Cherokee Nation and the Policy of Civilization
In this section, we analyze the historical circumstances surrounding the Cherokee Nation’s experience during the early 1830s, particularly focusing on the onslaught of forced removal from their ancestral land.
Washington Administration's Policy
The Washington administration had established a policy aimed at “civilizing” Native Americans, which referred to efforts to assimilate them into European-American culture.
The Cherokee Nation demonstrated significant advancements in assimilation compared to other Native American groups:
Codified their own legal system.
Printed their own newspapers.
Owned slaves, emulating certain aspects of European-American society.
The Land Demand by Georgia
Despite the Cherokee’s assimilation efforts, their situation deteriorated when the state of Georgia enacted laws demanding the forfeiture of Cherokee lands.
This initiated a series of events leading to forced relocations, most notably the Trail of Tears.
The Trail of Tears
During the Trail of Tears, over 4,000 Cherokee died due to the harsh conditions of the forced march to Oklahoma.
The Memorial of the Cherokee Nation (1830)
The Memorial, published in Nile's Weekly Register in 1830, expresses the Cherokee Nation's strong opposition to removal from their homeland.
Key Excerpts from the Memorial:
Recognition of Perspective on Removal:
The Cherokee acknowledge that some perceive removal as beneficial, but they collectively disavow this belief, fearing it would be detrimental to their interests.
Oppression by Georgia:
They express incredulity at Georgia's oppressive laws, suggesting that such extremes were only enacted to coerce the Cherokee into agreeing to removal.
The Cherokee assert their unwillingness to move, declaring that if they were coerced, it would not be through rational argument or improvement of their condition, but under the weight of insufferable oppression.
Right to Remain:
The Cherokee assert their right to remain on their ancestral lands, as they hold both a perfect and original right to do so.
They reference treaties and laws made with the United States that guarantee their residence and privileges, seeking fulfillment of these legal agreements.
Anticipated Consequences of Removal
If forced to leave, the Cherokee foresee nothing but ruin:
The lands west of the Arkansas territory are unfamiliar and believed to be preoccupied by other Native nations.
Concerns about agriculture are raised, as they believe much of the new land lacks essential resources such as wood and water, vital for sustaining agricultural life.
Language and Cultural Barriers:
They express fears of cultural isolation, stating that their neighbors would speak different languages and practice different customs, further complicating their desired assimilation.
Lack of Emotional Connection to New Lands:
The Cherokee stress that, irrespective of potential better conditions in the proposed lands, it would not be their birthplace or where their affections lie.
The graves of their forefathers and the emotional ties to their homelands underscore the depth of their connection to their land.
Identity and Dignity
The Memorial emphasizes that the Cherokee have been incorrectly labeled as poor, ignorant, and degraded. They acknowledge their lack of wealth but highlight that every member knows their intrinsic right to their ancestral lands.
The document portrays a collective identity marked by the shared emotional and historical significance of their land, asserting a profound sense of injury at the prospect of being exiled from their rightful home.
The primary group whose voice is represented in the provided document excerpt from this week's reading is the Cherokee Nation, particularly through "The Memorial of the Cherokee Nation (1830)." This document expresses their collective opposition to forced removal and their arguments for retaining their ancestral lands.
The Cherokee Nation extensively used direct references to laws and the history of the United States to make their case:
Treaties and Laws: The Memorial explicitly states, "They reference treaties and laws made with the United States that guarantee their residence and privileges, seeking fulfillment of these legal agreements." This highlights their reliance on established legal frameworks between sovereign nations to assert their right to remain on their land.
Ancestral Rights: They asserted a "perfect and original right" to their ancestral lands, rooted in a history predating European settlement, and emphasized the profound emotional and historical ties to their homeland, including "the graves of their forefathers." This appeals to a deep-seated historical claim that should be respected.
Assimilation Efforts: The Memorial implicitly builds on the historical context of the Washington administration's "policy of civilization." The Cherokee Nation's demonstrated advancements in assimilation—such as codifying their own legal system, printing newspapers, and owning slaves—showcased their adoption of European-American societal aspects, arguably fulfilling parts of the historical expectation set by the U.S. government.
When comparing the Cherokee Nation's appeals and arguments to their achieved political and civic rights during the 1820s-1840s, one can conclude that the state of American democracy during this period was deeply flawed and contradictory:
Disregard for Legal Rights: Despite referencing treaties and laws that guaranteed their rights, the Cherokee Nation faced "insufferable oppression" and "forced removal" by the state of Georgia, leading to the "Trail of Tears" where over 4,000 Cherokee died. This demonstrates a severe failure of the U.S. government to uphold its own legal agreements and protect the rights of a recognized nation.
Limited Access to Rights: While the era saw many groups seeking greater political and civic rights, these rights were clearly not extended to Native American nations. The Cherokee's sophisticated arguments, based on legal precedent and historical claims, were overridden by political and economic motives (such as land demands), illustrating that "the weight of insufferable oppression" prevailed over justice and democracy.
Hypocrisy of Democratic Ideals: The democratic ideals promoted by the U.S. government stood in stark contrast to its actions against the Cherokee. The nation that championed liberty and rights denied property rights, self-determination, and the very humanity of the Cherokee, even as they attempted to integrate into American society. This period reveals that access to political and civic rights was highly conditional, often dependent on race, power dynamics, and land-greed, rather than universal principles.