Trail of Tears: Cherokee Forced Removal 1838 — Reading Comprehension

The Trail of Tears refers to the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States in 1838. Under orders from the U.S. government, around 16,000 Cherokee people were forced to leave their homes and travel more than 1,000 miles to present-day Oklahoma. This tragic journey resulted in the deaths of thousands of Cherokee men, women, and children from disease, hunger, and exposure.

The causes of the Trail of Tears are rooted in the U.S. government's desire for land and economic growth. White settlers wanted access to rich farmland and gold discovered in Georgia. President Andrew Jackson and Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830, which authorized the removal of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River. The government argued that removal would protect Native Americans from conflicts with settlers, but the main goal was to open land for white expansion.

Not all Americans supported removal. Many people, including missionaries and some politicians, argued that forcing the Cherokee to leave was unjust and violated previous treaties. The Cherokee themselves tried to resist through legal means. In 1832, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Worcester v. Georgia that the Cherokee Nation was a distinct community and that Georgia's laws did not apply to them. However, President Jackson reportedly refused to enforce the decision. Instead, the government pressured Cherokee leaders to sign the Treaty of New Echota in 1835, which ceded all Cherokee land east of the Mississippi in exchange for land in the west and money. Most Cherokee people opposed the treaty, but it was used as legal justification for removal.

One primary source from a Cherokee leader, John Ross, reveals their perspective: “We are overwhelmed! Our hearts are sickened, our people are dying…” This quote expresses the deep sense of loss and injustice felt by the Cherokee during removal. The U.S. soldiers who carried out the removal often viewed their actions as enforcing the law, but many also witnessed the suffering of the Cherokee and described the journey as inhumane.

The journey itself was filled with hardship. The Cherokee were forced to march in harsh weather, often without enough food or proper shelter. Disease spread rapidly, and many died along the way. This suffering left a permanent mark on Cherokee culture and memory. The consequences of the Trail of Tears were devastating: the Cherokee lost their homeland, thousands lost their lives, and the event set a pattern for future removals of other Native American nations.

While the U.S. government justified removal as necessary for progress and security, the Trail of Tears is now widely recognized as a grave injustice and a violation of human rights. Today, historians study this event to understand its causes, the perspectives of those involved, and its lasting effects on American society. The Trail of Tears remains a powerful example of how policies motivated by economic interests and prejudice can have tragic consequences for entire communities.

Interesting Fact: The phrase “Trail of Tears” was first used by the Cherokee themselves to describe their journey. It has since become a symbol of the suffering caused by forced removal.

When did the Trail of Tears occur?

Who was President during the Indian Removal Act?

Where were the Cherokee forced to move?

Why did settlers want Cherokee land?

What was the result of Worcester v. Georgia?

What does the quote from John Ross show?

The Indian Removal Act was passed in 1830.

What is a treaty?