How did Natives resist the Indian Removal Act?-Unit 1 wars

Cherokee resistance 1831-32

• Cherokees determined not to lose their homeland

• In 1831 and 1832 the Cherokee nation took the state of Georgia to the supreme court

• They accused Georgia of ignoring their rights as a independent nation.

• Judge Marshall ruled in the Cherokee’s favour

• They were to be recognised as a ‘disticnct political society’ but were dependent of the US government for protection.

The result of the Cherokee resistance

• This set a new standard of how Indians would be treated

• President Jackson was furious at Marshall.He told the state Government to continue the settlement of Cherokee lands and to ignore the Supreme Court.

How effective was the Cherokee resistance

• Effective=The Supreme Court ruled in the Cherokee’s favour

• Not effective=President Jackson chooses to ignore the supreme court

Seminole Wars 1835-1842

• After the Indian removal act was passed a small group of leading Seminoles signed a treaty and were moved to Indian territory

• However,Seminoles didn’t recognise one chief over all the other chiefs said the treaty didn’t apply to them

• The rejection led to the war

• The 2nd seminole war lasted from 1835-1842 and cost the USA 40-60 million dollars,10x the estimated cost of the removal

• resisted removal through guerrilla warfare in the swamps and forests of Florida,carried out attacks on the US troops and settlements using difficult terrain to their advantage

• Escaped enslaved ppl fought with them which made the war also about resisting slavery as well as removal, resisted expansion through violence/conflict

• USA finally addmited defeat and the seminole war chief Osceola was captured/threw in prison

What was the result of the seminole resistance

• After thistle remaining Seminoles were pushed into moving into the west

• However,it took a third war 1855-1858 fro the USA to remove the last seminoles across Mississippi

• By the end the seminole population in Florida was reduced to around 200

• Eventually the USA paid the remaining Seminoles to move west

How effective was the seminole resistance?

Not effective=had 3 wars against the government

eventually had to move to Florida

Creek Revenge 1832-1837

• They signed a treaty in March 1832-they gave over a large portion of their Alabama land to white Americans

• In return each Creek was promised an individual piece of land in the remaining creek area

• They offered a small amount of money to buy the individual Creek land and then took the surrounding areas without permission

• Americans also just came and squatted on the land-Creeks complained but the Alabama government refused to stop the settlers

What was the result of the creek revenge

• 1835-stole livestock and crops,some commited arson and murder as revenge for brutal treatment

• around 15,000 had moved west by us gov by 1837

How effective was the creek resistance

Effective=made an agreement over land

Not effective=couldn’t stop the squatters and by 1837 they failed and moved west.