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Jan 1, 1540
1st encounter w/ Europeans
Cherokees encounter Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto and his hostile expeditionary forces. -
Period: Jan 1, 1540 to
Cherokee History
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English Colonists
English colonists/traders begin to appear among Cherokees. Some mixed marriages resulted b/c of this. -
War with Colonists
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Forced Treaties
Cherokees are forced to sign treaties giving the U.S. government more and more of the Cherokee's land. -
"Removal Process"
President Jefferson planned to move all Native Americans west of the Mississippi River. Andrew Jackson actually set it in motion. The gov't tried to get the Indians to move west voluntarily. Most remained where they were though. -
Sequoyah Creates Written Language
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Removal Act Passed
Congree passes the Removal Act, but Principal Chief John Ross wouldn't accept its legality and challenged it in court. The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cherokees. Andrew Jackson sent a treaty to the Cherokees for them to give up their land in the east for land in the west. Leaders wouldn't sign it so some other Cherokees signed the treaty w/o authorization. The Cherokees were still forced to live up to their terms. -
Trail of Tears
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Nixon shows Cherokees Voting Rights
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Cherokee Constitution Ratified
3-branch gov't: chief executive (principal chief)
legislature (Tribal Council)
judicial (a tribunal made of 3 tribal justices)