Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory

Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory Research
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Time Line

1642
Columbus sailed the ocean blue, and all Native American lives changed forever.

1765
White settlers began to appear in the Talking Rock area.

1778 - 1871
Congress had approved more then 370 treaties with Native American Groups, while hundreds more were negotiated but never approved.

1794
Cherokee aided the British during the American Revolution

1827
Cherokee established a constitutional form of government.

1830
Government had relocated more the 30 eastern tribes to the West. The Removal Act of 1830 set into motion a series of events which led to the "Trail of Tears" in 1838.

September:
One of the first fort used during the Removal was known as Camp Hinar Sixes. It was built in , 1830 to house members of the infamous Georgia Guard. The Georgia Guard played a major role in the removal, torture and deaths of many of the Cherokee people during the eight year period of 1830 to 1838.

1835
December 29, 1835 Treaty of New Echota - Articles of a treaty, concluded at New Echota in the State of Georgia on the 29th day of Dec. 1835 by General William Carroll and John F. Schermerhorn commissioners on the part of the United States and the Chiefs Head Men and People of the Cherokee tribe of Indians. Life as the Cherokee knew it will change drastically from this point in time.

1836
The Cherokee Makeshift Removal Forts were now starting to be built.

1837
Cherokee Nation is on the brink of being changed forever as they face the Removal, being forcibly moved from their homes and land, in part because of New Echota treaty signed by a group of leaders of their own people. All hope lies on the Cherokee chief John Ross who is in Washington D. C. trying to delay the Removal. As the people await word on the future.

1838
President Jackson now had the legal documentation required to remove the Indians. The treaty was then sent to the United States Senate to be ratified. There were few who spoke out against ratifications, but it still only passed by one vote.
General John Wool was ordered to relocate the Cherokee, but he was resigned out of protest. Taking his place was General Winfield Scott. That summer Gen. Scott lead 7000 men of the United States Army in the invasion of the Cherokee Nation.

February:
15,665 people of the Cherokee Nation memorialized congress protesting the Treaty of New Echota.

March:
Outraged American citizens throughout the county memorialized congress on behalf of the Cherokee.

April:
Congress tables memorials protesting Cherokee removal. Federal troops ordered to prepare for roundup.

May:
Cherokee roundup begins May 23, 1838. Southeast suffers worst drought in recorded history. Tsalie escapes roundup and returns to North Carolina.

June:

Jun. 2, 1838 - Round up of the Cherokee is completed. The Cherokee people were corralled into the stockades to await departure. Most had hoped that the government would not force them to leave and made no plans for the long journey.

First groups of Cherokees driven west under Federal guard. Further removal aborted because of drought and "sickly season". Three groups left in June by rail, boat, and wagon, primarily on the Water Route.

July:
Over 13,000 Cherokee imprisoned in military stockades awaiting break in drought. Approximately 1500 died in confinement.

August:
In Aquohee stockade Cherokee Chiefs meet in council, reaffirming the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation. John Ross becomes superintendent of the removal.

September:
Drought breaks: Cherokee prepare to embark on forced exodus to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Ross wins additional funds for food and clothing. Est. 16,000 Cherokee were divided into 16 detachments.

October:
For most Cherokee, the "Trail of Tears" Begins.

November:
Thirteen contingents of Cherokee cross Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. First groups reach the Mississippi River, where there crossing is held up by river ice flows.

December:
Contingent led by Chief Jesse Bushyhead camps near present day Trail of Pears Park, John Ross leaves Cherokee homeland with last group: carrying the records and laws of the Cherokee Nation 5000 Cherokees trapped east of the Mississippi by harsh winter. They wait a moth until the ice is gone, many die. During that time Drunkenness, brought on by whites supplying liquor to the Cherokee, become a problem.

(Cherokee who avoided the 1838 removal escaped into the Great Smoky Mountains and resettled in North Carolina, near present day Asheville, forming a tribe corporation in 1839)

1839

January:
First overland contingents arrive at Fort Gibson. Ross party of sick and infirm travel from Kentucky by riverboat.

February:
Feb. 1, 1839 - Chief Ross's wife, Quati, dies near Little Rock. Arkansas.

March:
Last group headed by Ross, reaches Oklahoma. Estimated number of 4000 Cherokee die from the beginning of the roundups to the end of the Trail of Tears, 1600 in Stockades and about the same number in route, 800 more died in 1839 in Oklahoma. It was estimated that of 16,000 who started the dreary march westward, more then 4000 Cherokee, nearly a fifth, of the Cherokee population died as a result of the removal.

April:
Cherokees build houses, clear land, plant and begin to rebuild their nation.

May:
Western Cherokee invite new arrivals to meet to establish a united Cherokee government.

June:
Old Treaty Party leaders attempt to foil reunification negotiations between Ross and Sequoyah. Treaty Party leaders John Ridge, Major Ridge and Elias Boudinot are assassinated.

July:
Jul. 12, 1839 - Cherokee Act of Union brings together the eastern and western Cherokee Nation.

August:
Stand Watie, Brother of Boudinot, pledges revenge for deaths of party leaders.

John Ross was elected Principal Chief of the reconstituted Cherokee Nation. Tahlequah, Oklahoma was its capital. It remains tribal headquarters for the Cherokee Nation today.

September:
Sept. 6, 1839 - Cherokee constitution adopted. Tahlequah established as capital of the Cherokee Nation

In all some 90 thousand Native American Indians were removed to the West, Delaware, Ottawa, Shawnee, Pawnee, Potawatomi, Sauk and Fox, Miami, Kickapoo, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole and the Cherokee.

1866

About 1,000 Cherokees in Tennessee and North Carolina escaped the roundup. They gained recognition in 1866, establishing their tribal government in 1868 in Cherokee, North Carolina. Today, they are known as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

1871
Congress passed the centerpiece of the assimilations program, toward Native Americans, the General Allotment Act also know as the Dawes Act.

1924
Congress extended American Citizenship to all Native Americans, nearly 2/3's of native people were already citizens, including those who served in the United States military during World War I (1914 - 1918).