The book, “The Rise and Fall of a Cherokee Nation” is a historical fiction
depicting the life of the Cherokee people; specifically the “Treaty party” and John Ross whom are most involved in the fight for territory against the white settlers, and the events leading to their fall as a Cherokee nation, written by John Ehle. Ehle explains how the Cherokee people were forced to adopt European-American ways; through hunting, education, language, religion and jobs; the Whites were eager to turn the Cherokees into more “civilized” people, and eventually leading to them taking more and more of their land and resources. Ehle examines the events leading up to the forcible removal of the Cherokee nation; examining the Georgia gold strike, the terms of the “Treaty of Echota” and the eventual forcible removal of the nation.
To begin, Ehle claims that the “Treaty party” which represented only few of the Cherokee nation mainly consisted of Major Ridge, Jon Ridge, Elias Budinot and other Natives, proposed the “Treaty of Echota” which would allow the Cherokee people to be on equal footing in terms of self government
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with the White settlers. However due to the Georgia Gold strike, whites favored Cherokee and other tribal land now more than ever. The state intensified their pressures for removal of the Cherokee people, and eventually started to survey and claim the territory for themselves. During this time in the book, we see that Ehle puts a lot of emphasis on John Ridge and how he was very cooperative with adopting ways of the white settlers because he thought it would later help them. Ehle focuses on how Ridge was very assimilated into White culture, but wouldn’t convert to Christianity. With that being said, the author starts the book out differentiating the two main characters, Major Ridge and John Ross, and how their fictional upbringing caused them to have differences on how to save the Cherokee nation. Furthermore, Ehle claims that in 1828 Andrew Jackson became President, and in 1830 the Indian Removal Act was passed. At this time all laws within the Cherokee nation were null and void. Of course the issuance of this law was encouraged due to the Gold Strike in Georgia. While Andrew Jackson had already set the terms for this, the treaty party angers John Ross, when they signed the “Treaty of Echota” in 1835, setting the tone of the removal of the Indian nation by 1838. We see that the author is very biased towards John Ross, sort of making Ross out to be the antagonist between he and Ridge. Ross refuses to sign the treaty of course, arguing that he and his followers felt they could have continued a negotiation with the state. Angered by this; Ehle depicts Ross as evil by sending many of his people on a deathly, time-consuming land route killing many of the Cherokee people while him and his wealthy family took the easier route. As stated previously, we know Ehle claims that Ridge and Ross had their differences. While Ridge wanted to assimilate to the White culture and sign the treaty they thought would help his nation, Ross fought back. The issue between Ridge and Ross for the removal of the Indian Nation eventually split them. Ross and his followers became known as the “National Party.” We see Ehle portray Ross in an obvious state of denial. Ross and Ridge are also depicted of being wealthy and having slave ownership, the slaves being people from other Indian tribes, further showing the differences in class Ehle tried to emphasize within the book. For example we see differences between the “Upper towns vs. the lower times.” Those whom were full blooded Indian vs. those who were mixed (like Ross) and other inferences within the book that show how adaptable the Cherokees were as compared to other Indian tribes, but in the end still got treated the same way and were forcibly removed from their territory. I enjoyed how Ehle put emphasis on how the Cherokee’s thought the assimilation of adopting the ways of the Whites would help them negotiate and remain at peace. While the Cherokee’s received the same treatment as tribes who didn’t assimilate, it just shows how forceful, repugnant and sickening the American-European settlers truly were. Especially knowing Andrew Jackson’s previous alliance with Indian tribes. This book was a truly descriptive eye-opening story of the sad ending and removal of a successful Indian nation. The forcible removal made the nation leave in 1838 and continue westward beyond the Mississippi river into present day Oklahoma territory. However, the title of the book contains “Trail of Tears” which there really wasn’t much information on the actual route, or experiences the Nation endured during their time westward. Therefore I do think the book is slightly misnamed. The story was much more focused on the background of Major Ridge and John Ross pre-Revolutionary war, following up with how they were raised, and the evident “rise” in the title of the book is meant to be the “rise” in how the Cherokee people assimilated with American-European culture and traditions. In my opinion Ehle has some clear biases within the book, but that doesn’t deter you from receiving an extremely informative history lesson while reading it.
His claims for the fall of the Cherokee nation are very much supported with historical evidence; clearly detailing the major events that led to the fall of the Cherokee nation. After that though, he no longer goes on explain the inevitable “Trail of Tears” which was a failure on his part. I do believe with all the excellent research Ehle did for this book, he should have continued it with Nation’s route to Oklahoma, finally putting an end to the inevitable “fall” of the nation. Furthermore, however, I am impressed with the detailed research that is emphasized in this book, and for that I would recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the Cherokee people while recognizing the biases Ehle
includes.
