
Regarding dealing with State of Georgia.
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