Cherokee Indians

The Cherokees had lived in the interior southeast, for hundreds of years in the nineteenth century. But in the early eighteenth century setters from the European ancestry started moving into the

Currently, when the losses suffered by the Cherokee Nation as a result of their forced removal are discussed, there is a focus on the loss in numbers. However, Russell Thornton’s “Cherokee Population Losses During Trail of Tears: A New Perspective and a New Estimate” clearly presents a new, suitably researched perspective that argues the focus should not be only on those that died, but also on those that never lived. Thornton is a professor at UCLA in the Anthropology department. He has a number of degrees related to this study, including a Ph.D. in Sociology and a postdoctoral in Social Relations from Harvard, and specializes in Native American studies. He is clearly appropriately acquainted with this field, and his knowledge of the subject matter is evident in this piece. However, he also cites a number of papers and books by other authors, so as not to rely purely on his knowledge.

The Trail of Tears represents one of the most catastrophic eras in the history of the United States. It was the start of the Cherokee tribe’s extermination. The Cherokee Indians have existed on this mainland way longer than anybody of British background however, they were removed in a ruthless style, from their homeland, on which they have lived for countless centuries. This paper will show and prove the detrimental effect it had on the Cherokee. It will be expressed through the way they existed before they were forced off, address the situation that led to their elimination, explain the conditions of travel, and tell what has happened to the Cherokee following the Trail of Tears.

Where were the Cherokee homelands and why did immigrants and others want those lands for themselves? Across the Appalachian Mountains from Kentucky to Alabama was the homelands of the Cherokee in sort of a half or semicircle, they liked it because that area had ideal fertile soil for crops, and a good source of water. The immigrants desired what the Cherokee people had. Very soon searches occurred by other immigrants to find gold.

The political and military arguments for the removal of the Cherokee Indians for Georgia were that they are not civilized in their community and the military is getting stronger. The Cherokee Indians not becoming civilized in the community demonstrate that the Indians are being forced into a plan they did not sign up for. “If they continue barbarous, they are forcibly removed: if they attempt to civilize themselves (Document F).” The community is not treating them like they should be treated, so the Indians feel that they are excluded from them that is why they are being more active. The government is trying to force the colonist and the Indians together in one place.

The laws that the natives had made, became more elaborate, and were put together as their constitution in 1827. The Cherokees became prime example of a developing Indian, and were labeled as, "the most civilized tribe in America." (McLoughlin, pg. 279) The Cherokees became self-sufficient and began competing with American traders, instead of having to rely on their goods to survive. Their newfound education also helped in their ability to reason, and bargain. Another important aspect in this renascence, that affected Indian education, was the emergence of mixed-blood Indians. The mixed-blood Indians brought a new blend of people who had the knowledge of both cultures and could better combine both ways of living into one that was better off.

For centuries Indians occupied what is today known as Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina, thriving and prospering there (History-Trail of Tears). The Cherokee Indians lived peacefully in the Southern Appalachians until Europeans settled on their land in 1540 (Perdue 2). Although the Europeans saw themselves as superior to the Cherokees because they were more civilized, the two actually had similar beliefs and upbringings. Both the Cherokee Tribe and the Europeans believed that their land had been made for them by their individual gods and that this land was flawless; however, both of the group’s ancestors became greedy and subsequently lost their particular land. For the Europeans, this is the story

In American Indian life, they believe their life is interconnected with the world, nature, and other people. The idea of a peoplehood matrix runs deep in Indian culture, in this essay the Cherokee, which is the holistic view of sacred history, language, ceremony, and homeland together. This holistic model shapes the life of the American Indians and how their sense of being and relationship to their history is strong and extremely valuable to them. This essay will try to explain how each aspect of the peoplehood matrix is important and interconnected to each other and the life of the Native Americans.

The southeastern fringe of the United States was persistently turbulent amid the mid nineteenth century. There was tension brewing along the border of Florida and Georgia, which was brought on by the gathering of various opponents. Rebellious men from other states such as Georgia entered Florida with expectations of outright taking the Seminole stallions and cows, not caring and having little to no regret if an Indian was killed while trying to defend his property. The Seminole warriors, looking for requital, led attacks of retaliation against honest pilgrims in Georgia. Privateers and British go getters meandered the range, actuating the Indians against the Americans, whose eager for land expansionists pined for the domain south of the Georgia outskirt. Authorities of the disintegrating Spanish Empire, whose banner flew over the state, were feeble to control occasions or stop the viciousness.

Location is a big aspect in relating territory to social. If a tribe is located near a river, they will be more social and political than a tribe surrounded by flat land. The rivers are how some people travel in this time period. It’s also an excellent way to transport and trading goods. The chapter called, “The five republics” displays map of the Indian Territory before the start of the civil war (Baird 92). The Cherokee tribe resides in the northern part of current state of Oklahoma. Creek nation is just below the Cherokee nation. On the left of Creek nation is the home of the

Cherokee Native Americans originally inhabited the southeast of the United States. It is believed that they are descendants of that Iroquoian people who were located in the northeastern part of the United States. They broke away from the other Iroquoian groups about 3000-5000 years ago. Their culture began to shift when settlers came over from Europe in the 1800’s. They were introduced to another culture and began to practice many characteristics they learned from the Europeans. For example, many natives stopped wearing their traditional clothing and started wearing clothes that were similar to those of the Europeans.

Globalization has caused extreme change on the Cherokee ways of life, institutions, customs and traditions. The Cherokee people are incorporating more and more of their past traditions in to their institutions way of life in a means of trying to preserve them in this every changing world. Once a culture of people that held high their beliefs and way of life was nearly an extinct culture after the European, and colonization forced these people out of their land. It is important to see look at the affects that globalization has on the Cherokee people because looking at this we can see how globalization affects human dignity both in a positive manner and in a negative manner.

A long time before this land was called the United States, the Cherokee people used to live in this land in the valleys of rivers that drained the southern Appalachians. These people made their homes, farmed their land, and buried their dead. Also these people, who are now called Indians claimed larger lands. They would use these for hunting deer and gathering material, to live off of. Later these lands were called Virginia and Kentucky. As it is mentioned in the text, these people had their own culture and own way of life. They had their own gender roles and religion; even eating food had a different definition than the white man’s culture. They had equality between genders, and other members of the tribe had equal rights to talk. But

Clothing, property, polygamy, education, and religion are discussed; however the focus is aimed at the Cherokees’ progress of becoming like the ‘white brethren’ . They were ‘in a course of improvement… nearly on the same level’ as those who considered themselves to be the prime example of what a civilised society ought to be. Now, the topic of ‘race’ comes into question, thanks to Howard F. Taylors’ several definitions of the term . Now, all the categories listed seem to be match for this document. The biological

Have you ever heard of the Cherokee Indians? Sure you have! Just as a reminder, they are the biggest tribe, and most known of out of all the Indian tribes there has ever been in the southeast. They are very important to American History and helped shaped us to be the Americans we are today, which is clearly what I 'll be explaining in this paper. Throughout the paper, I 'll tell you everything you need to know about the Cherokee Indians and continue to relate to the thesis.