We Shall Remain Trail of Tears

The Struggle for Cherokee Identity and Survival

The Ridge's Leadership and Vision

• The Ridge, a prominent Cherokee leader, was deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict between Native Americans and settlers, advocating for action amidst the struggle.

• By 1830, he had negotiated several agreements with the U.S. government to secure safety for the Cherokee people while striving to maintain their ancestral lands.

• Born in 1771, The Ridge grew up in a rich cultural landscape that shaped his identity as a Cherokee warrior tasked with protecting his people's territory from encroachment.

Historical Context of Conflict

• The Cherokees faced constant threats from neighboring tribes and American settlers; their involvement in the American Revolution led to significant losses.

• After witnessing destruction firsthand, including the burning of his town by American forces, The Ridge recognized that survival required adapting strategies against U.S. expansionism.

• By 1805, the Cherokee population had drastically declined due to war and land loss; treaties did not guarantee their safety or rights.

Adapting to New Realities

• To preserve their nation, The Ridge understood that embracing new approaches was necessary; this included engaging with U.S. policies aimed at "civilizing" Native Americans.

• Post-Revolutionary America promoted assimilation through education and lifestyle changes intended to align Indigenous peoples with Anglo-American norms.

Assimilation Policies and Their Implications

• U.S. policies encouraged Native Americans to adopt agricultural practices similar to white settlers' lifestyles as part of an effort towards integration into American society.

• Thomas Jefferson expressed optimism about Native Americans becoming equals through intermarriage and shared governance within a unified American identity.

John Ross: A Bridge Between Cultures

• John Ross emerged as a key figure in Cherokee history; he navigated both Indigenous traditions and European influences due to his mixed heritage.

• Growing up bilingual among diverse social classes within the Cherokee community allowed Ross to embody both traditional values and modern aspirations.

• His experiences highlighted tensions between cultural identities when he faced ridicule for wearing European clothing instead of traditional attire during community events.

Cherokee Land and the Ridge Family's Journey

The Common Ownership of Cherokee Land

• Cherokee land was collectively owned by the tribe, allowing individual members to cultivate as much land as their resources permitted.

• Major Ridge, a prominent figure, reported positively on his family's farming success, highlighting that all heads of households had homes and farms.

Education and Aspirations of John Ridge

• Major Ridge hoped for a new generation of educated Cherokees to strengthen their nation against federal pressures; he particularly believed in his son John Ridge's potential.

• John Ridge received an opportunity for education at a missionary school in Connecticut, which Major Ridge eagerly accepted.

John Ridge's Academic Journey

• While studying away from home, John absorbed both Christian teachings and principles from the U.S. Constitution.

• Described as aloof yet brilliant by teachers, he excelled academically compared to his more sociable cousin Buck.

Personal Struggles and Relationships

• Despite health challenges during harsh winters, John managed to maintain strong academic performance and developed a romantic relationship with Sarah Bird Northrop.

• After overcoming health issues and gaining approval from Sarah’s parents, John proposed marriage in a formal ceremony.

Changing Perspectives on Race

• John's experiences in New England altered his perception of white society; he recognized the deep-seated prejudices against Native Americans despite being educated.

Political Landscape Among the Cherokees

• Meanwhile, John Ross emerged as a significant political figure within the Cherokee Nation amidst growing tensions with the U.S. government over land rights.

• Ross's background differed from that of Major Ridge; he was not from a prominent family but shared similar aspirations for Cherokee sovereignty.

Challenges Facing the Cherokee Nation

• The Cherokee Nation faced increasing pressure to cede land due to American expansionism while striving to maintain its territory through strong leadership like that of Ross and Ridge.

Cherokee Society and the Rise of New Leadership

The Agricultural Advancements of Major Ridge

• Major Ridge's plantation was noted for its high level of cultivation, surpassing others in the region, including white settlers.

• Ridge managed nearly 300 acres dedicated to cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, wheat, and indigo while overseeing an orchard, dairy, and vineyard with around 30 slaves.

• A significant portion of the mixed-blood elite among the Cherokees began adopting Southern planter lifestyles.

Social Changes Among the Cherokees

• Not all Cherokees embraced new opportunities; traditional class distinctions emerged that had not existed before.

• Sequoia played a pivotal role in empowering the Cherokee people by creating a written system for their language despite his own illiteracy in other languages.

Literacy Revolution in Cherokee Society

• Within a few years, literacy spread throughout the Cherokee Nation; notable works included translations of the Bible and documentation of healing practices.

