The Re-birth, Revolt, and Removal of the Cherokee

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Recommended: Land, growth, justice, the removal of the Cherokees

The Re-birth, Revolt, and Removal of the Cherokee

The Cherokee were forced into giving up most of their land in the eighteenth century. Through fraudulent treaties and unjust deals the Cherokee lost close to all of their land during this time. One of the biggest loses coming from "Henderson's Purchase", in Kentucky, 1775. In an effort to stop the complete takeover of all Indian land, the Cherokees go through a transformation in order to survive in a new world. "The great Cherokee renascence of 1794-1833 was the re-birth of that people in the image of the United States, yet with a difference." (McLoughlin, Preface)

The Cherokee renascence was an attempt to conform to a new economic and political society, through education in the legal and moral aspects of the society and its laws. In essence they are trying to fight fire with fire by obtaining the same mental arsenal as the Americans. For years, the Cherokees had watched their land disappear. Through intimidation and coercion the natives were slowly removed from their land by treaty, and physical force. The Cherokees were aware that they were being taken advantage of, but they couldn't do anything about it. Regarding Cherokee renascence, the idea is to be educated in the white mans customs, and study the white mans laws, so that they have the political power to defend themselves from unjust laws, and treaties. This strategy works in a sense as Indians begin to flourish, producing, intelligent, and rational thoughts, which advance the native race. This re-born Indian would change the view of natives, in the eyes of Americans. The idea of the "Whiteman's Indian" dramatically changed by the 19th century, as the Cherokee were no longer seen as a primitive race. Instead they were...

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...ey were no longer the baby to take candy from. This was a good strategy by the Cherokee, to attempt and fit in, they just advanced to fast. The threatening feeling that came from their rapid advancement, coupled with the fact that their was so much pressure on politicians to make the voters happy, created a sense of urgency to get the Indians out of the way and make room for more of their own people. The Cherokee had managed to reproduce the image of an American within them, but with a difference; they weren't American but were trying to be, which consequently alienated Americans. This caused resentment and hatred for the Indians. This hatred turned violent and resulted in one of the most tragic events in United States history, "The Trail of Tears."

Bibliography

McLoughlin, William G. Cherokee Renascence in the New Republic. Princeton University Press, 1986

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