When was the Trail of Tears timeline? This harrowing period in American history, marked by the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands to designated territories in the west, spans from 1830 to 1850. The Trail of Tears was a dark chapter in the nation’s past, one that continues to resonate with the descendants of those affected by this tragic event.
The Trail of Tears was initiated by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, signed into law by President Andrew Jackson. This act aimed to relocate Native American tribes living in the southeastern United States to lands west of the Mississippi River. The act primarily affected the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes, who were forcibly removed from their homes and subjected to harsh conditions during their forced marches.
The timeline of the Trail of Tears can be broken down into several key events:
1830:
– The Indian Removal Act is signed into law by President Andrew Jackson.
– The Cherokee Nation files a lawsuit against the United States, seeking to prevent the forced removal.
1831:
– The Supreme Court rules in favor of the Cherokee Nation in Worcester v. Georgia, declaring that the Cherokee were a sovereign nation and that Georgia could not enforce its laws within their territory.
1832:
– The Treaty of New Echota is signed by a small group of Cherokee leaders, known as the “Cherokee National Council,” who agreed to the removal in exchange for land in the west. This treaty was widely opposed by the majority of the Cherokee people.
1838-1839:
– The largest group of Cherokee, led by Chief John Ross, resist the removal orders. However, they are eventually forced to leave their homes in Georgia and begin the journey westward.
1839-1840:
– The Choctaw Nation is the first to be forcibly removed, with an estimated 15,000 people making the journey to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).
1840:
– The Chickasaw Nation is removed from Mississippi to Indian Territory.
1842:
– The Creek Nation is removed from Alabama and Georgia to Indian Territory.
1843:
– The Seminole Nation is removed from Florida to Indian Territory.
1845:
– The Cherokee Nation is removed from Georgia to Indian Territory, marking the end of the Trail of Tears for this tribe.
The Trail of Tears resulted in the deaths of thousands of Native Americans due to disease, malnutrition, and exhaustion during the forced marches. The emotional and psychological toll on the survivors and their descendants has been profound, with the Trail of Tears remaining a symbol of the tragic consequences of forced assimilation and the disregard for Native American rights and sovereignty.
Today, the Trail of Tears is remembered as a dark chapter in American history, one that serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of Native American peoples and the importance of honoring their rights and cultures.
