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Cherokees Response To The Indian Removal Act Of 1830

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This essay considers how Cherokees responded to the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This Act, promoted by the seventh President of the United States Andrew Jackson, enabled the United States government to relocate the “Five Civilized Tribes” to reservations west of the Mississippi River. The majority of Americans supported removing Southeastern Amerindians. American settlers were eager to gain access to Cherokee lands in Georgia. The Indian Removal Act resulted in the mass transplantation of Indian tribes known as the “Trail of Tears.” The Cherokee Nation and Chief John Ross responded to this Act in two ways: Challenging the Act in the Supreme Court, and disseminating petitions against the Act after the Treaty of New Echota. Their response to this …show more content…

The Removal Act was responsible for the expulsion of numerous Native Indians from their ancestral homelands in the east to the West. As a consequence, the Cherokees were divided into two groups: those who chose to surrender and depart for the West, and those who wanted to continue to resist. The former ones are called the ‘Treaty Party.’ It is consisted of pro-removal Cherokee leaders, who eventually signed the Treaty of New Echota that agreed to give up their tribal land. In the Treaty of New Echota, it is stated: “the Cherokee nation herby cede relinquish and convey to the United States all the lands owned claimed or possessed by them east of the Mississippi river, … in consideration of the sum of five millions of dollars …” (Treaty of New Echota, Article 1). Furthermore, the Cherokee and the United States agreed upon the protection and perpetual peace. “The United States agree to protect the Cherokee nation from domestic strife and foreign enemies and against intestine wars between the several tribes …” (Treaty of New Echota, Article 6). However, it was noticeable that Principal Chief John Ross or the Cherokee government did not ratify the treaty. In his letter, he argues: “A spurious Delegation, in violation of a special injunction of the general council of the nation … By the stipulations of this instrument, we are despoiled of our private possessions, the indefeasible property of

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