Political Developments and New Leadership

• By the late 1820s, John Ross emerged as a prominent leader who represented common interests among full-blood Cherokees.

• Ross authored a new constitution establishing a democratically elected government mirroring U.S. structures with distinct branches to protect Cherokee land.

Tensions with Georgia and Federal Government Actions

• The new constitution drew clear borders around Cherokee territory but provoked negative reactions from Georgia officials fearing loss of control over land.

• The discovery of gold within Cherokee territory led to increased pressure from white prospectors and political movements advocating for Indian removal under President Andrew Jackson's administration.

Indian Removal and Cherokee Sovereignty

The Context of Indian Removal

• The Cherokees, recognized as one of the "civilized tribes," sought support from friends along the eastern seaboard, highlighting their progress and sympathetic image to northeasterners.

• A pivotal question arose during congressional debates: Should Native Americans be allowed to exist or be eradicated? This debate captured national attention.

Congressional Debate and Legislation

• The Indian Removal bill faced significant opposition, particularly from New England senators who voted 11 to 1 against it; however, southern senators ensured its passage in Congress.

• Despite a closer vote in the House (102 to 297), President Andrew Jackson's signature made Indian removal law, leading Georgia to claim Cherokee land for white settlers through lotteries.

Erosion of Cherokee Rights

• Georgia's legislature enacted laws that undermined Cherokee sovereignty, declaring meetings of their legislature illegal and subjecting all residents on Cherokee land to state law.

• Missionaries were coerced into pledging allegiance to Georgia; those who resisted faced imprisonment, illustrating the state's disregard for federal protections.

Leadership and Resistance

• Major Ridge chose not to run for chief but supported John Ross as a leader capable of navigating negotiations with the U.S., emphasizing the need for an English-speaking representative.

• Chief Ross implemented strict laws against unauthorized land sales by individuals without tribal consent, reinforcing collective decision-making within the tribe.

Legal Battles for Sovereignty

• Ross aimed to challenge Jackson’s policies using federal courts, framing arguments around self-determination and tribal rights while filing multiple lawsuits that reached the Supreme Court.

• The core legal question revolved around whether federal treaties with the Cherokee Nation superseded state laws in Georgia—a critical issue in American politics at that time.

Supreme Court Rulings

• In Worcester v. Georgia, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that Georgia had no authority over Cherokee lands or laws without their consent—an important affirmation of tribal sovereignty.

• This ruling was seen as a victory for the Cherokees; however, it was met with defiance from both President Jackson and state officials who refused compliance with the court's order.

Political Realities and Decisions

• John Ridge confronted President Jackson about enforcing compliance with Supreme Court rulings but received a dismissive response indicating Jackson's intent to support Georgian interests over federal mandates.

• As violence against Cherokees escalated in Georgia due to non-compliance with federal decisions, many leaders felt compelled toward painful choices regarding resistance or relocation amidst increasing threats from settlers.

The Struggle for Cherokee Sovereignty

The Dilemma of Land vs. Sovereignty

• The Cherokee people face a critical choice between preserving their land and maintaining their sovereignty, emphasizing the importance of remaining a sovereign nation amidst imminent threats.

• Some Cherokees express that while the distance to potential new lands is far for others, it is not an insurmountable challenge for them.

Internal Conflict Among Cherokee Leadership

• John Ross finds himself in a precarious position as he navigates the political landscape, aware of the divisions within the Cherokee leadership, particularly with John Ridge's ambitions.

• Ross believes unity among the Cherokees is essential for survival against federal pressures and feels compelled by his constituents to act in their best interest.

Tensions Rise Between Factions

• The Ridge faction argues that open communication with the Cherokee people could sway them towards accepting negotiations, criticizing Ross's heavy-handed approach.

• In response to perceived threats from internal factions, Ross suspends upcoming tribal elections, which deepens animosity between him and Ridge.

Federal Manipulation and Division

• Federal agents exploit divisions within the Cherokee leadership by fostering rumors about illegal negotiations by Ridge’s faction, heightening tensions further.

• During an emergency session at Red Clay Council Grounds in 1834, Ross warns of dire consequences if they lose U.S. protection over their land rights.

The Treaty of New Echota Controversy

• A self-appointed group of leaders negotiates the Treaty of New Echota without majority support from Cherokees; this treaty offers financial compensation but contradicts community wishes.

