Ethnic Cleansing and The Second Seminole War

Ethnic Cleansing in Cherokee Nation, 1830-39

• 1830-35, Cherokees nation battled Georgia in the courts to protect the territory
• 1835, Jackson administration negotiates Treaty of New Echota with the minority “Treaty Party”
  • most Cherokees rejected it
  • widespread United States opposition
  • Senate ratified the treaty by one vote
• 1838-39, the United States Army oversees forced relocation to the Indian Territory
  • 7000 state volunteers with federal commanders
  • poorly funded and organized
  • 16000 Cherokees imprisoned, the Summer of 1838
  • 2000 died
  • fall/winter, survivors were forced to migrate West on the “Trail of Tears”
  • 3000 died in route or soon after arriving
• overall, 5000 died
  • out of 22-23000 in 1834

The Second Seminole War, 1832-42

• some Seminoles and black allies under Osceola and other leaders resisted the removal
  • Osceola: an influential leader of the Seminole people in Florida
  • his birth name was Billy Powell
  • he was born in Alabama
  • he became known as a successful hunter and war leader
• 10 years, 1500 United States troops were dead
  • $20 million was spent to expel 3000 people
  • tribal communities still live in Florida today