Western Expansion Vocabulary H4 - 2025

cede/cession

formal surrender of control, territory, or rights, typically through a treaty or agreement.

confederation

an organization which consists of a number of groups united in a cause or alliance.

assimilation

becoming a part of a group, country, or society; sometimes forcibly by colonization or a dominant culture

civil war

a war between opposing groups from the same country

sovereignty

the power of a state or nation to govern itself, control its territory, and make decisions free from interference

manifest destiny

 used to justify Westward Expansion ( at the expense of Native Americans) this is the belief that the United States was destined, or ordained by God, to expand its territory across North America. 

Creek

One of the "Five Civilized Tribes”. The most populous tribe in Georgia and held the largest amount of land. Centered in western Georgia, Alabama, and northern Florida.

William McIntosh

Creek chief who signed the Treaty of Indian Springs in exchange for personal gain. Was executed for violating tribal law.

Andrew Jackson

The seventh President of the United States. Fought against the Creek Red Sticks in 1813; ignored the Worcester v. Georgia decision, and pushed for Indian removal in 1838; causing the Trail of Tears.

Treaty of Indian Springs

signed by McIntosh, this ceded the remaining Creek land in Georgia to the United States.

Red Stick War

a civil war between the Muscogee. Red Sticks wanted to fight off white settlers on their land, while White sticks were pro-assimilation and sided with the United States.

Battle of Horseshoe Bend

An attack on Red Sticks warriors resulting in the cession of 23 million acres of Creek land to the United States. Effectively made Andrew Jackson a “hero”.

Cherokee

One of the "Five Civilized Tribes”. Georgia’s other main. They lived mainly in north Georgia and held onto their land the longest.

John Ross

 Principal Chief of the Cherokee Indians who lobbied the US Congress to honor previous treaties and prevent removal.

Major Ridge

Cherokee chief who signed the Treaty of New Echota. Fought alongside Andrew Jackson and mentored John Ross.

Sequoyah

Created written language for the Cherokee...the Syllabary.

John Marshall

Chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who voted in support of the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation in the 1832 Worcester v. Georgia case.

Sam Worcester

A missionary who was arrested for refusing to sign an Oath of Allegiance to the Georgia governor while living on Cherokee land. His court case ended up going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Worcester v. Georgia

A Supreme Court decision that ruled the state of Georgia did not have the right to enforce laws on Cherokee lands. John Marshall wrote that the state of Georgia did not have the power to remove Indians; this ruling was largely ignored by President Andrew Jackson.

Dahlonega Gold Rush

brought thousands of white settlers into north Georgia hoping to get rich, in what the Cherokees called the “Great Intrusion”.

Indian Removal Act of 1830

Passed by Congress under the Jackson administration, this act removed all Indians east of the Mississippi to a designated "Indian Territory".

Treaty of New Echota

signed by Major Ridge and the Treaty Party, this forced the Cherokee Nation to give up their land in exchange for money and land in present-day Oklahoma.

Trail of Tears

the forced removal of the remaining Cherokees in 1838. They traveled more than 800 miles to a designated Indian Territory in Oklahoma. More than 4,000 Cherokees died of cold, disease, and lack of food during the 116-day journey.