The Trail of Tears Analysis
A guide to the forced removal of Native Americans.
Order a Custom Research Paper NowThe Trail of Tears is a tragic chapter in American history. It was the forced relocation of Native American nations, including the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole, from their ancestral homes in the southeastern United States to lands west of the Mississippi River. This event was the result of President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1830, a policy that the Cherokee Nation had strongly resisted.
This guide covers the causes, costs, and long-term effects of this policy. Students must understand the full scope of this event, moving beyond a simple narrative to analyze the political and social forces at play. For more on historical research methods, please visit our guide to academic writing for research papers, which provides tips on crafting a powerful historical narrative.
Context
The Trail of Tears was a culmination of U.S. policy aimed at displacing Native Americans to make way for American settlers. The discovery of gold on Cherokee lands in Georgia in 1829 heightened pressure for removal. President Andrew Jackson, who advocated the policy, ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling in Worcester v. Georgia (1832). This ruling affirmed the Cherokee Nation’s sovereignty and its right to its land. Jackson is quoted as saying, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it.”
This attitude showed the government’s willingness to disregard its own laws and treaties. It demonstrated that political goals outweighed legal obligations. The Indian Removal Act provided the legal framework for a massive land grab, leading to a shameful episode in U.S. history.
The Journey
In the fall of 1838, the U.S. Army, led by General Winfield Scott, began forcibly rounding up thousands of Cherokees. They were herded into stockades before being forced to march westward. The journey was a brutal ordeal. The roughly 1,200-mile journey was fraught with hardship. Many were not prepared for the harsh conditions, carrying little more than the clothes on their backs.
The march occurred during the bitter winter months. Thousands perished from exposure, disease (including cholera, typhoid, and whooping cough), and starvation. The dead were often buried in unmarked graves along the way. The Cherokee Nation lost an estimated 4,000 people—a quarter of its population—to the removal.
Cultural Impact
The Trail of Tears was not only a physical act of violence but an act of cultural destruction. The Cherokee had developed a sophisticated society with a written language (developed by Sequoyah), a newspaper, and a constitutional government. The removal destroyed their homes, farms, and way of life.
Upon arrival in what would become Oklahoma, the survivors faced the challenge of rebuilding their nation in a new and unfamiliar territory. The march divided the Cherokee people into factions, deepening internal political rifts that would last for years. The legacy of distrust in the U.S. government remains.
Legacy
The Trail of Tears is a symbol of the injustices faced by Native Americans. It continues to be a topic in discussions of indigenous rights, sovereignty, and the role of the federal government in the lives of Native nations.
Academic research on the topic is ongoing. For example, a recent article in the Journal of Native American Studies by L.M. Black analyzes the psychological trauma of the forced march and its intergenerational effects on modern Cherokee communities. This demonstrates how historical events continue to influence contemporary society. For help with your own research, consider our services, which include support for a wide range of academic subjects, including sociology and psychology. For more details on our services, visit our psychology research paper help page.
Key Figures and Factions
Andrew Jackson
As the 7th U.S. President, Jackson was the primary architect of the Indian Removal Act. His expansionist policies and belief in states’ rights over federal and tribal sovereignty drove the forced removal. He is remembered as a populist hero by some, but his legacy is deeply tarnished by his role in this humanitarian crisis.
John Ross
The Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation for nearly 40 years, John Ross was a skilled diplomat and politician who vehemently opposed the Indian Removal Act. He led the Cherokee resistance through legal and political channels, lobbying Congress and arguing the case for Cherokee sovereignty. He represents the resilience and organized opposition of the Cherokee people.
The Treaty Party
A minority faction within the Cherokee Nation led by figures like Elias Boudinot and Major Ridge. Believing that further resistance was futile and would lead to the nation’s destruction, they signed the controversial Treaty of New Echota in 1835 without the authorization of the Cherokee National Council. This treaty ceded all Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi to the U.S. government, providing the fraudulent legal basis for the forced removal.
John Marshall
As Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall delivered the majority opinion in Worcester v. Georgia (1832). His ruling stated that the Cherokee Nation was a distinct political community and that Georgia law had no force within its boundaries. This was a legal victory for the Cherokee, but it was ultimately ignored by President Jackson, highlighting a constitutional crisis where executive power defied judicial authority.
FAQs
What was the Trail of Tears?
The Trail of Tears was the forced and brutal relocation of thousands of Native Americans, including the Cherokee Nation, from their ancestral homes in the southeastern United States to lands west of the Mississippi River during the 1830s.
How many people died on the Trail of Tears?
Historians estimate that approximately 4,000 Cherokees died during the forced march due to exposure, disease, and starvation. This number does not include the thousands of others who died from the other forcibly removed nations.
Who was President during the Trail of Tears?
Andrew Jackson was the U.S. President who signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which initiated the policy that led to the Trail of Tears.
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