"May You Always Walk In Peace!"

"Trail Of Tears!"

~A Story Of The Cherokee People~

In may of 1830..President Andrew Jackson signed into
law the Indian Removal Act. Jackson gave the policy
immediacy and an assertion that existing Indian Treaties
did not consitute Federal Recognition of Indian Sovereign
Rights to the soil of their homelands..

Georgia unilaterally extended it's laws over the Cherokee
Nation in 1879 to become effective June 1st 1830, Jackson
withdrew Federal troops and enied protection to the Cherokee.
In 1830, Cherokee's who held tribal office became criminals.
Georgia prepared to distribute their land by lottery, and
seize their other property for Debt.

In 1837, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld treaties as "The
Supreme Law Of The Land" and ruled that that Georgian's
Laws did not apply to the Cherokee Nation. Federal Marshall's
could not act to enforce the ruling a State Judge formally
refused to comply, and in this case the State just ignored the
Supreme Courts, which adjourned without ever reporting to the
President, the Georgian's failure to comfrom.

Alabama and Misissippi imitated Georgia in extending the laws
over the Indian Nations. North Carolina and Tennessee followed
for the Choctaw, Chickasaw, teh Cherokee's and the Creeks the
result was disaster.

Between 1830 and 1835 several attempts were made at treaties,
but the end result was always the same. Fraud, Violence, and
Drunkeness were the immediate fruits of the treaties for the
Indians. Chaos owuld be the ultimate result, with uprooted,
homeless and displaced thousands, slowly started trailing west.

*RESISTANCE WAS FUTILE! ** REMOVAL WAS INEVITABLE*

Once the removal started troupps were told,
"To prevent escape, approach and surround each
house, as far as possible, so as come upon the
Occupants without warning.

The Cherokee fell sick in houlding camps. They departed
in te midst of the drought, which made food and water scarce
But they were ever pushed West. People fell sick and died
and were buried along the way. The trip took an especially
hard on women and childen. The road they traveled was the
"Road they Cried". "The bitter Trail Of Tears!"

In all there were some "Four Thousand" silent graves, that
mark the Cherokee's Trail To Their Exile!

**** © 2003 ****

Graphic Acknowledgements:

Text information:
"The Native Americans"
An Illustrated History
Turner Publishing..

Actual Paintings, I got from Web shots.
Visit their web site ..Click "Here"

Feathers, pipes, and other Native graphics
are from Sam Silverhawk's graphics..

Please see my Graphics Page ..