Trail Of Tears Research Paper

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1 The Trail of Tears is a historical landmark event in American history that epitomizes the brutality and inhumanity of European settlers who in pursuit of the Native American’s lands and natural resources drove them out of their ancestral homelands. In the event of the Trail of Tears all Native Americans, namely the five civilized tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole tribes living in the South and Southeast borders of the United States were forced to migrate from their homes at gunpoint by the White Americans, they would be moved westward to the new Indian Territory; which is now known as Oklahoma between the years of 1837 - 1839. They traveled thousands of miles in treacherous…show more content…
The financial compensation provided to the Indians for their losses amounted a little over five million dollars and covered their transportation for their relocation, and other personal needs. The journey west was a very tragic one, almost unbearable to witness; many children and elders will unfortunately die along the way. Before their departure, many of the Whites would loot the Indians homes, they would brutally assault, and kill some of them everyday out of spite until the very day of their actual departure. Federal troops are ordered into Georgia by Commander General John Ellis Wool with orders from Andrew Jackson to ensure the removal of the Indians from Georgia. The soldiers will round up the Cherokee people by the thousands and imprison them in stockades to wait months before their journey west.He reported that the great majority of the tribe were "so determined … in their opposition" that they had refused to "receive either rations or clothing from the United States lest they might compromise themselves in regard to the treaty," they "preferred living upon the roots and sap of trees rather than receive provisions" from the federal government, "thousands ... had no other food for weeks," and many "said they will die before they leave the country." It was disastrous for those who chose to eat and drink the food and water provided to them by the government. Much of the water was polluted, both in the streams and what the government gave us. Cholera, measles, dysentery, tuberculosis, and other diseases we didn’t have names for swept through the tribe. By the

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