Event

Trail of Tears

Forced removal of the Cherokee from the Southeast in 1838 and 1839.

5 links, 5 backed by primary records. 1 more in open data

Connections 5

United States government federal troops began the roundup Primary record 1
John Ross Principal Chief Primary record 1
Tahlequah, Oklahoma capital of the reconstituted Cherokee Nation Primary record 1
Cherokee Nation over 4,000 died, by Elizur Butler’s estimate Primary record 1

Timeline 1 date

Proof 2 sources

What Happened on the Trail of Tears?, National Park Service, Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. Primary record
In May 1838, Federal troops and state militias began the roundup of the Cherokees into stockades.
Most Cherokees, including Chief John Ross, did not believe that they would be forced to move.
In August 1839, John Ross was elected Principal Chief of the reconstituted Cherokee Nation. Tahlequah, Oklahoma was its capital.
Missionary doctor Elizur Butler, who accompanied the Cherokees, estimated that over 4,000 died- nearly a fifth of the Cherokee population.
No one knows how many died throughout the ordeal
Preludes to the Trail of Tears, National Park Service. Primary record
He provided a two year extension on the treaty to allow time for the members to move to their new home in present-day Oklahoma. Then, in May of 1838, he ordered General Winfield Scott to evict the remaining Cherokees

Page history 1 change