Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears

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Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears
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Black Hawk War

• 1827 - US govt says all Native Americans must
  leave Illinois
• Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk refuses, saying no
  one can own land
• US settlers moved into village when they were
  away hunting
• After Sauk attacks, US troops drive out Indians

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Indian Removal Act

• President Jackson pushes Congress to force
  Indians to move west of the Mississippi
• Congress established Indian Territory (now
  Oklahoma) as the new Indian homeland
• US govt creates Bureau of Indian Affairs

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John C. Calhoun
One of the greatest evils to which they
(Indians) are subject is the incessant (constant)
pressure of our population.

• According to John C. Calhoun, why is the US
  government forcing the Native Americans to move
  off of their homelands?
• What is wrong with this statement?

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Cherokee Indians

• Lived peacefully in the Appalachian Mountains of
  Georgia and Tennessee
• Adopted culture of whites - wrote and spoke
  English
• Had own written language and newspaper
• Based their government on the U.S. Constitution

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Cherokee Sue For Land

• Cherokee sued the government of Georgia for
  taking their land
• Worcester vs. Georgia - Supreme Court rules
  Georgias actions are illegal and that the
  Cherokee can stay

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President Andrew Jackson
Chief Justice John Marshall has made his
decision. Now let him enforce it.

• What is the job of the Supreme Court?
• What is the job of the President?
• What should happen if a government official
  refuses to do his job?

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Trail of Tears

• Georgia govt. smashes in Cherokee printing press
• US troops move 18,000 Cherokee at gunpoint 800
  miles from 1838-1839
• 25 of Cherokee died - most elderly and children

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Trail of Tears Assignment

• Write a three entry diary about your experiences
  on the Trail of Tears and how your life was/will
  be affected by the move from Georgia to Oklahoma.
• Entry One - Before you leave (court case)
• Entry Two - On the Trail (struggles during the
  trip)
• Entry Three - When you arrive in Indian Territory
  (how life has changed)
• Detail earns points - cover emotion, fears, pain,
  successes with colorful adjectives and adverbs
• Due next class