Summer of the Monkeys

The Trail of Tears is the forced removal of Indians in the southeast to walk one thousand miles to Oklahoma. The Cherokees called it, “Nunna dual Tsuny,” or “Trail Where We Cried.” They called it this because of the dramatic effects it caused. About 4,000 out of 17,000 Cherokee lives were lost (Hook). Cherokees weren’t the only Indians removed. There were the Choctaws, Seminoles, Creek, Chickasaws, Fox, and Sauk. All the Indian tribes left in the years between 1831 and 1838 (Hook). The Indians left at different times, took different routes, then ended up together in Oklahoma.

 

Andrew Jackson was a man who changed the lives of Indians forever. He was born on March 15, 1767, into poverty. Jackson was a US soldier and a statesman. He was also a lawyer, soldier, general, representative, senator, judge (1798-1804), and president (“Andrew Jackson”). He led the US army during the Creek War (1813-1814). He ran for president two times (“Andrew Jackson”). In 1824, he lost to John Quincy Adams. In 1828, he ran again, winning by a landslide (“Andrew Jackson”). He was the seventh president of the United States of America. Jackson founded the Democratic party. In 1830 he signed the Indian Removal Act that took Indians off land so new settlers could have it. He died on June 8, 1848, when he was 78 years old.

 

The three things that caused the most deaths were cold, dehydration, and hunger. As the days went on for the Indians, it grew windier and colder. This caused the most deaths (“Life on the Trail of Tears”). The Indians only wore what they had on them. It was too cold for hunting, and the soldiers were the only one allowed to hunt. The Indians carried no water during the journey. The only time they got water, was when they passed a lake or pond. Many died from dehydration. What they had to eat was not near enough to survive on. They got two cups of hot water, cornbread, and a turnip a day (“Life on the Trail of Tears”). That is not enough nutrients, and it did not feed anyone. The Indians could not keep up the proper body weight. Smaller tribes had less deaths because they were more prepared. Or, small tribes could be wiped out completely.

 

The soldiers treated the Indians harshly. The Indians wanted to fight back, but they were afraid of the soldiers. This caused a lot of conflict. The Indians were kept in order by guards. The Indians were not treated well. For example, some soldiers got the Indian land. These men broke the rules to not hurt the Cherokees. They hurt them, not wanting them to take back their land (“Life on the Trail of Tears”). The Indians were in a bad state of mind. The US soldiers would not let anyone bury people who have died. If the Indians tried that, they might get shot (“Life on the Trail of Tears”).

 

The Cherokee Nation was started by survivors of the Trail of Tears. The headquarters of the nation is in Tahlequah, OK. It is the largest Indian nation in the US, consisting of 110,000 Cherokees. “Tsalagihi Ayeli”  means the Cherokee Nation (Kent). In 1989, it marked as the 150th anniversary of the Trail. Everyone in the Eastern and Western Band of the Cherokee Nation met in Red Clay, Tennessee. It was the first time the Cherokees met since their separation on the Trail of Tears. They lit an eternal flame, and carried it one hundred fifty miles through the mountains (Kent). They placed it in Red Clay.