The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation of Native American tribes between 1831-1839 from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern United States, following the Indian Removal Act signed into law by President Andrew Jackson. Tribes such as the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, and Seminole were forced to march west with little food or clothing, enduring harsh conditions that led to widespread starvation, disease, and death along the way. The Trail of Tears demonstrated the cruelty and suffering inflicted on Native Americans by the United States, causing damage that can never be repaid.

1. The Trail of Tears Kayla Krieger

2. 1831-1839

3. Who- Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaw, SeminoleWhere- Virginia, West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida.

4. He signed the “Indian Removal Act” which required the forced removal of all Indians east of the Mississippi River to ‘vacant’ areas. Andrew Jackson

5. Indians were forced from their homes, marched through zero degree weather with no coats and barley any of the Indians had shoes. Men women and children would die from frost bite, starvation, and diseases. The children would be left to walk in loneliness.

7. The Cherokees were not nomadic savages that many people portrayed them as. They had assimilated many European style customs including the wearing of gowns by Cherokee women. They built roads, schools and churches. They had there own form of government, they were farmers, and cattle rangers.

8. The main source of jobs on a reservation is working in a coal mine. Some member believe developing coal would betray the tribes duty to protect the earth. Others believed it was put on earth to make life easier and better for Indians. Today reservations have bio thermal plants to produce electricity, biomass plants to turn logging into electricity. They’re developing an eco-tourism resort powered with renewable energy they also have wind turbines operating.

9. There is a short supply of water and food on the reservations. Native Americans have health issues, women health issues, teen suicide, diabetes, census, and Indian versus Native.

10. Because of the actions of the United States, the lives of Native Americans will never be the same. The Trail of Tears Show the cruelty and harshness of America. Native Americans have gone through so much torture, suffering, And agony that the United States will never be able to repay The Indians because of the amount of damage the United States has caused.