Modern day Native American are widely known as stewards of the environment who fight for conservation and environmental issues. The position of the many Native American as environmentalists and conservationists is justified based on the perception that before European colonists arrived in the Americas, Native Americans had little to no effect on their environment as they lived in harmony with nature. This idea is challenged by Shepard Krech III in his work, The Ecological Indian. In The Ecological Indian, Krech argues that this image of the noble savage was an invented tradition that began in the early 1970’s, and that attempts to humanize Native Americans by attempting to portray them as they really were. Krech’s arguments are criticized by Darren J Ranco who in his response, claims that Krech fails to analyze the current state of Native American affairs, falls into the ‘trap’ of invented tradition, and accuses Krech of diminishing the power and influence of Native Americans in politics. This essay examines both arguments, but ultimately finds Krech to be more convincing as Krech’s
In the essay, “The Trail of Tears” by author Dee Brown explains that the Cherokees isn’t Native Americans that evaporate effectively from their tribal land, but the enormous measure of sympathy supported on their side that was abnormal. The Cherokees process towards culture also the treachery of both states and incorporated governments of the declaration and promises that contrived to the Cherokee nation. Dee Brown wraps up that the Cherokees had lost Kentucky and Tennessee, but a man who once consider their buddy named Andrew Jackson had begged the Cherokees to move to Mississippi but the bad part is the Indians and white settlers never get along together even if the government wanted to take care of them from harassment it shall be incapable to do that. The Cherokee families moved to the West, but the tribes were together and denied to give up more land but Jackson was running for President if the Georgians elects him as President he agreed that he should give his own support to open up the Cherokee lands for establishment.
The short story “Cherokee” written by Ron Rash is about a young married couple fighting to save their truck by gambling their last one hundred and fifty-seven dollars in slot machines at a casino in North Carolina. Rash did an impeccable job at creating two ordinary, everyday people by portraying their lives as the working poor of America. The two characters, Danny and Lisa, both work; however, they are barely making it by and fell behind on their truck payments. Throughout the short story is observed a theme of freedom, or lack thereof, not only through the plot but also through psychology and economics.
The generalization that, “The decision of the Jackson administration to remove the Cherokee Indians to lands west of the Mississippi River in the 1830s was more a reformulation of the national policy that had been in effect since the 1790s than a change in that policy,” is valid. Ever since the American people arrived at the New World they have continually driven the Native Americans out of their native lands. Many people wanted to contribute to this removal of the Cherokees and their society. Knox proposed a “civilization” of the Indians. President Monroe continued Knox’s plan by developing ways to rid of the Indians, claiming it would be beneficial to all. Andrew Jackson ultimately fulfilled the plan. First of all, the map [Document A] indicates the relationship between time, land, and policies, which affected the Indians. The Indian Tribes have been forced to give up their land as early as the 1720s. Between the years of 1721 and 1785, the Colonial and Confederation treaties forced the Indians to give up huge portions of their land. During Washington's, Monroe's, and Jefferson's administration, more and more Indian land was being commandeered by the colonists. The Washington administration signed the Treaty of Holston and other supplements between the time periods of 1791 until 1798 that made the Native Americans give up more of their homeland land. The administrations during the 1790's to the 1830's had gradually acquired more and more land from the Cherokee Indians. Jackson followed that precedent by the acquisition of more Cherokee lands. In later years, those speaking on behalf of the United States government believed that teaching the Indians how to live a more civilized life would only benefit them. Rather than only thinking of benefiting the Indians, we were also trying to benefit ourselves. We were looking to acquire the Indians’ land. In a letter to George Washington, Knox says we should first is to destroy the Indians with an army, and the second is to make peace with them. The Indian Trade and Intercourse Act of 1793 began to put Knox’s plan into effect. The federal government’s promise of supplying the Indians with animals, agricultural tool...
