Cherokee Removal
Sam Davis
Chambers
Cherokee Removal essay
11/19/13
Georgia’s campaign for Indian removal begins in the early 19th century. The state of Georgia and the federal government made an agreement that made Georgia surrender its colonial land claims in the present day Alabama-Mississippi border region. Part of the deal insured that the United States government would acquire all the lands held by Indians within the new boundaries of the state as “rapidly as it could be done peaceably and on reasonable terms.” The federal government recognized Indian tribes as sovereign nations and couldn’t simply force tribal leaders to sell their land that they have been on for hundreds of years, if not for a thousand years. The government conducted relations with the Native Americans through treaties, states generally had less control in the matter of Indian relations. Although other southern states had Indians living within their boundaries, Georgia and its people took a radical and aggressive approach in the expulsion of the Cherokee people on their own terms.
Georgia politicians quickly came to a realization that Indians remained within the borders claimed by Georgia. In Georgians eyes, the United States was not coming up with their end of the deal; or not performing the deeds of expulsion fast enough. Many Georgians were becoming anxious of the strides Cherokees had made towards becoming “civilized”. Perdue points out in her book that the civilization of the Cherokee was strengthening their hold on their land, well-educated Cherokees not only were more difficult to trick or intimidate, and they shared many of the economic and social values of the people of Georgia. A slap in the face came to Georgia when the Cherokee nation wrote up their own constitution in 1828. Article 1 defined the borders of the Cherokee Nation and legal jargon proclaimed its sovereignty. At utter disapproval and rage, Georgia saw to it that they take this matter into their own hands. Politicians of the
Chambers
Cherokee Removal essay
11/19/13
Georgia’s campaign for Indian removal begins in the early 19th century. The state of Georgia and the federal government made an agreement that made Georgia surrender its colonial land claims in the present day Alabama-Mississippi border region. Part of the deal insured that the United States government would acquire all the lands held by Indians within the new boundaries of the state as “rapidly as it could be done peaceably and on reasonable terms.” The federal government recognized Indian tribes as sovereign nations and couldn’t simply force tribal leaders to sell their land that they have been on for hundreds of years, if not for a thousand years. The government conducted relations with the Native Americans through treaties, states generally had less control in the matter of Indian relations. Although other southern states had Indians living within their boundaries, Georgia and its people took a radical and aggressive approach in the expulsion of the Cherokee people on their own terms.
Georgia politicians quickly came to a realization that Indians remained within the borders claimed by Georgia. In Georgians eyes, the United States was not coming up with their end of the deal; or not performing the deeds of expulsion fast enough. Many Georgians were becoming anxious of the strides Cherokees had made towards becoming “civilized”. Perdue points out in her book that the civilization of the Cherokee was strengthening their hold on their land, well-educated Cherokees not only were more difficult to trick or intimidate, and they shared many of the economic and social values of the people of Georgia. A slap in the face came to Georgia when the Cherokee nation wrote up their own constitution in 1828. Article 1 defined the borders of the Cherokee Nation and legal jargon proclaimed its sovereignty. At utter disapproval and rage, Georgia saw to it that they take this matter into their own hands. Politicians of the