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The Trail Of Tears By James Collins

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James Collins
Donald West
History 201
December 1, 2015
TRAIL OF TEARS
The trail of tears is also referred to as the period of Indian s removal. It was a period where Native Americans in the U.S were forcefully relocated following the removal of Indian Removal Act of 1830. Those who were forcibly moved were from Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, and Chickasaw and Choctaw nations in the southern U.S, an area initially referred to as the Indian Territory. Migration from Cherokee nation had begun in the early 1800’s where some Cherokee’s decided to move and settle in other parts of the country. A group of Old Settlers had moved there earlier in 1817 voluntarily to lands granted to them in Arkansas where they had a peaceful life. Afterward, they were forced to move into the I Indian Territory (A. Byers 27)
Resentment of Cherokee from the whites had been building up ad it became worse after the discovery of gold in northern Georgia. White communities turned against their Cherokee neighbors due to the thirst for expansion and gold. Without consulting or questions asked, the U.S government decided that Cherokee had to be removed, leaving their lands, home and farm. Before their removal, the five groups lived together being referred to as the Five Civilized Groups. The white settlers from the southeast had been pressurizing the U.S government to remove the Native Americans. These settlers were on the Indian lands and wanted more for them. The move was initially opposed by many as it was

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