By Larry A. Vogt
(This Timeline / Outline was requested by a European reader who is familiar with Jackson but not familiar with the Cherokee Removal period of American history. As I wrote this for him, I though that it may be of help for other readers, too, as the period is confusing, to say the least.)
Here is a short timeline of the United States as relates to the Native Americans and Andrew Jackson. The page notations are to primary source references in my book, Seeking the Origins of the Trail of Tears , 2020 Covid Edition. Available on Amazon.com
The Cherokee allied with the British, against the American Colonies, during the American Revolutionary War. As a result the Cherokee lost tribal lands to the forming, United States. The Cherokee and other tribes were given designated, tribal lands within the borders of States. (p. 249)
The United States began to function as a Constituted nation on March 4, 1789, when Congress met for the first time in New York. The Constitution had been ratifies on June 21, 1788, and would serve as the fundamental law of the land and direct the governance of the nation. (pp. 238-247, 254 – 256)
In the Constitution, Article I, Section 8, it states, “The Congress shall have Power… To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.” The United States Federal Government, alone, not States, other jurisdictions, or individuals has that power.
Art. II, Sect 2. The President has the Power to make treaties only “with the Advice and Consent of the Senate”.
The 13 new States of the Union were created from the earlier Colonies. State borders were determined and the Constitutional relationships between formerly sovereign colonial governments and the newly Constituted Union of States started a period of adjustment.
Many treaties were, and would be, made with many tribes over the years. (pp. 260-263)
1802, President Thomas Jefferson negotiates with Georgia to give up its western land which stretches to the Mississippi River. Georgia was given assurances that, at some point, control of the Cherokee Indian lands of northern Georgia would be returned to Georgia. (pp. 248, 256-259, 263-266)
1812-1814, Britain invades the United States and Andrew Jackson is a major figure in the defense of the young nation, this time the Cherokee are allies of the US and help Jackson overcome the British Army. A number of influential Cherokee leaders fought alongside Jackson and know him.
In 1820, Major General Andrew Jackson was sent to the Cherokee Indian Territory to remove white intruders from the Cherokee nation. Jackson worked with Major Ridge, a well known and respected Cherokee warrior and leader, and the Light Horse (Cherokee rangers of sorts). (pp. 58-60, 263)
1827, Cherokee Tribe re-organizes and constitutes itself as The Cherokee Nation and claims sovereignty over the tribal lands that exist fully within the borders of the United States, and its States of Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia. (pp. 267-271)
Note: The Constitution of the United States, Article 4, Section 3, “no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other State,” The Cherokee had just created a separate, sovereign Nation within the borders of the United States and within the borders of several of its States! Things heat up.
1828, Andrew Jackson is elected President and takes office. Each of the first 7 Presidents was faced with “growing pains” of the new Republic. Each was confronted with issues related to Native Americans or as some called it, “The Indian Problem”. Most of the Presidents “kicked the can down the road.” Finally in 1828, Jackson would take a stand and face the issue full-on, taking action to address the volatile subject of Native Americans and westward expansion. (pp. 336-337)
1829, Jackson pens his First Annual Message to Congress and gives his viewpoint about the situation. Jackson gives us a glimpse of how well and deeply he understands the problems and the complexities of solutions. Note his stress on “Voluntary emigration”, a solution he abandons by his 1830 report/address. (pp.273-275)
1830 Indian Removal Act, This Act of Congress simply gave Consent to the President to negotiate treaties to exchange lands west of the Mississippi for Indian land east of the Mississippi River. The Act provided for compensation of Indian Improvements on land, travel assistance, one year’s protection to get settled, and more, but did not demand or call for any forced removal of Indians. (pp.276-278)
1830, Jackson’s report about Indian affairs shows a further commitment to removal as the only solution to quell growing friction between States and Federal Government, and between States and Indians. Jackson’s Presidential Oath is that he “…will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (pp.279-280)
1835, Jackson’s letter to the Cherokee tribe of Indians east of the Mississippi River expresses, in great depth, the circumstances, dilemmas, and inevitability of removal. (pp.285-288)
1835, Treaty of New Echota signed. Cherokee agreement to sell Cherokee land, east of the Mississippi River for $5 million and two years, specified by date, to voluntarily remove west. (pp.290-295 )
1836-8, Preparation by US Army, for voluntary removal activities and deadline enforcement, if necessary. Generals Wool and Scott address the Cherokee and stress the seriousness and inevitability of the deadline. (pp. 322-326)
1836-8, Preparation by Cherokee citizens for voluntary removal, before deadline, as per Treaty. Preparatory actions were dissuaded and resisted through pressure from Chief John Ross and his ruling political party, resulting in citizens unprepared for an inevitable removal. (pp. 136-139)
1837, Jackson leaves office and President Van Buren inherits the Removal.
1838, Chief Ross petitions for and is granted full authority to conduct the self-emigration of the Cherokee. (pp.342-345)
1838, Georgia Governor, George Gilmer threatens conflict with Federal Government, using secession-sounding rhetoric, if the Removal does not move forward, as originally scheduled. (pp. 327-332)
1838, Roundup of the Cherokee begins on date designated by Treaty. State Volunteer Militias collect and escort remaining Cherokee to Emigration Depot areas to await their departures. (pp. 339-344)
1838-1839, Overland emigration, the Trail of Tears, directed and led by Chief John Ross, Lewis Ross, and Cherokee Conductors, in twelve Detachments accompanied by no Military personnel. (pp. 202-204, 342-345)
1839-1860’s, Cherokee civil war breaks out in Western Cherokee Territory between established Western Band, “Old Settlers” and the Ross Party of emigrants from the east, seeking political power in west. (pp. 313-321)
[1] Dautzenlein, pronounced “dots’- n – line”, means “dots and line”, and is the most basic unit of evidentiary history: two dots and one line. This unit consists of three elements: a Person (Dot) – Created (Line) – Artifact (Dot). Connecting Dautzenleins, artifactual evidence, creates a more accurate history; a Forensic History.
Dautzenlein Connections 