USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -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-2: -The “Trail of Tears” was a forced removal of approximately twenty thousand Cherokee Indians. In 1838, the US government moved the tribe from their homelands in the mountain valleys of Appalachian Georgia and the Carolinas to western Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma.

Detailed explanation-3: -Between 1830 and 1850, about 100, 000 American Indians living between Michigan, Louisiana, and Florida moved west after the U.S. government coerced treaties or used the U.S. Army against those resisting. Many were treated brutally.

Detailed explanation-4: -For many, the long walk west began in earnest from Rattlesnake Springs. Perhaps as many as 13, 000 Cherokee left from here, though not all would reach Indian Territory. In all, 4, 000 Cherokee died on the way to present-day Oklahoma. Before leaving, the Cherokee were an established people.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Cherokee people called this journey the “Trail of Tears, ” because of its devastating effects. The migrants faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion on the forced march. Over 4, 000 out of 15, 000 of the Cherokees died. This picture, The Trail of Tears, was painted by Robert Lindneux in 1942.