Vowell writes how the Cherokees adopted the religious, cultural, and political ideals of the United states saying, "in one decade, the Cherokees created a written language, started a free press, ratified a constitution, and founded a capital city." They were hoping that they would be able to coexist with this new nation. However, their good intentions to adapt proved to be a lost cause. I can see how this would bother Vowell. She sees the Cherokee yielding away from their culture and into this new innovative culture in hopes to work beside the United States. Only to later be denied. Not only that, but they are eventually forced to remove themselves from
Democracy can be traced back before the coming of Christ. Throughout Greece during the sixth century democracy was in its earliest stages and as the millenniums would pass the power of government by the people would show distinct alterations. This is evident when analyzing The Cherokee Nation and the Trail of Tears by Theda Perdue and Michael D. Green. These authors illustrate how the U.S government adjusts policies from that of assimilating the Native American Indians to that of removing them from their homelands and forcibly causing the Cherokee nation to relocate themselves west of the Mississippi. In further depth Perdue and Green portray though vivid description how the government would show disloyalty and how that caused division between the tribal members of the Cherokee people. This endeavor of travel and animosity of the Indians would become known as the Trail of Tears.
In The Cherokee Removal, Perdue and Green show the trials that the Cherokee faced in the years from 1700 to 1840. This book shows how the Americans tried to remove these Indians from the southeastern part of the United States. The Cherokees tried to overcome the attempts of removal, but finally in 1838, they were removed from the area.
“Quantie’s weak body shuddered from a blast of cold wind. Still, the proud wife of the Cherokee chief John Ross wrapped a woolen blanket around her shoulders and grabbed the reins.” Leading the final group of Cherokee Indians from their home lands, Chief John Ross thought of an old story that was told by the chiefs before him, of a place where the earth and sky met in the west, this was the place where death awaits. He could not help but fear that this place of death was where his beloved people were being taken after years of persecution and injustice at the hands of white Americans, the proud Indian people were being forced to vacate their lands, leaving behind their homes, businesses and almost everything they owned while traveling to an unknown place and an uncertain future. The Cherokee Indians suffered terrible indignities, sickness and death while being removed to the Indian territories west of the Mississippi, even though they maintained their culture and traditions, rebuilt their numbers and improved their living conditions by developing their own government, economy and social structure, they were never able to return to their previous greatness or escape the injustices of the American people.
A reworked thesis statement: Despite the Georgian's fear of brutality against the Cherokee Tribes, the Treaty of New Echota was even more significant than the state, and federal official's seizure of the Native
The Treaty of New Echota, was ratified by the United States Senate, by one vote, without the approval of the Cherokee Nation (The Cherokee and the Trail of Tears). The treaty brought abou...
Natives were forcefully removed from their land in the 1800’s by America. In the 1820’s and 30’s Georgia issued a campaign to remove the Cherokees from their land. The Cherokee Indians were one of the largest tribes in America at the time. Originally the Cherokee’s were settled near the great lakes, but overtime they moved to the eastern portion of North America. After being threatened by American expansion, Cherokee leaders re-organized their government and adopted a constitution written by a convention, led by Chief John Ross (Cherokee Removal). In 1828 gold was discovered in their land. This made the Cherokee’s land even more desirable. During the spring and winter of 1838- 1839, 20,000 Cherokees were removed and began their journey to Oklahoma. Even if natives wished to assimilate into America, by law they were neither citizens nor could they hold property in the state they were in. Principal Chief, John Ross and Major Ridge were leaders of the Cherokee Nation. The Eastern band of Cherokee Indians lost many due to smallpox. It was a year later that a Treaty was signed for cession of Cherokee land in Texas. A small number of Cherokee Indians assimilated into Florida, in o...
The tragedy of the Cherokee nation has haunted the legacy of Andrew Jackson"'"s Presidency. The events that transpired after the implementation of his Indian policy are indeed heinous and continually pose questions of morality for all generations. Ancient Native American tribes were forced from their ancestral homes in an effort to increase the aggressive expansion of white settlers during the early years of the United States. The most notable removal came after the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The Cherokee, whose journey was known as the '"'Trail of Tears'"', and the four other civilized tribes, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole, were forced to emigrate to lands west of the Mississippi River, to what is now day Oklahoma, against their will. During the journey westward, over 60,000 Indians were forced from their homelands. Approximately 4000 Cherokee Indians perished during the journey due to famine, disease, and negligence. The Cherokees to traveled a vast distance under force during the arduous winter of 1838-1839.# This is one of the saddest events in American history, yet we must not forget this tragedy.
Ellis, Jerry. Walking the Trail: One Man's Journey along the Cherokee Trail of Tears. New
advantage of the rich black soil for farming. Corn was their main source of food,
In 1781, the settlers ordered the Cherokee to conduct a peace treaty and selected Nancy Ward to lead these negotiations. She spoke passionately in her efforts to bring about peace between the two factions, and as a result the settlers became less demanding in the negotiations and allowed the Cherokee to keep some of their land.