• Despite knowing they lack authority to sign such treaties and facing backlash from fellow citizens who view them as traitors, these leaders justify their actions as necessary for protecting those who do not understand the situation.

The Cherokee Removal: A Struggle for Survival

The Treaty of New Echota and Initial Reactions

• The Treaty of New Echota was ratified by a narrow margin in the U.S. Senate, prompting Major Ridge and his son John to relocate westward to establish a new Cherokee Nation.

• Despite the treaty, only about 2,000 out of 18,000 Cherokee citizens chose to join the Ridges in their migration west; many were unwilling to leave their ancestral lands.

• Most Cherokees continued farming and improving their land, demonstrating a strong attachment to their homes and resistance to removal.

John Ross's Leadership and Efforts

• Chief John Ross struggled to unify the Cherokee people against removal, emphasizing that a small group signing a treaty should not dictate their fate.

• Ross sought support from fellow Cherokees, urging them to sign petitions that would help fight against forced removal.

The Imminent Threat of Removal

• With a deadline for removal set for May 1838 and federal troops surrounding Cherokee territory, tensions escalated as white settlers encroached on their lands.

• Ross believed in the moral decency of Americans and hoped that the treaty could be overturned through legal means by presenting a petition signed by over 15,000 Cherokees.

Congressional Challenges

• The petition prepared by Ross arrived just before Congress adjourned due to an unrelated duel among congressmen; this delay hindered immediate action on the Cherokee issue.

• Ultimately, Congress ignored Ross's petition entirely, dismissing the pleas of nearly all Eastern Cherokees without consideration.

Forced Removal Begins

• On May 26th, 1838—three days after the removal deadline—federal troops began forcibly assembling Cherokee people into stockades under harsh conditions.

• Many Cherokees were herded into makeshift pens like cattle as they faced dire circumstances during this initial phase of removal.

Suffering During Relocation

• Chief Ross took control over logistics for relocation in hopes of minimizing suffering until fall when conditions might improve; however, many remained imprisoned in poor conditions.

• Reports indicated severe hardships faced by those held captive in stockades with inadequate shelter leading to high mortality rates among infants and elderly individuals.

Journey Westward Amidst Adversity

• By October 1838, most of the Cherokee Nation was finally pushed westward; however, winter storms complicated travel significantly.

• As detachments reached frozen rivers during one of the harshest winters recorded at that time, thousands found themselves stranded without adequate supplies or shelter.

The Tragic Journey of the Cherokee

The Harsh Realities of Forced Removal

• The Cherokee faced exorbitant prices for grain, leading to severe depletion and inability to hunt. A New England observer noted a procession of 2,000 sick and feeble individuals, many near death, with women carrying dying children.

• Many traveled on frozen ground without proper footwear, often burying 14 or 15 deceased at each stopping point. This highlights the dire conditions endured during their forced march.

Cultural Resilience Amidst Suffering

• Despite the hardships, many Cherokees sang Christian hymns like "Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah" during their journey, reflecting their faith and hope amidst suffering. One quarter of them died en route.

• The U.S. government gained land through this removal process; however, it left a significant stain on national honor due to the ethnic cleansing that occurred in the 1830s, resulting in approximately 4,000 deaths among the Cherokee people.

Violence and Loss within the Community

• On one tragic day, three prominent Cherokee leaders were murdered: one was stabbed multiple times while another was attacked with a hatchet; these events led to deep wounds within the community that would last for decades.

• John Ross emerged as a key figure tasked with healing his nation after these violent events and aimed to maintain a strong and sovereign Cherokee Nation despite ongoing challenges from external forces.

Restoration Efforts Post-Civil War

• By 1860, under Ross's leadership for nearly 40 years, the Cherokee Nation had reconstituted its government and businesses flourished; they established an advanced public education system for both men and women while honoring ancient traditions like the green corn dance.

• As tensions rose again in 1866 over land demands from the U.S., Ross fell ill but took comfort knowing that his people had established themselves as a resilient nation connected deeply to their land despite impending challenges ahead.

Connection to Ancestral Land

• The Cherokees found solace in their new territory resembling their ancestral lands; they believed it was shaped by familiar natural forces which fostered a sense of belonging despite displacement from Georgia. Their connection is further emphasized by stories passed down through generations about their heritage and experiences on this journey.

• Writer Scott Momaday reflects on how stories are carried in blood across generations—though he did not experience the march himself, he acknowledges its significance through familial narratives shared over time.