Starvation, Illness and Death of the Native Americans in Trail of Tears

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Recommended: Chapter 11 the american History

One of the greatest injustices of American history included, starvation, illness, and death. These hardships were undeservingly forced upon an innocent group of people – the Native Americans. One may think that the Trail of Tears was only a simple journey the Indians made to discover new frontiers. This is not the case. The Trail of Tears was the result of the white man’s selfishness, causing Indians to lose their homes and belongings. The act was full of unfair treatment, cruelty, and heartlessness. This tragic event took place in the nineteenth century, and was mostly initiated by President Andrew Jackson. In 1814, Jackson proposed an idea for a new act called the Indian Removal Act. (pbs) This act was not widely accepted throughout America, but was initiated because of some Americans wanting more land and gold – resources owned by Native Americans. The Trail of Tears caused much controversy and confusion, and many tears and heartache followed along the way. Native Americans in the nineteenth century were a very hardworking and dedicated group of people. The daily life of a tribe member consisted of hard chores including hunting, cooking, and taking care of a family. Indians were able to obtain and produce food in various ways such as hunting, gathering, and farming (native-languages). Reeves 2 One band of Native Americans, the Cherokee Indian tribe is a renowned tribe that is still widely recognized today. “The word ‘Cherokee’ is believed to have evolved from a Choctaw word meaning ‘cave people’” (everyculture). The location of the Cherokees ranged anywhere from Georgia to Virginia. They mostly resided in the Southeast. Many Cherokees still exist today. “Although the Cherokee people today are divided geographically, cultural... ... middle of paper ... .... Most Cherokee had traveled through present-day Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southern Missouri to reach Indian Territory” (Salas 30-32). Reeves 7 Overall, an enormous number of Cherokee Indians, along with many other tribes, were removed from their homeland. After 1837, Andrew Jackson’s Administration had gotten rid of 46,000 Indians from their homes. (pbs) Andrew Jackson played a large role in the Trail of Tears, and left many Cherokee Indians suffering from his harsh actions toward them. The average person most likely thinks that the Trail of Tears was an unnecessary and heartless act toward innocent Native Americans. Today, Cherokee Indians remain proud of their heritage, even though they still remember with respect all of the tragic things that happened to their ancestors during the Trail of Tears, which forever changed the history of the Cherokee Nation.

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