Aim:

How does the Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears portray U.S. treatment of Native Americans?

Do Now: Copy Vocabulary Below • Indian Removal Act of 1830- Federal government forced Native Americans to move west. Most moved to Texas and Oklahoma • Worcester v. Georgia (1832): Supreme Court, still led by Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that Cherokee land could not be invaded • Trail of Tears- In 1838, U.S. Army troops forced the 20,000 remaining Cherokee were to move. Most of the 800-mile trip was made on foot. Their money and livestock was stolen along the way. More than one-quarter died during the journey

TRAIL OF TEARS There's a trail of tears Flowing from our homeland Washing out the years Drowning out the red man.

There's a broken heart beating like a funeral drum, A nation torn apart, So one can be born. There's a memory That the eagle holds high When we were free As the wind in the sky.

There's a feeling inside That stirs our madness To have a chosen life In the fields of sadness. There are some empty teepees Falling into dust Like an endangered species We're losing way too much We are a world forgotten Pushed aside and left alone But comes a time when we will rise again.

Oh Great One, hear our prayers and our song.

Task 1: Read the poem, Trail of Tears and complete questions 1-3

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the tone of this poem? What examples can you use to show your point of view?

2. What inference can you make about the identity of the author?

3. What story is the author telling the reader?

• •

Copy notes into your notebook

Attitudes toward Native Americans:

– Convert them to Christianity, turn them into farmers, and absorb them into white culture – Force them to move off their land so white settlers could have it

Southeastern Tribes

– Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Creek, and Chicksaw – Called “five civilized tribes” because they adopted European culture – White farmers and miners wanted their land

Colonists Move West

As the population grew, the colonists pushed farther west into the territories occupied by the American Indians.

Inevitably, this movement led to clashes over land.

Indian Removal, 1920 -1840 Jackson saw Indian Removal as an opportunity to provide for the needs of the white farmers and businessmen. He also claimed that removal was also in the best interest of the Indians. Why?

Congress forces Indians to move west of the Mississippi

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 gov’t creates Bureau of Indian Affairs

U.S. Quick Quiz

Read, Trail of Tears: The Cherokee Are Forced West and complete questions 1-4

1.

Why did the U.S government decide to remove the Native Americans in 1830, as to opposed before that date?

2.

What do you think the government meant when it called the Cherokees one of the five “civilized tribes”?

3.

Explain why some of the Cherokee wanted to sign the treaty and move to Oklahoma.

4.

Once the Cherokee arrived in Oklahoma, why do you think they suffered internal turmoil?

Watch Short Video Clip

• • Video on Andrew Jackson’s Controversial Decisions Indian Removal Act and South Carolina Nullification • Answer Questions as best you can, using your prior knowledge, readings, notes and the video

Ross Jackson

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

- John C. Calhoun

1) According to John C. Calhoun, why is the US government forcing the Native Americans to move off of their homelands?

2) What is wrong with this statement?

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

Cherokee Sue For Land

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

“Chief Justice John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.”

President Andrew Jackson

1) What is the job of the Supreme Court?

2) What is the job of the President?

3) What should happen if a government official refuses to do his job?

• • US troops move 18,000 Cherokee at gunpoint 800 miles from 1838-1839 25% of Cherokee died most elderly and children

U.S. troops force Cherokee west at gunpoint

• • •

Summary

Reflection: Journal Writing

Imagine you are a Native American on the Trail of Tears. Write a 1-2 paragraph journal entry describing how you feel about the removal and describing your experiences during your journey. Be sure to include the name of your tribe, where your native lands are, and where you are being relocated to.

Class work

• • Working in groups of 3, read Documents 1-3 • Student A: Read Document • Student B: Answer Questions as partner is reading • Read Question FIRST Answer questions in complete sentences. • Take turns switching roles for each document : Student A  B