Multicultural Incursions

Before European settlers came to America, the Cherokee population had no limitations as to where they could flourish. They hunted, fished and grew crops wherever they pleased. At first, the Cherokee groups helped the Europeans to hunt, fish and farm in the new unfamiliar environment. The settlers began to build schools and churches and the Cherokee people began to learn the ways of the Europeans and the younger Cherokee began to build there own mills and little shops to join the white community. But some of the Cherokee people did not like these changes because they felt that they were starting to lose their culture. Cherokee members wanted to establish their own community in Georgia that would make them self governed from the white population. But, Georgia increased its state pressure on the federal government to release Cherokee lands for white settlement. Most settlers did not wait however and began to rush into the Cherokee territory claiming land that was not theirs. It also started to get worse when Andrew Jackson became president in 1830, gold was found on their lands, and the Indian Removal Act was passed. People were swarming in their territory and the Cherokee people were not allowed to protest against anyone intruding on their land because it was now government land. Then in 1836, the government passed the treaty that sealed the deal for white settlers. It was the removal of Cherokees West of the Mississippi in exchange for $5 million and new territory. The Cherokee people fought for a different approach but was never given to them. So in 1838, the Cherokee people were forced West of the Mississippi on a long and rigorous journey to what is now known as the Trail of Tears.

The Cherokee Nation in the 1820

The University of North Carolina 

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/4548