USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Working on behalf of white settlers who wanted to grow cotton on the Indians’ land, the federal government forced them to leave their homelands and walk hundreds of miles to a specially designated “Indian Territory” across the Mississippi River.

Detailed explanation-2: -Between the 1830 Indian Removal Act and 1850, the U.S. government used forced treaties and/or U.S. Army action to move about 100, 000 American Indians living east of the Mississippi River, westward to Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma.

Detailed explanation-3: -More than 46, 000 Native Americans were forced-sometimes by the U.S. military-to abandon their homes and relocate to “Indian Territory” that eventually became the state of Oklahoma. More than 4, 000 died on the journey-of disease, starvation, and exposure to extreme weather.

Detailed explanation-4: -A few tribes went peacefully, but many resisted the relocation policy. During the fall and winter of 1838 and 1839, the Cherokees were forcibly moved west by the United States government. Approximately 4, 000 Cherokees died on this forced march, which became known as the “Trail of Tears."