Historical Figures
What side of the Trail of Tears did John Ross represent?
The Native Americans (Cherokee Tribe)
Which tribe was affected the most during the Trail of Tears and Indian Removal Act?
The Cherokee Tribe
Who created the Indian Removal Act?
It was drafted by President Andrew Jackson.
Why did Georgia want the Cherokee's land in the Worcester v. Georgia case?
Gold was discovered on Cherokee territory.
Who was President at the time of the Trail of Tears?
President Andrew Jackson
How many tribes were removed due to the Indian Removal Act?
The "Five Civilized Tribes"
Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole.
When was the Indian Removal Act released?
It was signed and released May 28, 1830.
During the removal of the Cherokee tribe, how many people died?
Out of an estimated 16,000 Cherokee people, over 4,000 people are thought to have died.
Who was Major Ridge?
He was a Native American leader that signed the Treaty of New Echota.
What were the conditions for the Native Americans on the Trail of Tears?
Whooping cough, typhus, dysentery, cholera, exposure, and starvation. All in the dead of winter.
How did the government justify the Trail of Tears?
They focused on the benefits for expanding white civilization. They also alienated the Native Americans and said they weren't civil enough to live with the rest of the country.
What did the Treaty of New Echota do?
It ceded all Cherokee land East of the Mississippi River to the US government in return for $5 million and new land in modern-day Oklahoma.
Who was the last person alive from the Trail of Tears?
Rebecca Ketcher Neugin. She was born between 1827 and 1835. She died in 1932 around age 97.
What were the conditions in the Native American's new land?
They were left in a desolate land, deemed unfit for white settlers. The government agreed to give them supplies and aid for the first year, nothing more.
What decision was made when the Native Americans took the case to Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court determined that the Native Americans were an independent community and had natural rights like any other group. Andrew Jackson overruled that though, and went on with the act.
Who signed the Treaty of New Echota to allow the Trail of Tears to happen?
It was signed by Major Ridge and members of the Cherokee Nation that weren't authorized to sign.